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LIQUOR  OPII  COMPOSITUS. 
The  Process  of  Assay, 
Take  of  Solution  of  Opium,  464  grains, 
Alcohol,  380  « 
Solution  of  Ammonia,  22  " 
Weigh  the  solution  of  opium  in  a  carefully  tared  capsule,  of  a 
capacity  of  about  three  ounces,  add  to  it  one  half  of  the  alcohol 
and  stir  the  mixture.  Add  the  solution  of  ammonia  to  the 
other  half  of  the  alcohol  in  a  separate  vessel,  mix  them,  add  the 
mixture  to  the  contents  of  the  capsule,  stir  the  whole  together 
and  set  it  aside  for  twenty-four  hours,  protected  from  dust  but 
not  covered.  Decant  the  clear  liquid  carefully  and  slowly  off 
from  the  crystalline  deposit  and  dry  the  crystals  in  the  capsule, 
at  a  temperature  of  212°  for  half  an  hour.  Finally  cool  the  cap- 
sule and  contents,  weigh  them  closely  and  subtract  the  weight  of 
the  capsule.  The  remainder  is  assumed  for  the  weight  of  the 
morphia. 
Multiply  the  weight  of  the  morphia  by  seventy-nine  and  divide 
the  product  by  four.  Then  multiply  the  quotient  by  four 
hundred  and  fifty-five,  and  divide  this  product  by  four  hundred 
and  fifty.  The  last  quotient  will  be  the  number  of  parts  by 
weight  to  which  the  solution  must  be  made  up  in  finishing  it  ; 
and  this  quotient  divided  by  eight  will  give  another  quotient 
indicating  the  number  of  parts  by  weight  of  compound  spirit  of 
ether  to  be  added  to  the  solution  in  finishing  it. 
The  Dilution  or  Finishing. 
Finally,  upon  the  result  of  the  assay,  add  to  the  solution  of 
opium  the  proportion  of  compound  spirit  of  ether  indicated, 
agitate  the  mixture  well,  add  a  quantity  of  water  sufficient  to 
make  up  the  required  weight,  shake  the  whole  well  together, 
digest  with  frequent  shaking  for  one  week,  and  filter  through 
paper. 
Each  fluid  ounce  (of  four  hundred  and  fifty  grains)  of  this 
solution  contains  four  grains  of  morphia,  (equivalent  to  5-33  grs. 
of  sulphate  of  morphia,)  and  fifty-six  grains  of  compound  spirit 
of  ether,  and  is  of  the  same  morphia  strength  as  the  officinal 
tincture  of  opium,  provided  the  powdered  opium  from  which  the 
tincture  is  made  contains  precisely  ten  per  cent,  of  morphia. 
In  sedative  effect,  however,  it  is  less  active.  Compound  solution 
jf  opium  is  a  dark  wine-colored  liquid,  but  not  so  dark  as  tine- 
