296 POISONS : THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§ 360 . 
alcohol, in the cold, dissolves one-fonrth per cent., and still more if the 
alkaloid be thrown out of an aqueous acid solution by ammonia in the 
presence of amyl alcohol; for under such circumstances the morphine 
has no time to become crystalline. According to Schlimpert, 1 part 
of morphine requires 60 of chloroform for solution; according to 
Pettenkofer, 175. 100 parts of tetrachloride of carbon dissolve -032 
morphine (J. Schindelmeiser, Chemiker-Zeitung , xxv. 129). 
Morphine is easily soluble in dilute acids, as well as in solutions of 
the caustic alkalies and alkaline earths ; carbonated alkalies and chloride 
of ammonium also dissolve small quantities. The acid watery, and the 
alcoholic solutions, turn the plane of polarisation to the left; for sul¬ 
phuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids [a]r=89-8° ; in alkaline solution 
the polarisation is less, [a]r=45-22°. It is alkaline in reaction, neutral¬ 
ising acids fully; and, in fact, a convenient method of titrating 
morphine is by the use of a centinormal sulphuric acid—each c.c. equals 
2-85 mgrms. of anhydrous morphine. 
§ 360. The salts of morphine are for the most part crystalline, and 
are all bitter, neutral, and poisonous. They are insoluble in amylic 
alcohol, ether, chloroform, benzene, or petroleum ether. 
Morphine meconate is one of the most soluble of the morphine 
salts ; it is freely soluble in water. Of all salts this is most suitable 
for subcutaneous injection ; it is the form in which the alkaloid exists 
in opium. 
Morphine hydrochloride (C 17 H 19 N0 3 HC1) crystallises in silky fibres ; 
it is readily soluble in alcohol, and is soluble in cold, more freely in 
boiling, water. The purest morphine hydrochloride is colourless, but 
that which is most frequently met with in commerce is fawn or buff- 
coloured. 
Morphine acetate is a crystallisable salt, soluble in water or alcohol ; 
it is in part decomposed by boiling the aqueous solution, some of the 
acetic acid escaping. 
Morphine Tartrates. —These are readily soluble salts, and it is im¬ 
portant to note that the morphine might escape detection if the expert 
trusted alone to the usual test of an alkaloidal salt giving a precipitate 
when the solution is alkalised by the fixed or volatile alkalies ; for the 
tartrates of morphine do not give this reaction, nor do they give any 
precipitate with calcic chloride. By adding a solution of potassium 
acetate in spirit, and also alcohol and a little acetic acid to the con¬ 
centrated solution, the tartrate is decomposed, and acid tartrate of 
potassium is precipitated in the insoluble form ; the morphine in the 
form of acetate remains in solution, and then gives the usual 
reactions. 
The solubility of morphine salts in water and alco holhas been in¬ 
vestigated by Mr J. U. Lloyd. His results are as follows: — 
