A^an^aryf1h900m-}  Assay  of  Opium.  39 
for  neutralization  =99-76  per  cent.,  each  cubic  centimetre  of  the  acid, 
being  the  equivalent  of  0-015117  gramme  crystallized  morphine. 
N 
o  3292  gramme  of  morphine  required  21-7  c.c.  of —  H.,S04  V.S., 
'  20 
==  99  64  per  cent. 
The  following  mode  of  procedure  was  adopted  in  the  titrations. 
Weigh  into  a  tared  beaker  between  0-2-0-3  gramme  of  the  mor- 
phine,  and  carefully  run  in  upon  it  25  c.c.  of  —  HoS04.V.S., stir 
20 
gently  until  solution  is  completely  effected,  which  is  quickly  accom- 
plished.   Add  5  drops  of  the  U.S. P.  test  solution  of  cochineal 
and  then  run  in  —  KOH,  V.S.,  until  a  distinct  pink  color  appears. 
20 
The  morphine  from  Nos.  3  and  4  was  destro}7ed  before  it  was  de- 
cided to  titrate  the  different  samples. 
It  will  be  seen  from  the  accompanying  table  that  trustworthy  re- 
sults cannot  be  secured  by  titration  of  the  morphine  as  obtained 
by  U.S. P.  process. 
This  may  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  there  is  present  in  the 
morphine  an  acid-consuming  body  of  a  lower  molecular  weight,  at 
least  such  seems  to  be  the  case  with  No.  1. 
0  3108  gramme  of  this  sample,  treated  with  10  c.c.  of  water, 
transferred  to  a  filter  and  carefully  washed  until  the  filtrate  meas- 
ured 36  c.c,  required  1-55  c.c.  of  H2c04.V.S. 
20 
As  the  solubility  of  crystallized  morphine  in  water  at  150  C. 
is  given  at  one  part  in  4,350  parts  (U.S. P.),  and  assuming  that  the 
water  (36  c.c.)  weighed  36  grammes,  an  amount  of  morphine  (0-0082 
gramme)  should  be  in  solution,  corresponding  to  0-5  5  c.c.  J_?  H2S04 
20 
instead  of  1-55  as  actually  obtained. 
Since  the  above  observation  was  made  and  the  work  incidental 
to  it  had  been  completed,  the  writer's  attention  was  drawn  to  the  fact 
that  a  similar  observation  had  been  recorded  by  Mr.  L.  F.  Kebler,1 
but  no  attempt  was  made  to  obviate  this  difficulty. 
In  conclusion,  the  writer  wishes  to  say  that  a  more  extended  trial 
will  be  given  the  method  and  the  results  reported  upon  in  the  near 
future. 
Laboratory  of  Schieffelin  &  Co.,  New  York. 
1  1 S95.   Jour.  Soc.  Chem.  Ind.,  14,  464 
