442  Examination  of  Opium  Alkaloids.  {A™'ctober'n9i5rm" 
The  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia  (VIII)  describes  codeine  phosphate  as 
containing  two  molecules  of  water  of  hydration,  but  states  that  the 
salt  frequently  crystallizes  with  one  and  one-half  molecules  of 
water  of  hydration. 
Morphine  Sulphate. 
The  tests  to  which  the  specimens  of  morphine  sulphate  were  sub- 
jected were  essentially  those  which  will  probably  be  described  in  the 
ninth  revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.9  In  addition,  sulphate 
was  determined  by  precipitation  with  barium  chloride,  collection  of 
the  barium  sulphate,  heating  and  weighing  in  the  usual  way.  Codeine 
sulphate  was  calculated  from  the  amount  of  codeine  as  determined. 
The  results  obtained  in  the  examination  are  given  below. 
Two  specimens  of  morphine  sulphate  were  received  from  Dr. 
Macht  and  examined.  Each  was  a  yellowish-white,  crystalline  pow- 
der which  dissolved  in  water  to  a  pale  yellow,  neutral  solution,  leav- 
ing not  more  than  traces  of  insoluble  matter.  Each  specimen  was 
free  from  ammonium  salts,  chlorides,  cryptopine,  meconates,  nar- 
cotine,  and  thebaine.  Each  specimen  contained  small  quantities  of 
a  codeine  salt. 
The  specimens  were  compared  with  a  purchased  specimen  of 
morphine  sulphate.  Each  was  considerably  darker  in  color  than  the 
one  purchased,  and  the  solution  of  each  in  water  was  considerably 
darker.  The  specimens  sent  contained  less  codeine  than  the  spec- 
imen purchased.  The  analytical  results  were  also  compared  with 
those  obtained  from  a  specimen  of  morphine  sulphate  of  another 
brand  (Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten)  which  was  known  to  be 
several  years  old.    The  analytical  findings  are  given  in  Table  II. 
Table  II. 
Composition  of  Some  Specimens  of  Commercial  Morphine  Sulphate. 
Merck 
Eimer  & 
Amend 
Merck* 
P.-W.-R.f 
Theory 
Water  (loss  at  ioo°  in  vacuum) 
11.22 
n-59 
II. II 
II.03 
11.88 
Sulphuric  acid  (H2S04)  
13-15 
12.99 
13-03 
12.99 
12.93 
Codeine  (anhydrous  alkaloid) 
o.4ia 
0.58b 
1.26° 
2.4Id 
0 
Morphine   (anhydrous  alka- 
loid, by  difference)  ; 
75.22 
74-84 
74.60 
73-57 
75-19 
*  Purchased  specimen. 
t  Purchased  specimen;  known  to  be  several  years  old. 
0  Equivalent  to  0.54  per  cent,  of  crystallized  codeine  sulphate. 
6  Equivalent  to  0.76  per  cent,  of  crystallized  codeine  sulphate. 
c  Equivalent  to  1.65  per  cent,  of  crystallized  codeine  sulphate. 
d  Equivalent  to  3.17  per  cent,  of  crystallized  codeine  sulphate. 
9  Jour.  Am.  Pharm.  Assoc.,  2,  1397  (1913). 
