480 
SOLUTION OF MORPHIA FOR HYPODERMIC INJECTION. 
It follows from all that has been said, that the inter-relations between the 
members of the maximum triplet, Matter, Substance, Body, as well as those 
betweeu the members of the minimum triplet, Atom, Molecule, Farticle, 
may be figured by writing the last two members of each series as the second 
and third powers of one radical; as, e. g ., X, X 2 , X 3 , and a-, a: 2 , a 3 ; with which 
observation the subject may be dismissed. 
ON A SOLUTION OF MORPHIA FOB HYPODERMIC 
INJECTION. 
BY WM. MARTINDALE, 
DISPENSER AND TEACHER OF PHARMACY TO THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL. 
The mode of administering opiates hypodermically, whereby a much less dose 
proves efficacious, and the derangement of the stomach and other disagreeable 
effects, when taken by the mouth, are avoided, has almost become universal in 
cases where these objections would tend to prohibit their use. To quote our 
senior physician —“ Who that has suffered from a painful local affection can 
think of the alleviation to his sufferings which followed on the subcutaneous in¬ 
jection of an anodyne, without gratitude?” 
The solution for the purpose should be an aqueous one, neutral if possible, 
and of such strength that six minims contain a maximum dose. The syringe 
commonly used is graduated up to six minims. In addition to this graduation, 
some have the piston worked by a screw, of which so many turns are equal to a 
minim ; others are worked by pressure in the ordinary manner. 
A solution of morphia—one grain in six minims, the most convenient strength 
—may be made by first dissolving one drachm of the acetate (recently prepared) 
in about four fluid drachms of hot distilled water, adding a drop or two of di¬ 
luted acetic acid, if the solution be not complete. Filter into a graduated 
measure while hot, and, the fluid being all passed through, wash the filter by 
sprinkling over it sufficient distilled water, that the whole filtered product, 
when cold, may measure exactly six fluid drachms. 
It is important that the acetate of morphia be recently prepared. It has 
then, as found in commerce, a faint acetic odour, and is an almost pure white 
dry powder. If of a pale brownish-grey colour and having a somewhat musky 
odour,—characteristic of age,—it will be less soluble. This is not due to the 
loss by volatilization of acetic acid merely, as this loss, if replaced, and a com¬ 
plete solution effected by applying heat,—the strength of one grain in six 
minims being adhered to,—the solution, probably on account of the salt having 
undergone some molecular change by keeping, will, when cold, become a mass 
of feathery crystals.f 
the inevitable development of an original germ,—when the lines in which Lucretius burlesqued 
the homoeomery of Anaxagoras, became scarcely too pronounced an exposition of Epicurean 
tenets. 
“ Ossa videlicet e pauxillis atque minutis 
Ossibu’; sic et de pauxillis atque minutis 
Visceribus viscus gigni: sanguenque creavi 
Sanguinis inter se multis co-euntibu’ guttis; 
Ex aurique putat micis consistere posse 
Aurum : et de terris terrain concrcscere parvis; etc. 
Lib. I. 835, et seq. 
* See Sir \\. Jenner’s Address, delivered before the British Medical Association at Leeds, 
I860. 
f A case of this kind came under my notice in which a physician had a solution of the above 
strength prepared at one of the leading dispensing establishments; when required for use, 
what was intended for a solution was found to be a mass of crystals! 
