72 
OLEATES  OF  THE  ORGANIC  ALKALIES. 
The  test  liquid  used  was  made  as  follows  : — 
Take  of  Caustic  potash,  60  parts. 
Neutral  tartrate  of  potassa,  40  do. 
Distilled  water,  200  do. 
Dissolve  ;  and  then 
Take  of  Sulphate  of  copper  65  do. 
Distilled  water,  500  do. 
Dissolve  and  mix  with  the  preceding  liquid. 
Mr.  Lahens  applies  this  test  to  opium  by  exhausting  five  grains 
of  the  latter  with  sufficient  water  to  make  50  grains  of  solution, 
then  places  five  cubic  centimetres  of  the  test  liquid  in  a  porce- 
lain capsule,  heats  it  to  ebullition,  by  a  small  alcohol  lamp,  and 
then  drops  in  the  opium  solution  slowly  from  a  graduated  burette, 
so  as  not  to  stop  the  ebullition  or  increase  the  liquid  above  the 
primitive  level.  As  soon  as  the  liquid  acquires  a  reddish  yellow 
color,  the  addition  should  cease,  and  the  number  of  measures  of 
the  solution  of  opium  consumed  indicates  the  amount  of  sugar 
present  -Jour,  de  Pliarm.  Oct.  1854. 
ON  THE  OLEATES  OF  THE  ORGANIC  ALKALIES. 
By  M.  L.  Hermite. 
The  author  in  a  paper  published  in  the  Journal  de,  Pharmacie 
for  Oct.  1854,  proposes  as  a  substitute  for  the  oleaginous  and 
glycerinic  solutions  of  the  organic  alkaloids,  recently  proposed 
as  liniments,  solutions  of  these  bases  in  oleic  acid.  He  objects 
to  the  oils  from  their  incapability  of  dissolving  the  alkaloids,  and 
to  the  glycerin  from  its  not  possessing  unctuous  properties. 
Oleic  acid  dissolves  the  organic  alkaloids  and  their  salts  per- 
fectly. This  acid  can  be  procured  without  any  disagreeable 
odor,  and  can  easily  be  aromatized  with  essences.  Its  acidity 
is  not  so  decided  as  to  be  of  any  account  in  its  application  to  this 
use.  It  is  sufficient  to  triturate  the  alkaloid  with  a  little  of  the  oleic 
acid  to  divide  it,  and  then  add  the  rest.  The  proportion  varies  with 
the  activity  of  the  substance.  The  following  recipes  are  given  : 
Oleate  of  Morphia. 
Take  of  Purified  Oleic  Acid,  an  ounce. 
Morphia  in  powder,  1|  grain. 
Essence  of  Bergamot,       6  drops. 
Mix  as  above. 
