LIQUOR. OP1I SEDAT1VUS. 
393 
the meconic acid had been removed. Two drachms evaporated, and the residue 
calcined, gave - 5 grain of ash, consisting of sulphate and carbonate of lime 
and chloride of calcium. The concentration of the liquor by evaporation ren¬ 
dered the crystallization indistinct; heat, therefore, long applied has an inju¬ 
rious tendency. This experiment was varied in several ways, without getting a 
better result. 
Liquor No. 5 was prepared by boiling for a quarter of an hour three drachms 
of crude opium in two ounces of water. The fluid, thrown on a filter, was 
washed up to two ounces. The filter was then pressed, and the liquids mixed. 
The mixed liquids, digested with carbonate of lime to remove free meconic acid, 
and filtered, were reduced by cautious evaporation to eleven drachms, and four 
drachms sp. vin. rect. added. This addition caused a precipitation that was ap¬ 
parently of a double character, but on examination only meconate of lime could 
be identified. The chalk, etc., on the filter was washed with water and dissolved 
in dilute hydrochloric acid. The solution was bitter to taste, contained but a 
trace of meconic, and no sulphuric, acid. Ammonia in excess and ether removed 
from it a considerable amount of narco tin, which was obtained finely and dis¬ 
tinctly crystallized. Subsequent agitation with acetic ether proved the absence 
of morphia. 
The fiuished liquor gave evidence of the presence of meconic acid, and of an¬ 
other precipitant (? thebolactic acid) of peroxide of iron. Two drachms, eva¬ 
porated to dryness and the residue calcined, gave ‘4 grain of ash, consisting 
mainly of sulphate of lime, with just sufficient reduced sulphide to give it alka¬ 
linity. Spontaneously evaporated side by side with Battley’s, it gave an infe¬ 
rior crystallization, nor was its flavour comparable with that of the “ original.” 
However, it contained no narcotine. 
This experiment was varied several times, sometimes with a better, sometimes 
with a worse result. 
Finally, the whole of the samples were mixed and set aside, and for some 
months forgotten. It was then observed that the bottle containing it had as¬ 
sumed the appearance characteristic of Liq. Opii Sed., and that the odour and 
taste of the liquid had sensibly improved. It was therefore tried again as to its 
crystallographic character, and it was found that the resinous precipitation on 
the bottle had freed the crystalline bodies from an impediment that had hitherto 
obstructed their assuming definite forms ; the microscopic crystallization was, in 
fact, as good as could be desired, but, the liquor, having been reduced to the 
strength of laudanum before being put away, the crystals were only about half 
as numerous as in the case of the genuine Battley. 
The formula I recommend for a Liquor Opii of the same strength as Tinct. 
Opii, B.P., is as follows :— 
Take of Powdered Opium . . . . 1^ oz. 
Prepared Chalk.^ oz. 
Rectified Spirit . . . . . 5 fl. oz. 
Distilled Water . . . . . q. s. 
Boil gently for half an hour the opium and chalk with one pint of distilled water; 
filter ; wash up to fifteen ounces, and add the spirit. After a few days’ repose, 
filter again. It improves much by being kept. Of course, the finer the opium, 
the better the liquor. 
Should the narcotine be thought worth recovering, the opium may be boiled 
with water alone, and the chalk subsequently added. The narcotine may be 
easily extracted from the dried chalk by boiling it with rectified spirit. 
The physiological action of this preparation has been compared with that of 
opium. It has been found to produce the narcotic effects of that drug, without 
entailing the unpleasant after-effects so often complained of. I must explain 
that my Liq. Opii is not designed as a substitute for Battley’s preparation, which 
vol. x. 2 E 
