CHLORODYNE. 
267 
known  weight  of  silver  nitrate,  the  amount  of  spirit  is  a  simple 
matter  of  calculation. 
The  gum  readily  separates  on  the  addition  of  alcohol,  and 
may  be  washed,  dried,  and  weighed,  or  a  known  volume  of  water 
added  to  the  precipitate,  in  which  it  speedily  dissolves,  the  in- 
crease in  volume  will  approximately  give  the  amount  of  gum. 
The  capsicum  does  not  exist  in  sufficient  quantity  to  admit  of 
measurement. 
The  morphia  may  be  estimated  by  evaporating  the  acetic 
ether  solution  to  dryness,  dissolving  in  water  slightly  acidulated 
with  acetic  acid,  and  cautiously  neutralizing  with  caustic  potash 
(being  careful  to  avoid  excess,  which  redissolves  the  precipitated 
morphia),  filtering  and  weighing.  It  is  necessary  to  operate 
upon  at  least  four  ounces  of  chlorodyne  to  arrive  at  anything 
like  satisfactory  results.  The  potassic  iodomercuride  solution 
precipitates  morphia  from  its  solutions,  but  unfortunately  the  re- 
action is  not  sufficiently  reliable  to  employ  it  as  a  quantitative 
test.  The  amount  of  treacle  may  be  estimated  pretty  closely  by 
calculation  after  all  the  ingredients  have  been  accounted  for. 
The  composition  of  chlorodyne,  then,  I  put  as  follows: — 
Chloroformi    .    .  . 
f-  3iy 
Morphise  Mur.    .  . 
gr.  XX 
^ther.  Rectif.    .  . 
01.  M.  Pip.    .    .  . 
rri  viij 
Acid.  Hydrocy.  Dil. 
f.  S'lY 
Tinct.  Capsici     .  . 
f.  5vj 
Mist.  Acacise.      .  . 
Theriacse.      .    .  ad 
f.  liv. 
Misce. 
This  does  not  give  so  dark  a  compound  as  the  original,  because 
the  latter  contains  caramel,  but  as  this  has  no  medicinal  or  other 
value,  I  have  omitted  it,  making  up  to  the  required  volume  with 
the  treacle. 
In  conclusion,  I  would  suggest  to  those  who  care  to  use  this 
formula,  that  it  be  known  and  prescribed  as  "  liquor  chloromor- 
phiae  comp.,"  which  explains  sufficiently  well  its  essential  con- 
stituents, and  is  a  name  which  cannot  be  confused  with  any 
advertised  or  quack  compounds. — P7i.  Jou7\,  Lond.,  Jan.,  1870. 
