NOTE UPON INDIA OPIUM. 
205 
was drawn off clear by means of a piece of thick cloth. This 
infusion appeared about the consistency of syrup. The re- 
maining mass was quite soft, upon which about three pints of 
boiling water was poured, and the warm infusion allowed 
to remain about ten minutes. It was then filtered through 
Chinese paper with pressure. 
By the time this had been accomplished, to the cold in- 
fusion, which had been placed over a brisk fire and had com- 
menced to boil, the filtered infusion was added. The boiling 
was briskly continued, and a little scum was thrown up,which 
was removed by means of a feather. As the extract thickens, 
it was carefully stirred, and when the quantity of water was 
much reduced, the pan was placed on a smaller fire, and care- 
fully stirred with three round sticks ; from time to time it was 
removed from the fire, and a circular motion given to it. 
When it had attained the form of a thin extract, it was taken 
from the fire, stirred gently, and cooled by means of a fan, 
and placed in a jar for use. Its appearance was not unlike 
molasses, but rather of a reddish-brown colour. The scum 
was added to a small part of the water infusion, which had 
now dropped from the filter and evaporated to about the same 
consistency as the first part, but its color was darker and it 
was not of itself fit for smoking. 
The residuum appeared nearly as dark as charcoal. — 
When dried to about the state of the original opium, it 
weighed 13 oz., 14 dwt., 23 grs. 
The pure opium (first extract) 
weighed .... 
9 
18 

The second extract weighed, 

2 
8 
The outer shell weighed, . 
2 
3 
9 
25 
IS 
16 
Original weight of half cake, 
26 
19 

Loss, .... 
1 

8 
From an experiment upon the outer portion of cover by 
18 
