392 
Estimation  of  Morphine  in  Opium. 
i  A.m.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\       Aug.,  1885, 
from  point  to  base,  not  exceeding  half  a  gram  from  cones  which  would 
average  10  to  15  grams,  and  the  cone  is  then  returned  to  its  place  in 
the  lump.  The  little  strips  are  then  worked  into  a  homogeneous  mass 
by  the  fingers,  and  the  mass  is  wrapped  in  tin  foil,  moist  cloth  or  paper 
to  prevent  drying,  until  it  can  be  weighed  oft  for  assay/'  This  sample 
obtained  from  the  case  should  not  be  less  than  100  grams,  and  should 
l)e  sampled  down  to  the  convenient  weight  to  be  taken  for  assay.  This 
is  quite  important,  as  I  have  found  that  the  morphine  contained  in 
pieces  taken  from  different  parts  of  the  same  sample  lump  frequently 
varies  as  much  as  1  or  more  per  cent.  Also,  whilst  some  opiums  may 
be  worked  into  a  homogeneous  mass  by  the  fingers,''  as  above,  in 
others  this  will  be  found  very  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  as  they  may 
be  either  too  moist  and  sticky  or  too  hard  and  dry.  I  am,  therefore, 
in  the  habit  of  sampling  the  large  sample  iuuips  in  one  of  three  ways, 
according  to  the  condition  of  the  drug.  If  quite  moist  the  ball  is 
flattened  out  and  small  portions  are  taken  from  every  part  on  the  end 
of  a  penknife  until  the  required  weight  is  obtained;  or,  whenever 
possible,  a  thin  section  is  cut  through  the  middle  of  the  ball,  and  from 
this  the  sample  is  taken  from  around  the  edges  and  from  the  centre, 
and  when  the  oi)ium  is  hard  and  dry,  or  where  great  accuracy  is 
required,  the  ball  is  broken  up  in  a  mortar  as  finely  as  possible,  weighed 
and  dried,  the  moisture  being  determined  from  the  loss  in  weight.  It 
is  then  powdered  and  thoroughly  mixed,  and  the  proper  quantity 
weighed  off. 
The  method  of  assay  formerly  in  use  here  is,  perhaps,  the  most 
simple,  being  little  more  than  a  rough  estimation  of  morphine,  yield- 
ing results  which  are  at  best  only  approximate,  and  not  in  any  way  to 
be  relied  upon  where  great  accuracy  is  required.  However,  as  it  is 
extremely  simple,  and,  with  a  little  practice,  easy  of  manipulation,  it 
may  be  worthy  of  a  brief  description.  Ten  grams  of  the  sample  are 
weighed  ofF  into  a  porcelain  mortar  and  allowed  to  macerate  about 
twelve  hours  or  over  night  with  50  cc.  of  hot  water.  It  is  then 
thoroughly  mixed  with  the  pestle  and  the  mass  transferred  to  a  linen 
or  flannel  filter  of  convenient  size  with  as  little  hot  water  as  possible. 
The  filtrate  is  allowed  to  run  into  a  flask,  accurately  marked  at  100  cc, 
and  when  all  that  will  has  run  through  the  filter  and  contents  are 
squeezed  between  the  fingers  until  most  of  the  extract  is  expressed ;  it 
is  then  moistened  with  a  little  hot  water  and  again  expressed  as  above. 
This  moistening  and  expressing  is  repeated  until  exactly  100  cc.  of 
