394 
Solution  of  Morphine  in  Oii. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharm 
\     August,  1882. 
Gelsemine  and  ^esculin  rapidly  pass  from  the  stomach  and  intestines 
into  the  blood,  and  are  excreted  throngli  the  urine.  The  resorption  is- 
also  rapid  on  subcutaneous  application. 
For  the  complete  excretion  of  ^esculin  through  the  urine  a  longer 
time  is  required,  so  j^hat  after  a  single  dose  it  may  be  recognized  in  the 
urine  for  several  days. 
If,  in  forensic  analysis,  gelsemine  is  supposed  to  have  been  found,, 
the  presence  of  sesculin  should  be  determined  for  deciding  the  question 
whether  gelsemine  alone  or  gelsemium  root  had  been  administered. 
Under  certain  conditions  gelsemine  shows  the  same  reaction  withi 
sulphuric  acid  and  potassium  bichromate  as  strychnine.  For  distin- 
guishing it  from  the  latter,  the  following  properties  are  useful : 
I.  The  reactions.  1.  To  concentrated  sulphuric  acid;  2.  To  sul- 
phuric trihydrate  and  potassium  bichromate  (or  eerie  oxide  or  peroxide 
of  manganese  or  of  lead)  ;  3.  To  Brouardel-Boutmy's  reagent ;  4.  To- 
sugar  and  concentrated  sulphuric  acid. 
II.  The  action  upon  the  animal  body ;  and 
III.  Its  association  in  the  root  with  gesculin. 
It  is  distinguished  from  quebrachine,  1.  By  not  being  extracted  by- 
chloroform  from  acid  solutions  by  the  reactions;  2.  With  sulphuric 
acid  and  potassium  trihydrate ;  3.  With  Froehde's  reagent ;  and  4. , 
With  sulphuric  acid  containing  iron ;  and  5.  By  the  absence  of 
£esculin  from  quebracho  bark. 
The  mode  of  isolation,  the  reaction  with  Froehde's  reagent,  and  the 
association  with  icsculin  in  the  drug  serve  to  distinguish  gelsemine  from 
geissospermine. 
For  distinguishing  it  from  aniline  and  curarine  consult  Dragendorff, 
"  Ermitteluug  der  (Trifte."     Relations  analogous  to  those  existing 
between  strychnine  on  the  one  side  and  curarine  and  aniline  on  the 
other  are  likewise  observed  l)etween  gelsemine  and  the    last  two  • 
alkaloids.  J.  M.  M. 
Solution  of  Morphine  in  Oil  is  proi)osed  by  I^arochette  to  be  pre- 
pared ])y  dissolving  5  parts  of  the  crvstallized  alkaloid  in  1,000  parts 
(»f  expressed  oil  of  almond.  Since  dehydrated  morphine  is  soluble  in 
125  parts  of  the  hot  oil  such  a  concentrated  solution  may  be  kept  on 
hand  and  properly  diluted  when  wanted  for  medicinal  use. — Jour.. 
Phar.  Ah.-Lorr.,  1882,  p.  105;  Bull  Fkar,  Lyon, 
