266  Assay  of  Opium  and  its  Preparations.     { Am  j^e^S^ rm> 
WASH  LIQUOR. 
Experiments  were  conducted  with  saturated  solutions  of  morphine 
alkaloid,  hydrochloride  and  sulphate,  to  learn  if  they  played  any 
particular  role  in  the  final  results.  Solutions  of  the  hydrochloride 
and  sulphate  offered  no  advantage  and  the  morphinated  water  used 
by  Stevens  proved  most  desirable,  owing  to  the  slight  solubility  of 
morphine  in  water. 
The  1 5  c.c.  of  liquid  directed  to  be  used  after  various  trials,  under 
different  conditions,  was  found  to  be  ample,  and  when  lesser  quan- 
tities were  used  the  results  were  higher,  owing  to  the  non-removal 
of  the  alkali. 
INDICATOR. 
Hsematoxylin  has  proven  very  successful  in  the  writer's  hands  as 
the  indicator  in  alkaloidal  work.  The  use  of  the  official  haematoxy- 
lin  solution  has  been  very  disappointing,  not  only  in  this,  but  in 
other  methods  where  its  use  was  indicated.  Apparently,  upon  stand- 
ing in  contact  with  alcohol,  a  change  takes  place,  preventing  sharp 
end  reactions.  The  method  used  was  to  boil  distilled  water  in  a  test- 
tube  and  add  to  it  a  small  crystal  of  hsematoxylin  and  boil  again 
for  a  minute.  A  few  drops  of  this  solution  is  used  in  each  assay, 
and  this  gives  an  end  reaction  that  is  sharp  and  that  will  turn  with 
less  than  one  drop  of  —  solution. 
40 
COEFFICIENT. 
The  use  of  the  coefficient  or  -  i  12  given  by  Stevens  has  been  found 
too  high  and  the  factor  .070  is  nearer  the  difference  between  results 
obtained  and  the  amount  of  substance  originally  taken.  A  review 
of  the  solubility  of  morphine  in  alcohol,  water  and  ether,  at  a  tem- 
perature of  25 0  C,  compared  to  the  amount  of  each  used,  gives  one 
a  still  lower  factor. 
ADVANTAGES. 
In  comparing  this  process  with  others,  it  will  be  seen  it  possesses 
some  great  advantages.  From  the  economical  standpoint  but  40 
per  cent,  of  the  amount  directed  by  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  required. 
Twenty  c.c.  has  also  been  used  with  equally  gratifying  results,  and 
no  doubt  even  lesser  amounts  would  show  up  as  well.  The  use  of 
small  quantities  with  some  degree  of  accuracy  is  desk-able,  especially 
to  the  analyst. 
