30 Original Communications, 
1, Starch; 2, Gum : 3, Resin ; 4, Wax; 5, Fatty matter ; 
6, Red colouring matter; 7, Volatile colouring matter; 8, 
A peculiar principle soluble in alcohol and the dilute acids, 
but insoluble in water and ether. 
ART. IX— EXTRACT FROM A COMMUNICATION READ BEFORE 
THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, 
ON THE ADULTERATION OF MEDICINES. 
By William L. Rushton. 
ADULTERATION" OF ACETATE OF MORPHIA. 
I recently purchased of a drug house in Philadelphia an 
article purporting to be acetate of morphia, which was re- 
presented to be of their own preparing, and warranted per- 
fectly pure ; upon opening a vial of it, I perceived an unusual 
odour, which led me to suspect that it was adulterated. I 
submitted it to the usual tests, and could not discover that it 
contained a particle of morphia. I then gave a small quan- 
tity of the same article to a chemist to analyze, and received 
the following note : 
" Dear Sir — The substance which you left with me for 
analysis, purporting to be acetate of morphia, does not con- 
tain either morphia or acetic acid ; it is entirely composed 
of sulphate of lime, with a slight excess of sulphuric acid. 
" Yours, &c. C." 
Adulterated and damaged articles are also daily sold at 
auction, which require attention. Damaged rhubarb, within 
a few days, has been sold at five dollars a case, which will 
no doubt be powdered, and perhaps mixed with a little gam- 
boge, turmeric, or some deleterious substance and find its 
way into some of our stores, the proprietors of which are go- 
