60 
LIQUOR  OPII  COMPOSITUS. 
opii  compositus  was  badly  adapted  to  this  mode  of  administra- 
tion, but  was  still  often  so  used.  This  new  formula  is,  however, 
much  less  applicable  to  use  in  this  way.  It  may,  however,  be 
rendered  applicable  in  precisely  the  same  way  not  unfrequently 
adopted  with  the  old  preparation,  namely:  by  exposing  a 
weighed  small  quantity  at  a  time,  in  a  shallow  vessel  in  a  warm 
place,  until  the  weight  is  reduced  to  one-half  or  one-third.  If 
reduced  to  one^hird,  it  will  be  about  the  strength  of  the  solution 
of  sulphate  of  morphia  called  Magendie's  solution ;  but  it  will 
then  have  too  little  alcohol  to  keep  longer  than  a  few  weeks.  If 
reduced  to  one-half,  the  chloroform  and  acetic  ether  and  much 
of  the  alcohol  will  pass  olf  sufficiently,  and  yet  leave  enough 
alcohol  to  preserve  it.  If  the  alcohol  be  all  or  nearly  all  driven 
off,  the  effect  of  very  dilute  solutions  of  phenol,  or  the  so-called 
carbolic  acid,  in  protecting  solutions  for  hypodermic  use  from 
change,  may  be  resorted  to.  All  solutions  for  such  use  should 
be  perfectly  clear  and  bright,  either  by  settling  or  by  filtration, 
and  should  be  carefully  guarded  against  decomposition,  since 
many  of  the  accidents  which  occur  in  hypodermic  medication  are 
probably  caused  by  the  introduction  of  liquids  which  are  under- 
going change,  or  by  inoculation  from  a  badly  kept  or  imperfectly 
cleaned  syringe  point. 
The  compound  solution  of  opium  evaporated  on  a  water  bath 
to  one-fourth  its  weight  or  less,  then  diluted  to  one-third  its 
original  weight  with  water,  and,  when  cold,  filtered,  will  give 
the  best  solution  for  hypodermic  use.  But  the  coloring  and 
extractive  matter  is  objectionable  for  this  use.  If  such  a  solution 
is  to  be  kept  even  for  a  few  days  (and  no  hypodermic  solution 
should  ever  be  kept  long),  it  may  be  protected  by  the  addition 
of  about  one-fiftieth  of  its  weight  of  an  alcoholic  solution  of  phe- 
nol (crystallized  carbolic  acid)  containing  two  per  cent. 
In  conclusion,  it  may  be  remarked  in  connection  with  this 
liquor  opii  compositus,  as  in  regard  to  other  agents  which  are 
liable  to  become  hobbies,  that  perhaps  the  greatest  skill  in  using 
it  is  to  know  when  to  prefer  something  else. 
BrooMyn,  Dec,  15,  1869. 
