464  Analysis  of  a  Cure,  etc.  [AVcH;m3RM* 
been  from  05  to  1  per  cent,  of  cyanogen  in  round  numbers,  and  I 
am  rather  inclined  to  believe  that  this  substance  is  often  present  in 
commercial  bromine.  If  perfectly  pure  bromine  be  used,  the  same 
reaction  would  enable  us  to  detect  cyanogen  in  steel. — Chem.  News, 
Lond.,  Aug.  1,  1873. 
ANALYSIS  OF  A  CURE  FOR  THE  HABITUAL  USE  OF  OPIUM 
AND  MORPHIA. 
By  E.  S.  Wayne. 
Numerous  advertisements  from  time  to  time  have  of  late  appeared 
of  cures  for  the  habitual  use  and  abuse  of  opium  and  morphii.  Sev- 
eral of  these  have  come  under  the  notice  of  the  writer,  and  the  reme- 
dies found  to  be  in  general  as  bad,  if  not  worse,  than  the  habit  itself. 
The  last  that  has  been  brought  to  me  for  analysis  is  the  extract  of 
Picus  porteana,  so  called,  and  must  say,  to  me  an  unknown  medicinal 
agent,  and  to  be  found  only  in  the  fertile  imagination  of  the  pro- 
prietor. 
The  bottle  handed  to  me  had  upon  it  the  following  label  and  direc- 
tions : 
Bottle  No.  1.  EXT.  PIOUS  PORTEANA. 
Take  a  Teaspoonful  3  or  4  Times  a  Day. 
P  RESGRI  B  ED    BY    D  R.    J.    C.  BECK, 
No.  112  John  Street,  near  Fourth, 
Ledger,  1873.  CINCINNATI,  0.  Page  178. 
Yon  will  use  the  Bottle3  as  they  are  numbered,  using  all 
of  No.  1  before  opening  No.  2,  and  using  all  of  No.  2  before 
opening  No.  3,  and  so  on.  Be  careful  to  follow  the  direc- 
tions, and  never  taking  more  than  ordered,  but  you  take  less 
if  you  can  do  so  and  feel  well. 
Analysis  of  the  above  extract  of  Pious  porteana  shows  that  it  is 
merely  a  strong  tincture  of  opium,  slightly  disguised  in  taste  and 
odor  by  some  other  substance;  and  that  it  contains  8*8  grains  of 
pure  morphia  in  the  fluid  ounce — equal  to  about  11*7  grains  of  sul- 
phate of  morphia,  and  about  double  the  strength  of  tincture  of  opium 
of  the  U.  S.  P. 
Comment  is  unnecessary. — Cincinnati  Lancet  and  Obsry  1873. 
