60 
OS! INDIGENOUS OPIUM. 
ART.XV1II. ON INDIGENOUS OPIUM. 
Extract from a report of MM. De Mirbel, Bouissingalt, and Payen, and 
process of testing founded on the comparative determination of the propor- 
tions of Morphia. 
I will here sum up in a few words the history of the cul 
ture of indigenous opium, which I think, will be interest- 
ing to the reader. 
Dubuc, of Rouen, was occupied in the year IX. with the 
culture of the Papaver somniferum, and with the prepara- 
tion of opium in extract and in tears {Jinn, de Chimie, t. 
38, p. 181.) 
M. Lorseleur Deslonchampsmade numerous experiments 
with the view of substituting indigenous opium, under 
these two forms for the exotic products. On this occasion 
he received a testimonial of satisfaction from the class of 
the Institute. — [Moniteur of 1811, p. 775.) 
The late Mr. Hennell obtained from 700 grammes of 
opium, cultivated in England, by Messrs. Cowloy and 
Stairs, 48 grammes of morphise. (Botany of Drugs : Thomp- 
son, p. 202.) 
In 1817, The Society of Encouragement of London, 
awarded a gold medal to Mr. John Young for his method 
of cultivating the Papaver somniferum, and of collecting the 
opium from the capsule without diminishing the crop of 
seeds ; but in recommending the combined culture of pop- 
pies and potatoes, the author announced exaggerated pro- 
fits of 2,400 francs per hectare, which neither he nor others 
realised. 
In the following year, Vanguelier demonstrated the pre- 
sence of morphiae in indigenous poppies ; afterwards MM. 
Peschier, of Geneva, and Duprat, of Toulouse, also obtained 
