50  Decomposition  of  Acetate  of  Morphia.  {^^yIZX 
Pfarm. 
1871. 
A  solution  of  acetate  of  morphia  is  very  prone  to  change ;  it  soon 
acquires  a  brown  yellowish  color,  and  deposits  a  brown  matter.  A 
decomposition  was  already  observed  by  E.  Merck  in  1837,*  when 
experimenting  about  the  best  process  for  obtaining  this  salt  dry,  in  a 
neutral  condition ;  he  states  that  the  evaporation  of  its  solution  must 
be  hastened  at  a  low  temperature  by  a  current  of  air  or  other  means, 
since  it  is  decomposed  at  too  slow  an  evaporation.  But  the  nature  of 
this  decomposition  is  not  stated. 
Some  months  ago,  Dr.  Wm.  T.  Taylor,  of  this  city,  informed  me 
that  he  prefers  to  use  a  solution  of  this  salt  for  hypodermic  injection, 
and  that  he  had  repeatedly  observed  the  separation  in  the  liquid  of 
one  or  more  crystals,  after  keeping  it  on  hand  for  some  time.  A 
careful  examination  of  a  crystal  proved  it  to  be  pure  morphia,  entirely 
free  from  acetic  or  other  acid  ;  with  nitric  and  iodic  acids,  and  with 
sesquichloride  of  iron,  it  showed  the  reactions  characteristic  for  mor- 
phia;  it  had  an  alkaline  reaction  to  test  papers,  and  neither  acetic, 
carbonic  or  any  mineral  acid  could  be  discovered  by  the  appropriate 
tests  ;  heated  upon  platinum  foil  it  was  consumed  without  leaving  any 
residue. 
The  liquid  had  deposited  a  considerable  quantity  of  a  brown^  mat- 
ter, and  was  of  a  pale  brownish  color.  It  was  neutral  to  test  paper, 
but  with  pure  sesquichloride  of  iron  acquired  a  reddish  tint,  which 
disappeared  on  the  addition  of  muriatic  acid.  Acidulated  with  nitric 
acid,  iodohydrargyrate  of  potassium  occasioned  a  turbidity.  Evi- 
dently a  minute  portion  of  acetate  of  morphia  remained  still  in  solu- 
tion. 
To  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Taylor  I  am  indebted  for  the  specimen 
upon  the  table,  which  was  originally  a  solution  of  8  grains  acetate  of 
morphia  in  half  an  ounce  of  distilled  water.  By  accident,  it  had 
been  set  aside,  and  was  lost  sight  of  for  several  months.  On  exam- 
ining it,  the  deposit  and  the  change  in  color  of  the  solution,  men- 
tioned before,  were  observed,  and  a  single  crystal  reaching  from  the 
surface  of  the  liquid  diagonally  through  the  solution  to  the  bottom  cf 
the  vial  on  the  opposite  side. 
The  gradual  decomposition  of  acetic  acid  in  crude  vinegar  is  well 
known,  and  it  is  possible  that  the  changes  noticed  above  are  of  the 
same  or  a  similar  nature.    At  any  rate  it  is  very  evident  that  acetic 
*  ^rchiv  d.  Ph.  xxiv,  46.    Buchner's  Repert.  Ixiv,  265. 
