On Egyptian Opium. 
5 
trie acid, indicating narcotine, and lastly, a reddish brown 
mass of a viscid consistence, analagous to wax associated 
with a fixed oil. 
Experiment 2d. Two hundred and fifty grains, reduced to 
powder were digested in three ounces of distilled vinegar, 
specific gravity 1.011, eight daysj the result was a highly 
coloured solution, having a specific gravity 1.059 ; the dregs 
w T ere a second time digested in distilled vinegar, and the tw r o 
filtered solutions mixed, the acid of the vinegar was neutral- 
ized with water of ammonia, and one and a half drachms 
more diluted with half an ounce of alcohol, were thrown into 
the solution which was well agitated ; upon standing, a co- 
pious precipitate, of a light brown colour, fell down. This 
precipitate was collected, washed with cold water, dried and 
boiled in alcohol, 35°; the hot filtered solution, by evapora- 
tion, yielded 14 grains of morphia, somewhat coloured ; after 
being reduced to powder and washed with ether, they weigh- 
ed 11 grains. 
Oil of turpentine, by standing on the dregs a few r days, oc- 
casionally assisted by the heat of a sand bath, acquired a 
brown colour ; by evaporation, it yielded a matter similar to 
the etherial deposit mentioned in the last; it was inflammable, 
producing much smoke. 
Experiment 3d. Three hundred grains, coarsely pow- 
dered, were acted on by one ounce distilled water, until com- 
pletely divided ; six ounces diluted alcohol were added, the 
maceration continued ten days, the tincture filtered, and the 
dregs washed with two ounces diluted alcohol, passed and re- 
passed ; the two tinctures were mixed and evaporated. The 
extract, dissolved in alcohol diluted with twice its w r eight of 
water, formed a clear solution; after standing a short time, 
however, it deposited a number of crystals ; these were col- 
lected on a filter and dried ; they weighed 5 grains, and 
proved to be narcotine. 
The solution of the extract was boiled a few minutes with 
thirty grains of recently calcined magnesia, allowed to cool, 
and then filtered. By purification, first with alcohol and 
afterward with ether, but 10 grains of morphia were obtained. 
