ON THE EXTRACTION OP MORPHIA. 
61 
fourth part of the opium used. If the mixture of lime be 
poured into the boiling solution of opium, a mass separates, 
and, by fusion, agglutinates on the sides of the vessel, and is 
then dissolved with much difficulty. This takes place because 
the morphia is at first precipitated, while there is as yet not 
excess of lime to redissolve it. It is therefore better to add the 
solution of opium to the boiling milk of lime, or to mix both to- 
gether at a boiling temperature, and afterwards apply heat to 
complete the process. The liquors are then allowed to boil- for 
a few minutes. The effect produced by the milk of lime in 
decolorizing the liquors is remarkable. The narcotine is 
completely retained in the precipitate. The liquid, after 
boiling with the milk of lime, is then strained, and the residue 
washed with boiling water and expressed. The liquors are 
then evaporated to about double the weight of the opium, and 
promptly filtered to separate some carbonate of lime which is 
always formed. Again, heating the liquors to ebullition, sal 
ammoniac in powder is to be added in the proportion of 30 parts 
for over 500 parts of opium. The form in which the morphia 
separates, depends upon the state of concentration to which the 
solution of morphia in lime was brought by the evaporation : 
if this is very great, the addition of sal ammoniac produces im- 
mediately an abundant precipitate, which some minutes of 
ebullition changes into crystalline needles ; if more feeble, it 
sometimes does not immediately produce a precipitate, but 
soon after here and there may be distinguished some white 
needles ; the precipitate now appears with great promptness, 
and sometimes so many crystals are formed as to occupy on 
deposition one half the bulk of the liquid. Agitation some- 
times promotes the crystallization. 
The previous decolorization of the liquor by animal char- 
coal is unnecessary — for the lime itself produces a greater ef- 
fect than the charcoal. The author is satisfied that sal ammo- 
niac precipitates all the morphia from the solution in lime. — 
We, however, regret that he has not indicated the quantity of 
product, comparatively with the amount of opium employed. 
Crystallized morphia thus obtained is not absolutely color- 
