Am.  Jour.  Pharm.l 
March,  1887.  J 
Assay  of  Laudanum. 
127 
A  READY  METHOD  FOR  THE  ASSAY  OF  LAUDANUM. 
Ry  Charles  Bullock. 
The  resinous  matter  taken  up  by  dilute  alcohol  from  opium  pre- 
sents an  obstacle  in  the  determination  of  the  morphia  contained  in  the 
tincture.  The  following  simple  process  was  found  to  work  well,  and 
gave  satisfactory  results. 
The  tincture  is  evaporated  on  a  water  bath  at  a  low  heat  to  about 
one- fourth  of  its  volume,  to  the  fluid  extract  thus  obtained  pure  kaolin 
is  stirred  in  until  a  thick  paste  is  formed ;  water  is  then  added  grad- 
ually with  constant  stirring  to  make  an  homogeneous  mixture  ;  this 
is  transferred  to  a  wet  filter  and  after  the  liquid  has  drained  through, 
the  contents  of  the  filter  are  washed  with  water  until  the  filtrate  is 
clear  and  without  bitterness. 
The  solution  first  draining  through  the  filter  is  set  aside,  and  the 
washings  are  evaporated  on  a  water-bath,  and  added  to  the  reserved 
portion.  The  separation  of  the  morphia  is  then  effected  after  the  pro- 
cess of  Dr.  E.  R.  Squibb. 
The  kaolin  separates  the  resinous  matter  in  a  finely  divided  condi- 
tion and  permits  the  soluble  salts  to  be  washed  out  without  difficulty. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  FOREIGN  JOURNALS. 
By  Geo.  H.  Ochse,  Ph.G. 
Eugenol  as  an  antiseptic.^ Eugenol  the  principal  component  of  oil  of 
cloves  is  found  also  in  Myrtus  Pimenta  (Pimenta  officinalis,  Lindley), 
Amomis  acris,  Berg  (Myrcia  acris,  DeC),  Canella  alba,  Murray, 
Dicypellium  caryophyllatum,  Nees,  and  in    Ravensara  aromatiea, 
(  OCH3 
Sonnerat.    Eugenol  C10H12O2=C6H3-<  OH  — a  phenol-like 
(  CH.CH.CH3 
compound,  is  insoluble  in  glycerin  and  water  and  is  obtained  as  residue 
when  oil  of  cloves  is  subjected  to  distillation  with  strong  caustic  alka- 
lies. After  the  so-called  light  oil  of  cloves  is  distilled  off,  sulphuric 
or  phosphoric  acid  is  added  and  by  continuing  the  distillation  without 
access  of  air,  eugenol  is  obtained.  Eugenol  is  an  oily,  colorless  liquid, 
possessing  the  odor  and  taste  of  oil  of  cloves  in  the  highest  degree.  In 
contact  with  air  and  light  it  soon  acquires  a  brown  color;  it  boils  at 
247-5°  C.  and  has  a  specific  gravity  of  1'078  at  0  and  1*063  at  18*5° 
