318 
SELECTED ARTICLES. 
Chemical examination of a factitious Opium thrown into 
commerce, March, 1838. 
This opium, agreeable to information we have received, came 
from London by way of Havre. It was offered to several 
druggists who took it for opium of good quality. I might 
have been myself deceived, if the chemical examination 
I made, had not led me to discover the fraud, and enabled me 
first to announce it. Several cases of it have been seized, and 
are in the hands of justice. This false opium, as we said be- 
fore, had the appearance of good opium; it came nearest to 
that of the Constantinople in appearance, but upon careful in- 
spection some difference could at once be perceived; it was 
more granular, softened between the fingers, and bore knead 
ing like wax, without adhering. It was elastic, for when 
drawn out into strings they again contracted. Its slightly per- 
ceptible odor was rather foetid than narcotic, and corresponded 
with that which the resinous matter of the precipitated opium 
diffuses in the preparation of the aqueous extract. These ob- 
servations having suggested to me some doubts about its 
nature, I submitted the specimen I possessed to analysis, 
which was merely as to the comparative quality of the opium, 
and did not follow up the process which should be employed 
to determine the value of an opium. As Messrs. M. Robi- 
quet and Joseph Pelletierhave already published, each of them, 
several interesting memoirs upon opium, the latter of whom 
give a detailed method for the study of this complicate pro- 
duct, I think it my duty here, for the interest of apotheca- 
ries to describe a simple manner of conveniently ascertaining 
the nature of the opium, its commercial value, and also call to 
mind the reactions which it should present, in order to be 
considered of good quality. 
The opium ought to be completely divided by malaxation 
with cold water, dissolving its extractive principle and sepa- 
rating the resinous part. The liquid, at first turbid, should by 
repose quickly become clear, assuming a brown color, 
more or less deep, according to the extractive soluble 
