600  Poisoning  by  Bisulphide  of  Carbon.  {^'"•£'■■18^83*'""* 
morphine,  and  that  the  2  gallons  of  extraction  required  dilution  with 
diluted  alcohol  to  the  measure  of  330  fluidounces,  in  order  to  contain 
6  grains  of  morphine  in  the  fluid  ounce. 
Although  the  strength  of  the  deodorized  tincture  of  opium  as  pre- 
pared by  the  writer  indicated,  by  its  color  during  and  after  its  prepara- 
tion, that  the  opiam  must  have  been  practically  exhausted  and  repre- 
sented in  the  tincture  the  writer,  in  view  of  the  recent  adverse  criticisms 
of  the  process,  subjected  this  to  an  assay.  Two  fluidounces  of  it  was, 
therefore,  gently  evaporated  to  6  fluid  drachms  and  the  liquor,  which 
in  this  case  remained  perfectly  clear,  assayed  as  above  detailed.  The 
result  was  nearly  12J  grains  of  morphine,  showing  that  although  the 
tincture  had  been  constructed  on  the  plan  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  1870 
and  a  10  per  cent,  opium,  it  was,  nevertheless,  owing  to  the  superior 
quality  of  the  gum  above  the  new  standard.  The  tincture  in  reality 
contained  over  6  grains  of  morphine  in  the  fluidounce,  and  the  opium 
although  perfectly  dry  when  used  was  shown  to  contain  about  16 
per  cent,  of  morphine.  The  assay,  by  means  of  disodic  carbonate, 
yields  mixtures  which  do  not  lose  their  transparency,  as  is  the  case 
with  ammonia.  The  coloring  matter  is  also  less  firmly  attached,  and, 
therefore,  the  resulting  morphine  is  generally  whiter  and  more  speedily 
and  thoroughly  washed.  The  morphine  is  also  absolutely  insoluble  in 
disodic  carbonate.  A  very  distinct  odor  of  propylamminium  is  observed 
immediately  after  the  addition  of  the  sodic  carbonate.  The  simpler 
substituted  ammonias,  such  as,  for  instance,  propylamminium,  often  result 
from  the  more  complex  order  of  these  compounds,  such  as  the  natural 
alkaloids  by  treatment  with  caustic  alkalies.  But  it  does  not  appear 
probable  that  in  this  case  the  carbonated  alkali  has  that  effect.  The 
propylamminium  in  this  instance  is  very  likely  directly  derived  from  a 
salt  of  propylamminium,  as  is  the  effect  when  ergot  is  treated  in  a  similar 
manner.  The  propylamine  of  opium  very  possibly  exists  there  as 
propylamminium  sulphate. 
Poisoning  l>y  Bisulpliide  of  Cartoon— Two  cases  associated  with 
insanity  are  published  in  the  Pacific  Med.  and  Surg.  Journal.  The  carbon 
bisulphide  seems  to  have  been  inhaled  very  slowly  ;  some  forty  out  of  fifty 
pounds  having  evaporated,  but  in  what  space  of  time  we  are  not  told.  The 
two  sufferers  were  brothers,  without  taint  of  insanity  in  the  family,  and 
both  of  them  exhibited  a  form  of  insanity  associated  with  murderous 
intent.  Dr.  Bard,  who  had  charge  of  the  cases,  and  who  advances  the 
theory  that  the  insanity  was  due  to  the  bisulphide  of  carbon,  also  states 
that  a  manufacturer  of  the  article  in  Los  Angeles  also  developed  similar 
proclivities. —  Weekly  Med.  Beview^  Nov.  10. 
