THE COMPOSITION OF CHLORODYNE. 
481 
The solution should not be kept long. When prepared as'above, it is almost 
void of colour, but gradually changes to a vinegar-brown. If the acetate of 
morphia be not quite fresh, this colour is produced in the solution when first 
prepared. 
Where there is not much demand for theacetate, it will be impossible to have 
it always recently prepared. In such cases it would be better to prepare the so¬ 
lution direct from pure morphia and acetic acid, using 25 per cent, less than 
would be required of the acetate, to allow for the combined acetic acid. 
To make six fluid drachms of the solution in this manner, forty-five grains of 
morphia and about four fluid drachms of diluted acetic acid will be required. 
Mix them in a small flask or ordinary ounce vial, and apply the heat of a water- 
bath till dissolved, adding a drop or two more of the acid, if necessary, being 
careful that the solution at last is neutral or only slightly acid. Filter as di¬ 
rected above, and add sufficient distilled water to make six fluid drachms. In 
this solution one grain of pure morphia will have been dissolved in eight minims, 
and it will contain one grain of the acetate in six minims. 
Other salts of morphia might be used with advantage. Among these, the so- 
called bimeconate is very soluble, and makes a tolerably stable solution. In¬ 
jected, it appears to be quite as active as the acetate, although it represents 
about one-fourth less of pure morphia ; but, beiug uncrystallizable, its compo¬ 
sition as generally made may not be so uniform. The citrate is likewise a very 
soluble salt. 
The hydrochlorate and sulphate each requires upwards of sixteen parts of water 
to hold them in solution. This prohibits their use for injecting hypodermically, as 
a large dose could not be conveniently administered by the syringe in ordinary 
use. As regards the sulphate, this statement is opposed to the statement of 
Abl, quoted in Grinelin’s ‘ Chemistry,’ and Storrer’s ‘ Dictionary of Solubilities,’ 
that it is soluble in two parts of water at 18'75° C. (about 66° F.). From re¬ 
peated experiments, both with the freshly-prepared salt and others, I find this 
to be an error. This salt of morphia, which is easily crystallizable and very 
stable, is most preferred in the United States. 
University College Hospital, January 21, 1870. 
THE COMPOSITION OF CHLORODYNE, 
Which is now proved to he, substantially , only a disguised solution of 
Morphia. 
BY A PROVINCIAL. 
It might reasonably have been anticipated, that a subject so important and 
Interestnig, both to physicians who prescribe and to chemists who dispense it, 
as the composition of the popular medicine chlorodyne, would have attracted a 
fair amount of attention ; and that the invitation conveyed in the paper en¬ 
titled “ Chlorodyne versus Liq. Chloroformi Co.,’ which appeared in the hist 
September number of this Journal, would have been freely responded to. In¬ 
stead of the two or three dozen letters which might have been expected, we 
have been favoured with just three; viz. one from Dr. C. Kidd, in November; 
one from Dr. T. S. Dowse, in December ; and one from Mr. E. Smith, in the 
last number. Are we then to infer from this reticence, that there is such 
laxity among medical meo, that they are contented, even after an opportunity 
for investigating the subject has been afforded them, still to go on prescribing 
a nostrum, with blind faith in its occult powers, and without caring to ascer- 
