60 
ON THE EXTRACTION OF MORPHIA. 
which the hydrogen has no action, and from which no sulphur 
sublimes. 
This fused mass is a salt of sulphur composed of sulphuret 
of potassium and persulphuret of antimony, which is not de- 
composable by hydrogen and a high temperature. The quan- 
tity obtained is very considerable, and by a quantative analy- 
sis, appears to be in a determinate proportion to the sulphuret 
of antimony. The composition of kermes obtained by ebulli- 
tion in an alkaline hydrate, according to this analysis, is ex- 
pressed by the formula (KS + SbS 5 ) +2SbS 3 ; but by prolonged 
washing, more and more of the salt of sulphur may be taken 
away. The presence of persulphuret of antimony in this 
kermes should be attributed, as in that from an alkaline carbo- 
nate, to an oxidation of the antimony of the sulphuret by the 
presence of air. 
Jinn, der Pharm. and Journ. des Mines. 
ART. XII. — ON THE EXTRACTION OF MORPHIA. By Fr. Mohr.* 
M. Mohr considers that the proposed process has the pecu- 
liar advantage of obtaining the morphia in the most short and 
easy manner, without the use of alcohol, in the crystalline form, 
and completely free from narcotine. This process consists in 
precipitating morphia from its solution in lime, by means of 
hydrochlorate of ammonia in powder, absolutely in the same 
way that Chenevix separates alumina from its alkaline solu- 
tion. 
Crude opium is to be macerated in successive portions of 
water, amounting to three times its own weight, being each 
time strongly expressed ; three or four macerations are suffi- 
cient. These liquors are then to be added to a thick milk of 
lime, which should contain the lime in about one-sixth orone- 
* Annal. der Chem. und Pharm. — Vol. xxv. 
