142 
ON INDIA OPIUM. 
By this step a volatile acid with which the narcotine form- 
ed a soluble compound is expelled ; so on redissolving the wa- 
tery extract in distilled water, a black gritty crystalline pow- 
der remains. This is collected on a muslin filter, and boiled 
in water and filtered, and the solution which contains meconin 
evaporated to dryness. As the evaporation proceeds, globules 
of oily appearance collect at the bottom of the capsule, and, on 
cooling, crystals of meconin of a rosy tint are obtained. 
The residue of the black powder is then boiled with strong 
alcohol and filtered. On cooling, an abundance of snow-white 
crystals of narcotine is deposited. 
To the solution of the watery extract (A. 1) liquid ammo- 
nia is gradually added. The first portions separate a great 
quantity of the black resin, which rises to the surface, or con- 
cretes on the bottom and sides of the vessels, and should be 
removed with a spoon and by decanting the fluid. This resin, 
though at first soft, rapidly hardens, and becomes a pitch-black 
color and consistence. When this has ceased to separate, am- 
monia is added more freely, and the solution heated to near- 
ly 200°. This precipitates all the morphia in a crystalline 
powder, varying in color from light fawn to that of dark clay, 
according to the quality of the opium under examination, and 
the care bestowed in the removal of the black resin in the pre- 
vious step. The morphia is purified by washing it first with 
a little weak alcohol, and then dissolving in boiling alcohol as 
much as it will take up. The solution is filtered and set aside 
in a tranquil place, and in twenty-four hours a large crop of 
very fine white crystals is procured. The solution evaporated 
still further, yields additional crystals of an inferior color. 
The watery solution of the extract A. 1, thus freed of mor- 
phia, still contains meconic acid and ammonia, codeia, narceia, 
gum, and coloring matter. To separate the meconic acid, add a 
solution of muriate of lime ; a precipitate of meconate of lime 
is procured, which, when treated with muriatic acid, in the 
mode described under the head of meconic acid, yields very 
large crystals of bimeconate of lime. From this the pure acid 
is prepared according to the directions already given. 
