266 
CHLORODYNE. 
are  thus  precipitated.  After  filtration,  the  alcoholic  solution  is 
gently  evaporated  until  it  thickens,  being  careful  not  to  push  the 
evaporation  too  far,  as  the  glucose  in  the  solution  very  soon 
blackens.  To  this  semi-liquid  extract  is  added  water,  and  the 
whole  gently  heated  with  a  solution  of  potassium  bicarbonate, 
containing  a  little  caustic  potash,  and  set  aside  to  deposit. 
This  precif^itate  of  alkaloids  is  separated  by  filtration  and 
digested  with  ether,  until  nothing  more  is  dissolved.  All  the 
alkaloids  likely  to  be  present  in  chlorodyne,  such  as  atropia,  are 
soluble  in  ether,  with  the  exception  of  morphia,  which  remains 
undissolved.  The  residue,  insoluble  in  ether,  is  treated  with 
acetic  ether,  in  which  it  speedily  dissolves.  A  small  portion  of 
the  ether  solution  undergoes  no  change  on  the  addition  of 
/  potassic  iodomercuride  solution,  but  by  evaporation  yields  a  very 
minute  residue,  which  has  an  intensely  pungent  and  burning 
taste,  being  evidently  impure  capsicine.  All  my  attempts  to 
obtain  evidence  of  the  presence  of  atropia  failed. 
The  acetic  ether  solution  gives  a  copious  precipitate  on  the 
addition  of  potassic  iodomercuride  solution,  and  by  evaporation 
yields  microscopic  crystals,  which,  on  the  addition  of  a  few 
drops  of  acidulated  water,  give  the  usual  morphia  reactions  with 
nitric  acid  and  neutral  ferric  chloride,  thus  satisfactorily  demon- 
stating  the  presence  of  morphia. 
From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  chlorodyne  consists  essen- 
tially of  chloroform,  morphia,  ether,  hydrocyanic  acid,  and  cap- 
sicum, with  the  addition  of  gum  and  treacle  as  vehicles,  and  oil 
of  peppermint  as  a  flavoring  ingredient.  Tincture  of  Indian 
hemp  does  not  appear  to  be  present,  as  the  alcoholic  extract  is 
soluble  in  water. 
The  quantitative  estimation  of  the  several  component  parts  of 
chlorodyne  is  in  some  respects  a  very  tedious  process,  but  it  may 
be  roughly  made  as  follows  : — The  chloroform  by  distilling  a 
known  quantity,  and  adding  to  the  distillate  a  given  volume  of 
water, — the  chloroform  is  thus  isolated,  and,  if  a  graduated 
measure  be  used,  its  volume  at  once  read  of ;  at  the  same  time 
the  amount  of  spirit,  plus  hydrocyanic  acid,  may  be  noted,  and 
the  oil  of  peppermint,  plus  ether,  which  floats  on  the  surface.  If 
the  hydrocyanic  acid  be  now  estimated  by  precipitating  with  a 
