322 POISONS: THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§§ 385 - 389 - 
and then melts. It dissolves easily in eaustic alkalies and in milk of lime, but is 
insoluble in all the ordinary alcoholic and ethereal solvents, as well as in diluted 
sulphuric acid. The most soluble salt is the hydrochloride, and that requires 70 
parts of water at 20° for solution. Various salts, such as the sulphate, oxalate, etc., 
may be prepared from the hydrochloride by double decomposition. Concentrated 
sulphuric acid dissolves pseudomorphine gradually, with the production of an olive- 
green colour. 
§ 385. Apomorphine (C 17 H 17 N0 2 ).—Apomorphine is a derivative of morphine, 
and is readily prepared by saponifying morphine by heating it with dilute hydro¬ 
chloric acid in sealed tubes. The result is apomorphine hydrochloride, the morphine 
losing one molecule of water, according to the equation C 17 H 19 N 0 3 =C 17 H 17 N 0 2 "i _ H 20 . 
To extract apomorphine, the bases are precipitated by sodic bicarbonate, and the 
precipitate extracted by ether or chloroform, either of which solvents leaves morphine 
undissolved. The apomorphine is again converted into hydrochloride, and once 
more precipitated by sodic bicarbonate, and is lastly obtained as a snow-white sub¬ 
stance, rapidly becoming green on exposure to the air. The mass dissolves with a 
beautiful green colour in water, and also in alcohol, whilst it colours ether purple- 
red, and chloroform violet. 
A test for apomorphine is the following :—The chloride is dissolved in a little acetic 
acid and shaken with a crystal of potassic iodate (KI0 3 ) ; this immediately turns 
red from liberated iodine on shaking it up with a little chloroform ; on standing, 
the chloroform sinks to the bottom, and is coloured by the alkaloid a beautiful blue 
colour ; on now carefully pouring a little CS 2 on the surface of the liquid, at the point 
of junction it is coloured amethyst owing to dissolved iodine, and apocodeine gives a 
similar reaction. 
Apomorphine is the purest and most active emetic known : whether injected 
beneath the skin or taken by the mouth, the effect is the same—there is considerable 
depression, faintness, and then vomiting. The dose for an adult is about 6 ingrms. 
(•092 grain) subcutaneously administered. 
§ 386. Laudanine, C 17 H 15 N(OH)(OCH 3 ) 3 , crystallises from alcohol or chloroform 
in colourless prisms soluble in benzol, ^chloroform, and alkalies, not very soluble in 
alcohol and ether. Melts at 106°. It is a strong tetanic poison. Laudanidine is 
probably the lsevo modification of laudanine; it melts at 177°. Laudanosine, 
C 17 H 15 N(OCH 3 ) 4 , another tetanic poison, has been shown to be dextro-w-methyl- 
tetrahydropapaverine ; its inactive form, which may be separated into active lsevo- 
and dextro-forms, appears to be the monomethyl ester of laudanine. It crystallises 
in needles, melting at 89°, and is soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform, but not in 
water or alkali. 
§ 387. Tritopine (C 21 H 27 N0 3 ) 2 .—This is a rare alkaloid that has been found in 
small quantities in opium. It is crystalline, separating in transparent prisms. 
Melting-point 182°. It is soluble in alcohol and chloroform, and slightly soluble in 
ether . 1 
§ 388. Meconine (Opianyl), meconic acid anhydride (C 10 H 10 O 4 ), is in the form of 
white glittering needles, which melt at 102-5°. It may be sublimed in beautiful crystals. 
It is soluble in 22 parts of boiling, and 700 of cold water ; dissolves easily in alcohol, 
ether, acetic acid, and ethereal oil, and is not precipitated by acetate of lead. It is 
optically inactive. Meconine is the reduction product of opianic acid, and may be 
formed by treating narcotine with zinc dust and hydrochloric acid. Its solution in 
concentrated sulphuric acid becomes, on warming, purple, and gives, on the addition 
of water, a brown precipitate. The maximum amount of meconine in opium is no 
more than -112 per cent. Meconine, in large doses, is a feeble narcotic ; 1-25 grm. 
(20 grains) has been given to man without result. 
§ 389. Heroin, C 17 H 17 N0 4 .(0.CH 3 C0) 2 , is diacetyl morphine. It occurs in prisms, 
melting-point 171-173°, almost insoluble in water, not very soluble in ether, but 
dissolving easily in hot alcohol and chloroform. The acetyl group is easily split 
off, and then the reactions of morphine can be obtained. Like cocaine, of late 
1 E. Kander, Arch. Pliarm., ccxxviii. 419-431. 
