12S 
SELECTED ARTICLES. 
rate Smyrna opiums, according to the proportions of the 
Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, contained 19.1 and 22.1 grains of 
solid matter, (dried in the vapor-bath till it ceased to lose 
weight,) in a fluid ounce avoirdupois; and, by a process 
directed towards the separation of the morphia contained in 
these laudanums, their value proved to be such as may be 
represented, for the sake of clearness and simplicity, by the 
numbers 120 and 130 respectively. With these facts as the 
basis for comparison, I have examined laudanum from no 
fewer than seventeen shops, fourteen of them in this city, and 
three in one of the chief county towns in Scotland. The re- 
sults are given in the following table, from which it may be 
inferred that, according to one method of examination, the 
difference between the laudanums of the shops in point of 
strength, is in the ratio of three to one, and that by the other, 
probably more accurate method, the actual difference in value 
is even greater. 
Solid part Relative 
of 1 Jl. oz. morphia. 
22.1 
11 
1 1 
I 9. 
flO. 
j 11. 
i 12, 
L13. 
fl4 
'15. 
i 16. 
ris. 
J 19. 
L20. 
Prepared by myself from finest Smyrna opium, 
Do. Do. also from fine Smyrna opium, 
somewhat inferior, . 19.1 
Do. Do. from inferior opium. . 21.0 
From one of the best class of shops in Edinburgh, 17. 1 
From another do. . . do. 
From a third, do. . . do. 
From a fourth, do. . . do. 
From a fifth, do. . . do. 
From a sixth, do. . . do. 
From a second rate shop in Edinburgh, 
From another, do. . do. 
From a third, do. . do. 
From a fourth, do. . do. 
. From an inferior shop in Edinburgh, 
>. From a second, do. . do. 
From a third, do. . do. 
From a fourth, do. . do. 
From a shop in a county town, 
From another of less repute, in do. 
From a third, do. . do. 
10.0 
20.2 
20.8 
12.3 
18.0 
20.8 
22.7 
14.6 
20.6 
13.4 
13.0 
9.0 
7.2 
16.8 
17.5 
15.8 
130 
120 
90 
130 
40 
80 
80 
35 
90 
100 
90 
The deficiency in No. 8 was probably accidental, because 
the druggist knew to what purpose his laudanum was to be 
