Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1886. 
Morphine  Lactate. 
353 
oil,  and  the  production  of  a  deep  purple  coloration  when  hydrogen 
chloride  is  passed  into  them,  the  presence  of  terpinol  is  rendered  very 
probable.    It  was  not  found  possible  to  isolate  it. 
In  order  to  determine  the  constitution  of  the  ketone  already  referred 
to,  it  was  oxidized  by  means  of  chromic  mixture.  Abundance  of 
acetic  acid  was  produced,  and  pelargonic  acid  was  recognized  by 
means  of  its  copper  salt.  These  facts,  coupled  with  the  boiling  point 
(220-230°)  of  the  compound,  and  the  peculiar  smell  of  pelargonium 
oil  noticeable  in  some  of  the  fractions,  prove  that  the  substance  is 
methyl  nonyl  ketone,  CH3,CO,C9H19, 
The  watery  alkaline  solution  resulting  from  the  first  washing  of 
the  original  oil  was  found  to  contain  acetic  acid,  and  the  liquid  sub- 
mitted to  distillation  smelt  strongly  of  amylic  acetate.  The  quantity 
of  this  compound  was,  however,  too  small  to  admit  of  its  separation. 
From  these  results,  it  would  appear  that  the  principal  constituents 
of  the  oil  of  lime  leaves  are,  a  citrene  (b.  p.  176°  circa),  terpinol 
(C10H17*OH),  methyl  nonyl  ketone,  and  a  colophene. — Jour.  Chem.  Soc, 
1886,  p.  316. 
MORPHINE  LACTATE. 
By  D.  B.  Dott. 
This  salt  crystallizes  from  its  aqueous  solution  in  four-sided  prisms, 
in  this  respect  resembling  all  the  other  morphine  salts  which  I  have 
examined.  A  quantity  of  the  crystallized  lactate  was  dried  on  blot- 
ting paper  and  exposed  to  the  air  for  three  days,  by  which  time  it 
appeared  to  be  dry.    The  air-dry  salt  was  analyzed  as  follows : — 
(1.)  15*245  grs.  exposed  in  water-bath  lost  0*10  gr.  =  0*655  per 
cent.  This  loss  in  weight  is  manifestly  due  to  adhering  moisture.  • 
On  transferring  the  salt  to  an  air-bath  kept  at  a  temperature  of 
110°  C,  the  weight  decreased  very  slowly,  the  substance  darkening  in 
color  at  the  same  time.  Even  after  several  hours  the  weight  had  not 
become  constant,  and  the  loss  amounted  to  only  a  fraction  of  a  per 
cent.  The  dried  salt,  on  being  now  treated  with  water,  left  undis- 
solved a  considerable  portion  of  dark  amorphous  matter,  showing  that 
decomposition  had  taken  place,  to  which  the  loss  in  weight  was  un- 
doubtedly due. 
(2.)  29*02  grs.  of  the  air-dry  salt  were  dissolved  in  about  half  an 
ounce  of  warm  water,  and  ammonia  added  in  slight  excess.  After 
23 
