ON INDIGENOUS OPIUM. 
pave}* somniferum, and on the extraction of opium. We 
will examine the samples which may hereafter be sent to 
us; but in order that their quality may be ascertained on 
the spot, we think it right here to indicate one of the pro- 
cesses most easily followed, for determining, comparatively 
at least, the proportions of pure morphia in various indige- 
nous and exotic samples. 
Comparative analysis of samples of crude opium. 
25 grammes of opium cut in very thin slices, and left to 
macerate in 150 grammes of pure water. After 24 hours' 
contact, it is triturated in a mortar until the hydrated matter 
is clear ; then the most finely divided parts which the liquid 
holds in suspension are decanted on a filter ; water is added 
to the residue, which is triturated de novo and decanted on 
the same filter which is again washed with distilled water 
until the liquor passes through colorless ; an excess of well- 
slaked lime is added to the filtered solution ;* the mixture 
is boiled for about five minutes, filtered, and the filtered 
solution is acidulated with hydrochloric acid, which satu- 
rates the lime and combines with the morphia. The mor- 
phia is precipitated by ammonia, the excess of which is 
driven oft' by boiling. The morphia is collected on a filter, 
and washed with alcoholised water, then dissolved in alco- 
hol of 33 degrees ; it crystallises by cooling ; it is then suf- 
ficient to wash it with ether, to eliminate the narcotine ; it 
is afterwards dried and weighed. 
There certainly remains a small quantity of morphia in 
the liquid from which it has been precipitated ; it might be 
obtained by a second treatment after evaporation, but the 
operation would then become long and rather more diffi- 
cult ; besides, this is not necessary for determining which 
* One of the best means of completely slaking and thoroughly divi- 
ding lime consists in pouring on 1 part of quick lime two parts of boil- 
ing distilled water; in a few minutes the extinction will be complete, 
even when a small quantity is acted on. 
