162 
LIQUOR  OPII  SEDATIVUS. 
numerous  than  was  expected.  Narcotina  was  not  present.  It 
was  found  also  that  the  whole  of  the  raeconic  acid  had  been  re- 
moved. Two  drachms  evaporated,  and  the  residue  calcined^ 
gave  -5  grain  of  ash,  consisting  of  sulphate  and  carbonate  of 
lime  and  chloride  of  calcium.  The  concentration  of  the  liquor 
by  evaporation  rendered  the  crystallization  indistinct ;  heat, 
therefore,  long  applied  has  an  injurious  tendency.  This  ex- 
periment was  varied  in  several  ways,  without  getting  a  better 
result. 
Liquor  No.  5  was  prepared  by  boiling  for  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  three  drachms  of  crude  opium  in  two  ounces  of  water. 
The  fluid,  thrown  on  a  filter,  was  washed  up  to  two  ounces.  The 
filter  was  then  pressed,  and  the  liquids  mixed.  The  mixed 
liquids,  digested  with  carbonate  of  lime  to  remove  free  meconic 
acid,  and  filtered,  were  reduced  by  cautious  evaporation  to  eleven 
drachms,  and  four  drachms  sp.  vin.  rect.  added.  This  addition 
caused  a  precipitation  that  was  apparently  of  a  double  character, 
but  on  examination  only  meconate  of  lime  could  be  identified. 
The  chalk,  etc.,  on  the  filter  was  washed  with  water  and  dis- 
solved in  dilute  hydrochloric  acid.  The  solution  was  bitter  to 
taste,  contained  but  a  trace  of  meconic,  and  no  sulphuric  acid. 
Ammonia  in  excess  and  ether  removed  from  it  a  considerable 
amount  of  narcotina,  which  was  obtained  finely  and  distinctly 
crystallized.  Subsequent  agitation  with  acetic  ether  proved  the 
absence  of  morphia. 
The  finished  liquor  gave  evidence  of  the  presence  of  meconic 
acid,  and  of  another  precipitant  (?  thebolactic  acid)  of  peroxide 
of  iron.  Two  drachms,  evaporated  to  dryness  and  the  residue 
calcined,  gave  -4  grain  of  ash,  consisting  mainly  of  sulphate  of 
lime,  with  just  sufficient  reduced  sulphide  to  give  it  alkalinity. 
Spontaneously  evaporated  side  by  side  with  Battley's,  it  gave  an 
inferior  crystallization,  nor  was  its  flavor  comparable  with  that 
of  the  "  original."    However,  it  contained  no  narcotina. 
This  experiment  was  varied  several  times,  sometimes  with  a 
better,  sometimes  with  a  worse  result. 
Finally,  the  whole  of  the  samples  were  mixed  and  set  asi^e, 
and  for  some  months  forgotten.  It  was  then  observed  that  the 
bottle  containing  it  had  assumed  the  appearance  characteristic 
