On Adulteration of Acetate of Morphine. 
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'The appearance of the powder was similar in colour to that 
of good acetate of morphine, but it consisted of shapeless and 
unequal masses which induced us to suppose at first sight, that 
it had not been properly evaporated to dryness, and that the 
acetic acid prevailed over the base. 
Five grains of the powder were treated with 200 grains of 
distilled water which only dissolved 0.4 of a grain. The 
action of hot water was perfectly similar. On adding 
acetic acid in considerable quantities, in order to see whether 
there was any prevalence of a base, which is often the 
case after long exposure to the air, or when carelessly pre- 
pared, we found to our great astonishment that only a very 
trifling portion (0.1 grain) of the powder was farther dissolved; 
thus proving to us that very little, if any morphine or narco- 
tine are contained in the said acetate of morphine, both of 
these substances being perfectly soluble in acetic acid: our at- 
tention was therefore now directed to the insoluble residuum 
which we presumed, and found to be composed of substances 
perfectly foreign to acetate of morphine ; but wishing if pos* 
sible to determine what the soluble half grain consisted of, we 
precipitated it with ammonia, and having washed and dried 
the precipitate which had neither increased nor lost in weight, 
we poured over it a solution of caustic potash which produced 
no effect; thus convincing us that no particle of morphine is 1 
contained in the powder which we have received for analysis^ 
To discover whether the powder was composed of organic or 
inorganic ingredients we treated a part of it with strong nitric 
acid, which only produced a scarcely visible yellow colour 
Upon the edges of the powder; whereas had organic substances 
been present, the powder would have been coloured or de- 
stroyed : morphine thus treated becoming deep red, strych- 
nine and other similar organic bodies yellow or red. Another 
portion was submitted to the action of fire upon a thin piece" 
of glass, and though the latter was heated to melting, the 
powder remained apparently unchanged. The examination 
of the insoluble 4.5 grains offered the following phenomenon* 
A portion of the powder dissolved in diluted nitric acid 
Vol. I—No. 2 16 
