8l2 
Effects  of  Opium. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
(    November,  1920. 
Table;  I. — The;  Effect  of  He;at  on  Persian  Opium  as  to  Weight  and  Mor- 
phine Content.    Assay  of  an  Unheated  Sample  Showed  Morphine 
9. 35%. 
Time  of  Heat- 
ing 
Weight. of  opium  after  Heating 
(Grams). 
Weight  Lost  by  Opium 
(Per  Cent.). 
(Hours). 
Sample  No.  1. 
Sample  No.  2. 
Sample  No.  1. 
Sample  No.  2. 
O 
6 . 0000 
6 . OOOO 
24 
5-8112 
5 ■ 8005 
3.14 
3.32 
48 
5.7668 
5  7596 
3-89 
4.00 
72 
5.7410 
5 . 7460 
431 
423 
96 
5.7260 
5.7174 
4-57 
4.71 
192 
5 • 6674 
5.54 
288 
5 • 6360 
6.07 
Percentage  of  morphine  found  at  end  of  heating . 
5.98 
598 
Table  II. — The  Effect  of  Heat  on  Indian  Opium  as  to  Weight  and  Mor- 
phine Content.    Assay  of  Two  Unheated  Samples  Showed  Mor- 
phine 6.56%  AND  6.66%. 
Weight  of  Opium  after  Heating  (Grams). 
Weight  Lost  by  Opium  (Per  Cent.). 
Of  He 
Hours' 
Sample 
Sample 
Sample 
Sample 
Sample 
Sample 
Sample 
Sample 
Sample 
Sample 
(U 
E 
No.  3. 
No.  4. 
No.  5. 
No.  6. 
No.  7. 
No.  3. 
No.  4. 
No.  5. 
No.  6. 
No.  7. 
0 
6 . OOOO 
6 . OOOO 
6 . OOOO 
6.0000 
6.0000 
24 
5.8243 
5.8355 
5.8892 
5.8846 
5-8835 
2.93 
2.74 
1.84 
I  .  92 
1-94 
48 
5.8138 
5-8215 
5.8257 
5.8236 
5.8012 
3.  10 
2.97 
2  .90 
2.94 
3-31 
72 
5 . 7843 
5-7775 
5.8107 
5-8076 
5-7967 
3.59 
3.71 
3.15 
3  20 
3.39 
96 
5.7748 
5  -  7665 
5.7592 
5-7801 
5-5527 
3-75 
3-81 
4.01 
3-66 
4.12 
192 
5.7143 
5  7235 
5  -  7087 
5  7256 
5-7057 
4.76 
4.61 
4.85 
4-57 
4.90 
288 
5 • 7020 
5.6892 
5.6961 
5-6797 
4-97 
5.18 
5  06 
5-34 
384 
5-6747 
5.6651 
5.6657 
5.42 
5.58 
5.74 
480 
5-6531 
5 . 6402 
5-78 
5.99 
576 
5.6277 
6.20 
Percentage  of  morphine  found  at  end  of  heating 
6.40 
5-64 
5-54 
5.13 
4-52 
The  Effect  of  Prolonged  Heating  on  Crystallized  Morphine. — 
While  it  has  no  necessary  bearing  on  the  changes  undergone  by  such 
a  product  as  opium,  we  beUeved  there  would  be  some  collateral 
interest  in  making  a  careful  measurement  of  any  alteration  which 
morphine  might  undergo  when  heated.  From  a  specimen  of  very 
pure  crystallized  morphine  i  gram  was  exactly  weighed  on  a 
balanced  watch  glass.  It  was  then  heated  in  the  electric  oven 
between  98°  and  100°  C.  and  weighed  at  intervals. 
