49° 
Morphia  Reactions, 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Oct.,  1878. 
"sabadillia,"  but  non-crystalline  and  insoluble  in  water,  and  differing 
therefore  in  these  respects  j  this  body  gave  numbers  agreeing  with 
C34H53N08,  and  on  saponification  appeared  to  form  cevadic  acid.  To 
indicate  this  latter  fact  and  to  connote  its  partial  resemblance  to  "saba- 
dillia,"  we  propose  to  term  it  cevadillina. 
(6.)  The  "sabatrina"  of  Weigelin  is  doubtless  simply  a  mixture  of 
resonoid  alteration-products, as  is  also  Couerbe's  "hydrate  of  sabadillia." 
(7.)  The  sabadilla  alkaloids  are  not  merely  constituted  like  the  aconite 
bases  (/.  as  regards  saponification  and  in  the  case  of  cevadina,  hydroxy- 
lation),  but  they  also  contain  nitrogenous  radicles,  which  appear  to  be 
closely  allied  to  those  of  the  aconite  alkaloids. —  "Jour,  Chem.  Soc.  Aug., 
P.  358.   
MORPHIA  REACTIONS. 
By  David  Lindo. 
During  the  analysis  of  a  complex  mixture  it  was  noticed  that  the 
aqueous  solution  exhibited  an  intense  green  color.  This  solution  was 
found  to  contain  ammonia  and  copper  salts  with  organic  matter,  which 
proved  to  be  morphia.  1  have  not  seen  this  color-reaction  mentioned 
before,  and  as  it  might  sometimes  prove  useful  as  a  confirmatory  test 
for  morphia,  I  have  endeavored  to  ascertain  the  conditions  most  favor- 
able to  its  development.    These  appear  to  be  as  follows : 
Dissolve  1  part  crystallized  sulphate  of  copper  in  10  parts  of  water; 
add  solution  of  ammonia  cautiously  and  with  active  stirring  until  the 
precipitate  is  just  dissolved. 
To  ascertain  if  this  solution  is  fit  for  the  intended  purpose,  dissolve 
2  grains  muriate  morphia  in  1  ounce  of  distilled  water  ;  place  some  of 
this  in  a  test-tube,  add  a  few  drops  of  the  test-fluid  and  shake  the  vessel 
slightly.  If  a  precipitate  or  permanent  turbidity  is  observed,  the  test- 
fluid  requires  a  little  more  ammonia,  which  should  be  added  in  small 
quantity  at  a  time,  and  the  mixture  well  shaken  after  each  addition,  as 
a  notable  excess  prevents  the  test  from  acting.  Adding  ammonia  to 
the  morphia  mixture  that  is  being  tested  to  rectify  deficiency  in  the 
test-fluid  will  not  be  found  to  answer. 
When  a  few  drops  of  a  properly-prepared  test-fluid  are  added  to  a 
neutral  solution  of  morphia  salt  of  the  above  strength,  and  the  tube  is 
slightly  shaken,  no  cloudiness  will  be  observed,  but  the  fluid  assumes  a 
