■^Tprir^92o:}  Comments  on  Magendie's  Formulary.  223 
(starch);  (6)  resin;  (7)  vegetable  fibre;  (8)  narcotine;  (9)  meconic  acid; 
(10)  another  unidentified  acid  discovered  by  Robiquet  (probably 
lactic);  (11)  morphine.  This  list  of  constituents,  excepting  for  the 
alkaloids,  is  in  close  accord  with  modern  teaching  and  speaks  well 
for  the  thoroughness  of  the  work  done  by  these  early  apothecary- 
chemists. 
The  composition  of  morphine  is  stated  in  percentage  terms  as 
follows : 
%  % 
Carbon   72.00  71.7 
Nitrogen   5  50  4-9 
Hydrogen   5  •  5o  6.7 
Oxygen   17.00  16.7 
The  figures  in  the  second  column  are  present  figures. 
The  comparison  with  the  modern  figures,  shows  a  creditable 
degree  of  accuracy  for  the  ultimate  analysis  of  the  time  and  for  the 
atomic  weights  that  were  used  in  the  calculation, 
A  S3n-up  of  Acetate  of  Morphine  containing  4  grains  to  the  pound 
is  recommended  as  well  as  a  Syrup  of  Sulphate  of  Morphine  of  similar 
strength. 
A  formula  is  also  given  for  a  preparation  called  Guttae  Anodynae 
(Anodyne  Drops)  which  is  as  follows : 
Acetate  of  Morphine   16  grains  (13.12  grains  troy) 
Distilled  Water   i  ounce  (7  dr.  52.5  grains  troy) 
Acetic  Acid   3  or  4  drops 
Alcohol   I  gros  (59  grains  troy) 
These  drops,  it  is  stated,  are  a  good  substitute  for  liquid  lauda- 
num, Rosseaus  drops,  tincture  of  opium,  etc. 
We  here  recognize  an  old  friend  which  for  many  years  was  known, 
not  by  the  name  proposed  by  its  author,  but  distinguished  by  his 
own  name,  as  "Magendie's  Solution."  An  alternative  formula  is  also 
given  in  which  16  grains  of  acetate  of  morphine  are  directed  to  be 
dissolved  in  two  drachms  of  diluted  acetic  acid,  P.  L.  and  6  drachms 
of  distilled  water,  the  reason  given  being  that  the  former  solution  is 
unstable  from  deposition  of  the  morphine.  It  is  probable  that  this 
same  defect  was  later  found  also  in  the  product  made  by  the  alterna- 
tive methods,  for  formulas  of  later  years  called  for  16  grains  of  Mor- 
phine Sulphate  dissolved  in  i  fluid  ounce  of  distilled  water. 
It  is  interesting  here  to  note  that  a  few  years  after  the  appear- 
ance of  Magendie's  Formulary  the  U.  S.  P.  of  183 1  contained  a  formula 
