262 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
The tincture is probably the most valuable pharmaceutical preparation, as 
an interna) remedy, while the aqueous emulsion is the form adapted for ex¬ 
ternal application by the oculist. 
The structure of the bean is very interesting under the microscope. The 
cells of the spermoderm form interesting sections, whilst the kernel consists 
of loose cellular tissue, containing very large starch granules. 
Both acids and alkalies develope peculiar colouring principles. One appears 
to be a red colouring matter, developed by caustic potash ; in an aqueous so¬ 
lution it may be removed by chloroform, and collected therein as a brilliant 
scarlet opaque solution. 
A pink colour is also developed by sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric 
acids, with, however, a coagulation of some albuminous principle. Caustic 
soda simply bleaches the extract, whilst caustic ammonia developes a yellow 
colouring matter which, upon exposure to air, gradually changes from yellow 
to a grass-green, and finally a stable indigo-blue colour. It is not improbable 
that the latter reaction may be an important fact in the commercial history of 
the bean. The physiological properties of the bean being perfectly antago¬ 
nistic to those of strychnia, it is somewhat remarkable that the chemical reac¬ 
tions of the extract bear a remarkable resemblance to strychnia with the 
“ colour tests.” The chief distinction lies in the crystalline character of strych¬ 
nia, and the fact that it is not changed in colour by sulphuric acid. When che¬ 
micals yielding nascent oxygen, or ozonized salts are added to the acid mix¬ 
ture, the reactions consist of a play of blue, purple, and red colours, which 
might be mistaken, when observed in minute quantities, for those of strych¬ 
nia. [These reactions were exhibited to the meeting.] I am now acting 
upon a large quantity of the beans (50 to 60 pounds), and hope, in a future 
communication, to be able to give further information than is at present 
known with respect to the character and composition of the alkaloidal prin¬ 
ciple and the colouring matters which may be obtained from these remarkable 
beans. 
ON THE MORPHIA SALTS OF COMMERCE. 
BY W. E. HEATIIFIELD, F.R.G.S. 
{Read at the Rath Meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Conference , Sept. 1864.) 
Amongst the many vegetable products from which are obtained the alka¬ 
loidal bodies, there are none, as at present known, of so complex a character 
as opium; none which yield so largely their crystalline formations, and none 
which afford so many substances, each presenting a different feature and a 
different habit. 
Of these substances, amounting to about eleven, six have been carefully 
analysed, and the verifications of the results by Professor Anderson, of Glas¬ 
gow, together with the experimental performances upon some of them by 
Mr. How, have contributed much to render this part of the subject complete. 
The subjoined list indicates the six bodies to which I refer, and the composi¬ 
tion of each:—- 
Morphia.C 34 H 19 N0 6 + 2 aq. 
Codeia.C 36 H 21 N0 6 „ 
Thebain.C 38 H 21 N0 6 „ 
Papaverin .... C 40 H 21 NO 8 „ 
Narcotin.C 46 H 25 N0 14 „ 
Narcein.C 46 H 29 N0 18 3 , 
And it is to be observed that the two first-named, i. e. morphia and codeia, 
differ from each other exactly by C 2 H 2 , and it suggested itself to Mr. How 
(whose experiments were tried in the year 1853, as detailed in the ‘ Journal 
