16 
Opium,  Production  in  Europe. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\    Jan.  1, 1872. 
Mr.  Vulpius,  pharmacist  at  Bocksberg,  near  Heidelberg,  produced 
some  opium  in  1870,  samples  of  which  are  now  in  Dr.  Harz's  posses- 
sion for  analysis.  Dr.  P.  Sorauer  made,  at  the  same  time,  successful 
experiments  at  the  Agricultural  Experimental  Establishment  at 
Dahme,  near  Berlin  ;  he  made  the  important  observation,  that  the 
incised  capsules  yielded  more  seed  than  the  sound  ones,  which  would 
increase  the  profit  in  a  new  direction. 
The  manufacture  of  olive  oil  is,  in  Austria,  in  a  very  primitive 
state,  and  large  sums  of  money  go  out  of  the  country  to  be  invested 
in  good  salad  oil,  which,  if  kept  at  home  and  laid  out  in  opium  culti- 
vation, would  assist  in  manufacturing  a  pure  poppy  oil,  exceeding  in 
agreeable  taste  the  olive  oil.  The  incisions  must  be  made  in  fourteen 
to  eighteen  days  after  the  petals  have  dropped,  and,  according  to 
Jobst's  experience,  in  early  morning.  Gastinel,  of  Cairo,  in  the 
Journal  de  Pharm.  et  de  Chim.  1865,  draws  attention  to  the  fact, 
that  opium  obtained  from  nearly  ripe  poppies  yielded  10  to  12  per 
cent,  of  morphia,  while  another  sample,  collected  directly  after  flores- 
cence, gave  a  pretty  large  yield,  but  contained  only  3  to  4  per  cent, 
of  the  alkaloid.  The  condition  of  the  soil  is  of  course  of  importance, 
although  opinions  differ  on  this  point ;  Gastinel  finds  a  well-manured 
soil  to  yield  opium  rich  in  morphia,  while  Figari-Bey  comes  to  the  re- 
verse conclusion,  and  the  last  view  is  strengthened  by  Dr.  O'Shaugh- 
nessy,  who  observed  in  East  India  that  opium  grown  on  manured  soil 
contained  less  morphia  than  that  from  an  unmanured  soil.  Certain 
it  is,  that  newly  manured  soil  acts  unfavorably  upon  the  poppy-seed. 
In  order  fully  to  develop  the  opium  cultivation  at  home,  it  will  be 
necessary  to  settle  the  following  questions,  viz.  : — 
1.  Which  variety  of  poppy  produces  most  seed  and  the  best  opium, 
richest  in  morphia  ? 
2.  What  influences  does  the  quality  of  the  soil  (presence  of  chalk, 
manure,  etc.)  exercise  upon  the  formation  of  the  two  products  ? 
3.  Which  is  the  most  unfavorable  time  for  cutting  the  poppy-heads  t 
4.  Does  the  yield  of  seed  increase  with  the  incision? — Pharm- 
Journ.  and  Trans.,  from  Zeitsch.  oestr.  Apotheker-  Vereines,  Julyy« 
1871. 
