Am.  Jour.  Pharm 
Nov.,  1879. 
Estimation  of  Morphia. 
541 
beginning  in  the  middle,  and  each  circle  is  extended  until  the  outer 
circle  reaches  the  sides.  A  single  row  of  bundles  is  then  laid  around 
the  edge  of  the  heads  of  the  last  circle,  then  across  the  hogshead  par- 
allel with  the  former,  always  keeping  the  middle  the  highest;  this  is 
called  a  course.  When  several  of  these  courses  are  run  up  the  tobacco 
is  nicely  covered  with  boards  and  the  screw  is  run  down,  and  by  power- 
ful pressure  by  leverage  the  tobacco  in  bulk  is  reduced  very  consider- 
ably. This  process  goes  on  until  the  required  or  desired  amount  has 
been  placed  in  the  hogshead.  The  hogshead  is  now  headed  up  and  is 
ready  for  shipment;  and  this  about  concludes  the  almost  ceaseless 
round  of  labor  that  is  necessary  to  raise  and  prepare  for  market  this 
important  staple  of  Kentucky. 
ESTIMATION  OF  MORPHIA. 
By  Phil.  Hoglan. 
In  the  "Journal"  for  July,  1879,  Mr.  A.  Petit  gives  a  process  for  the 
assay  of  opium,  which,  for  simplicity  and  rapidity,  leaves  nothing  to  be 
desired.  There  is  only  one  objection  to  be  urged  against  Mr.  Petit's 
process,  and  that  is,  that  the  operator  is  liable  to  use  either  an  excess 
or  a  deficiency  of  ammonia,  owing  to  the  variable  strength  of  this 
important  reagent  as  found  in  the  market.  Should  he  use  an  excess 
his  product  will  not  represent  the  full  strength  of  the  opium,  and  if  he 
employ  a  deficiency  the  morphia  will  not  all  be  precipitated.  A 
process  which  is  as  simple  as  Petit's,  and  as  expeditious,  is  Rother's  ; 
besides,  it  avoids  the  danger  of  excess  or  deficiency  of  ammonia — by 
employing  bicarbonate  of  sodium  as  the  precipitating  agent.  As  the 
process  is  short  we  insert  it  here  as  given  by  Prof.  Wayne,  of  the 
Cincinnati  College  of  Pharmacy. 
Take  200  grains  of  opium,  and  rub  with  sufficient  water  to  form  a 
magma,  and  allow  to  stand  six  hours  ;  filter,  and  rub  the  residue  with 
water  as  before,  and  let  stand  ;  filter,  and  repeat  the  operation  on  the 
residue  until  about  12  fluidounces  of  liquid  are  obtained.  Evaporate 
this  by  a  water-bath  to  ij  fluidounce  and  filter,  washing  the  filter 
with  a  small  amount  of  water.  Now  add  60  grains  bicarbonate  of 
sodium,  dissolved  in  the  smallest  quantity  of  water;  set  aside  for  12 
hours  ;  then  pour  on  a  filter  and  wash  the  precipitate  first  with  a  little. 
