49  8    Variation  of  Strength  in  Opium  Preparations.  {Am^ 
No. 
u  u  ^  v  .    \J  lav  • 
Grs.  Morphia  in  fl.  oz. 
No. 
Spec.  Grav. 
Grs.  Morphia  in  fl.  oz. 
I. 
II. 
mean 
I. 
II. 
mean 
i 
•922 
3"3° 
3'5° 
3  4o 
10 
•960 
3'5° 
3'57 
3*53 
2 
•938 
2-80 
2-70 
275 
12 
•953 
3-04 
3 
•955 
2"IO 
2"IO 
2'IO 
1 1 
•936 
3"9° 
4 
•940 
2*90 
37° 
3-30 
13 
371 
5 
•956 
2-05 
2,IO 
2'07 
14 
4"37 
6 
"937 
2-08 
2  23 
2-I5 
15 
2'02 
7 
•929 
3'12 
3'28 
3'20 
16 
0-83 
8 
•957 
3*62 
3  '45 
3*53 
17 
I-9I 
9 
•962 
1  '40 
1-59 
1 '49 
18 
0-55 
In  this,  the  most  important  of  the  opium  preparations,  the  variation 
of  morphia  strength  extends  from  4^37  to  0*65  grs.  in  the  fluidounce  \ 
the  average  being  2*66. 
The  method  employed  in  all  the  above-noted  assays  is  a  modification 
of  that  recommended  in  the  British  "  Pharmacopoeia."  I  find  that  the 
precipitate  of  crude  morphia  obtained  in  that  process  is  equal  on  an 
average  to  T70ths  of  its  weight  of  the  pure  base.  It  is  a  process  which 
I  have  every  reason  to  believe  gives  at  least  as  accurate  results  as  those 
obtainable  by  any  of  the  recognized  methods. 
I  think  the  most  obvious  conclusion  to  be  arrived  at  from  the  fore- 
going experiments,  and  from  those  of  other  observers,  is  that  the  opium 
preparations  are  not  remedies  to  be  relied  on.  When  one  considers 
that  a  physician  who  prescribes  for  his  patient  one  drachm  of  laudanum, 
intending  that  the  latter  should  receive  thereby  J  of  a  grain  of  mor- 
phia, may  in  reality  be  only  giving  him  ^th  of  a  grain,  it  is  manifest 
that  this  indicates  a  condition  of  things  demanding  amendment.  It 
has  been  proposed  by  Dr.  Squibb  (reported  in  the  "  Year-Book  for 
1870")  to  prepare  a  strong  tincture,  assay  it,  and  then  dilute  to  the 
proper  strength,  or  at  least  to  prepare  the  tincture,  etc.,  from  assayed 
opium.  I  am  afraid,  however,  that  there  would  be  great,  if  not  insup- 
erable, difficulty  in  getting  this  system  brought  into  general  use.  The 
trouble  involved  in  following  such  a  plan  would  deter  the  majority  of 
pharmacists  from  adopting  it.  For  my  own  part,  I  believe  the  ultimate 
solution  of  the  difficulty  will  be  the  abolition  of  all  the  galenical  pre- 
parations of  opium  from  the  "  Pharmacopoeia."  Indeed,  unless  opium 
possesses  therapeutical  properties  which  are  not  possessed  by  its  alka- 
loids, there  can  be  no  reason  for  retaining  it.  That  is  a  question,  of 
course,  to  be  decided  by  medical  men.    Still,  I  venture  to  think  that 
