THE CODEX AND THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 
Ill 
brilliancy of the crystals, and the rapidity of their formation, they surpass 
every chemical reaction of which I have had experience. Whether these re¬ 
actions of the several varieties of sublimate of morphine and strychnine, and the 
other alkaloids, will prove as practically useful as they are strikingly novel and 
beautiful, is a question which must yet be reserved for solution. It will also 
be necessary to ascertain, by repeated experiments, whether they are constant, 
frequent, or exceptional. 
One result, bearing directly on the practical application of the test of subli¬ 
mation, I have obtained in reference to morphine, in confirmation of a similar 
result in the case of strychnine. By exposing first a strong, and then a weaker 
solution of acetate of morphine to the vapour of ammonia, I obtained a score 
of small crystalline spots, each of which, without exception, yielded its snow- 
white crystalline sublimate, and a carbonaceous residue. The less soluble ace¬ 
tate of strychnine, treated in the same manner, gave also its crystalline spots, 
and its snow-white spotted sublimates, leaving a residue of crystals, from which, 
doubtless, other sublimates might have been procured. 
From these experiments with morphine and strychnine, therefore, we learn 
what similar experiments with spots of strychnine from solution in benzole had 
already taught, that spots deposited from solutions of these alkaloids yield more 
certain and satisfactory results than small fractions of a grain of the commercial 
alkaloids. I may add that I have now sufficient experience of the method of 
sublimation to assert, on its behalf, that for simplicity of procedure, delicacy, 
and uniformity, it will not suffer by comparison with any of our approved 
methods of qualitative analysis. 
In my last communication I mentioned the fact, that two kinds of sublimate 
may be obtained from stains of blood. I thought it possible that the second 
sublimate, as it has the colour of blood, might be found to contain its colouring 
matter in a form to be recognized by the spectrum. I accordingly forwarded 
some specimens to Mr. H. C. Sorby, who has obligingly submitted them to ex¬ 
amination, and favoured me with the result. He tells me that he is unable to 
trace any connection between them and blood; and that when acted on by 
citric acid, ammonia added, and then protosulphate of iron, no trace of the ex¬ 
tremely characteristic spectrum of deoxidized hsematine could be seen. These 
blood-sublimates, therefore, must be reserved for further examination. Mean¬ 
while, it is a fact connected with the description of the blood-stain that it 
affords two sublimates; the first at a moderate heat, the second at a higher 
temperature, the one colourless, the other of a deeper and richer tint than the 
smoked sublimates of the alkaloids, and that they both present appearances 
under the microscope which encourage further examination. 
THE CODEX AND THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 
BY A. F. HASELDEN. 
('Continued from p. 74.) 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
SALTS WITH VEGETABLE BASES 
Amongst which are enumerated sulphate of quinine, acid sulphate of quinine, 
sulphate of cinchonine, hydrochlorate of morphine, sulphate of strychnine, sul¬ 
phate of atropine, valerianate of atropine, and valerianate of quinine. 
