THE 
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY, 
JUL Y , 1 849. 
ART. XLIV. — NOTE UPON INDIA OPIUM. 
By J. Carson, M. D. 
Through the kindness of Dr. Ruschenberger, U. S. Navy, 
a few samples of drugs have been added to 'our cabinet, 
which from their rarity or interest, are worthy of notice in 
the Journal of the College of Pharmacy. The specimens 
were obtained by Dr. Ruschenberger during his late visit 
to Canton as fleet Surgeon of the East India squadron. 
India Opium. 
Three kinds of this opium have come into our possession, 
which will be noticed in succession. The first of these is, 
Patna Opium. — The form of this kind is a round ball, re- 
sembling a cannon ball, rough and brown externally, five and 
a half inches in diameter ; the weight is three pounds, nine 
drachms. The exterior coating is composed of the petals 
of the poppy closely matted together, forming a firm, com- 
pact, resisting case, varying in thickness from half to three 
quarters of an inch. It is perfectly dry, and almost imper- 
vious to moisture. The cavity formed by this coating is 
entirely filled with opium. This has the consistence of a soft 
17 
