235 
Linde, O., discusses the possibility of j)roducing opium, and argues 
that the production of a morphine-rich poppy plant is quite a pos- 
sibility, and that the production of poppy seed would amply repay 
the cost of cultivation, apart from the opium produced. — Just’s Bot. 
Jahresber., 1905, v. 33, part 3, p. 226 (from Apoth. Ztg., 1905, v. 
20, p.233). 
Just’s Botanischer Jahresbericht (for 1905, v. 33, part 3, p. 778) 
contains several additional references on the cultivation of the opium 
poppy and the production of opium. 
IVood, S. C., gives an account of experiments made to develop a 
poppy plant that is rich in alkaloids. — Pharm. Era, 1905, v. 34, 
p. 507. 
OPIUM ASSAY. 
Herting, Otto, believes that the correction in the method of assay 
for opium is a good one, and that the addition of limewater will 
serve to make the now official method preferable to that included in 
the Ph. Germ., IY. — Deut.-Amer. Apoth. Ztg., X. Y., 1905, v. 26, p. 71. 
Bernstrom, G., reviews the several methods recommended for the 
assay of opium, and discusses the relative advantages, as also the 
relative value of haematoxylon and iodeosin as an indicator, pointing 
out that the latter is not free from objectionable features, particularly 
in the presence of narcotin. — Svensk. Farm. Tidskr., 1905, v. 9, pp. 
297-302 and 309-315. 
Yalenti, L. (Giorn. di Farm, di Trieste, 1905, p. 289), presents a 
comparative study of the different methods that have been proposed 
for the determination of morphine in opium, and recommends that of 
Fliickiger (precipitation from a solution in ether alcohol). The 
only drawback is the solubility of the morphine in the solvent. This 
amounts to 0.118 gm. per 100 cc., which should be added to the weight 
of the morphine found. — Analyst, Lond., 1905, v. 30, p. 337. 
Petit, Arthur and Albert (J. de Pharm. et de Chim., 1905, v. 21, 
pp. 107-111), outline the method of assay for opium adopted for the 
French Codex. The opium, after drying, is mixed with slaked lime, 
then mixed with water and allowed to stand for two hours, with occa- 
sional agitation. The mixture is transferred to a filter and an aliquot 
part of the filtrate is shaken with ether ; ammonium chloride is then 
added, and the resulting mixture allowed to stand for twenty-four 
hours in a covered beaker. The resulting morphine is collected on a 
filter, washed, and weighed after being dried for two hours at 100° 
C — Analyst, Lond., 1905, v. 30, p. 207. 
Mallinckrodt and Dunlap report some experiments on the assay 
of opium and the influence of meconic acid, particularly in the pres- 
ence of lime salts. — J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1905, v. 27, p. 946. 
