Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
November,  1920.  ) 
Efects  of  Opium. 
813 
Time  of  Heating  Weight  of  Sample  Total  Loss  of  Weight 
(Hours).  f  Grams).  (Grams). 
24  0.9406  0.0594 
48  0.9406  0.0594 
72  0.9406  0.0594 
96  0.9407  0.0593 
192  0.9408  0.0592 
The  loss  of  0.0594  corresponds  exactly  to  the  weight  of  the  theoretical 
water  of  crystallization.  After  being  heated  for  96  hours  a  yellow 
tinge  was  observed  in  the  previously  white  powder.  This  became 
decidedly  deeper  when  the  heating  had  been  prolonged  for  192  hours. 
The  Extraction  of  Morphine  from  Opium  by  Hot  Water. — An 
experiment  was  made  on  the  Persian  opium  previously  used,  to 
show  (i)  how  much  morphine  would  remain  undissolved  by  hot 
water  and  (2)  how  much  morphine  would  be  destroyed  under 
the  conditions  of  extraction. 
A  sample  weighing  6  grams  was  extracted  with  hot  water  in  a 
Soxhlet  Extractor  till  the  overflowing  liquid  showed  no  further 
color.  This  involved  boiling  for  about  16  hours.  The  exhausted 
residue  was  carefully  collected  and  dried  first  in  the  air  then  in 
a  desiccator.  Determinations  of  morphine  were  then  made  on  the 
whole  both  of  the  exhausted  residue  and  of  the  extract. 
Total  Weight  of     Percentage  of 
Morphine  Morphine 
Found      on  Original  Weight 
(Grams).  of  Opium. 
In  exhausted  residue   0.0100  0.17 
In  concentrated  aqueous  extract   o .  4965  8.27 
Morphine  lost  (by  difference)   0.0545  0.91 
Total   0.5610  9.35 
Found  by  assay  of  original  opium   0.5610  9-35 
DISCUSSION  OF  RESULTS. 
Loss  of  Weight  by  Opium  When  Heated. — Our  results  show  a  steady 
loss  of  weight  when  opium  is  heated.  There  is  no  sign  of  constancy 
having  been  attained  even  after  576  hours  at  98°-ioo°  C.  Different 
samples  agreed  very  fairly  among  themselves  considering  that 
the  material  was  weighed  on  open  watch  glasses  and  is  always 
somewhat  hygroscopic.  On  these  points  we  are  at  variance  with 
Annett  and   Hardayal   Singh/    who    claim  to  have  obtained 
^  Loc.  cil. 
