Foreign Vegetables. 389 
Some take off* the virofe Smell of Opium by 
long Digeftions, and repeated Diffolutions and Dif- 
tillations, and by this Method they think to de- 
prive it of its. narcotick Sulphur. The Procefs 
may be conduced thus. 
Take of Opium q. v. difTolve it in q. f. of com- 
mon Water, and filtre the Solution through 
Paper. Let it fcand in Digeftion for eight 
Days in B. A. and afterwards diftil it from a 
Glafs-Alembick with a gentle Fire to the Con- 
fidence of Ploney. To this mellaginous Ex- 
trad pour more Water, digeft for eight Days, 
and diftil again to the fame Confidence. Re- 
peat the Affufions, Digeftions and Diftillati- 
ons, till both the Water and the Reftdue are 
void of Smell. Then laftly, difTolve the Re- 
fidue in a frefh Quantity of Water, drain, and 
evaporate it to the Confidence of a folid Ex- 
trad ; which is fo weak that it may be given 
with Safety from gr. iij. to x. 
By thefe repeated Digeftions and Diftillations the 
Sulphurs are divided and attenuated, and fly off 
with the volatile faline Parts. Whence the terref- 
trial Molecule remain almoft inert with the groffer 
Sulphurs and Salts. We therefore think this Prepa- 
tion can anfwer no extraordinary Purpofes. 
Haying mentioned the ufual Preparations of Opi- 
um, we fhail now lay down fome Rules and Cauti- 
ons concerning its Ufe. 
1. The Tindure and Extrad of Opium, drawn 
with aqueous Menftruums, are preferable to all other 
Preparations. 
2. TheTindures and refmous Extrads of Opium 
drawn with Spirit of Wine ought to be rejeded. 
For they are more intenfely narcotick j they op- 
C c 3 prefe 
