264 
MISCELLANY. 
mal charcoal, was sufficiently concentrated on a water bath, and set aside 
when a large quantity of crystals of muriate of morphia was deposited. A 
part of these were treated with ammonia, and the morphia tested in a 
separate state with a neutral solution of the perchloride of iron ; and part, 
while in the state of muriate, was tested'with iodic acid in the usual manner. 
As the dregs employed were not exhausted, nor the mother liquor treated 
with ammonia, an accurate quantitative result could not be obtained ; but 
the amount of muriate of morphia was so great that it could not fall much 
short of the average produce of such a quantity of opium. 
These experiments I had considered as conclusive. But, finding 
the new Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia retained the old formula, and that the 
remarks made on the tincture by various writers on materia medica and 
pharmacy seemed to indicate previous experiment, I feared that either too 
small a quantity had been operated upon, or that some source of error had 
been overlooked. To obviate any such mistake, several portions, each of 
twelve ounces, were successively examined ; in none, however, was mor- 
phia detected. As a check to the processes, several portions also of tincture 
of opium, (each of which would contain, by estimate, a quantity of opium 
equivalent to that in twelve ounces of the ammoniated tincture,) were 
treated in precisely the same modes as the ammoniated tincture had 
been. In these cases morphia was separated without difficulty; thus 
proving the efficacy of the processes. 
It may be observed, that, before any of the tinctures were boiled with 
magnesia, the greater part of the ammonia and alcohol in the one, and of 
alcohol in the other, was expelled by gentle heat on the water-bath ; as, in 
some cases, the alcohol in the liquid would be sufficient to take up the 
morphia after the decomposition of its salts by magnesia. The loss of am- 
monia caused no deposition of morphia. 
These facts seem to show that, if as I believe is universally admitted, 
the medicinal effects of opium are attributable chiefly, if not entirely to the 
morphia which it contains, the opium employed in this tincture might 
with advantage be omitted. — Edinburgh Medical and Surg. Journ. 
