NEW RESEARCHES ON OPIUM. 
77 
alcohol at 36° B. dissolves a large proportion; aqua ammonia 
has very little effect upon it, but the solutions of potash and 
soda dissolve a large quantity; on saturating these solutions 
with an acid the substance is precipitated, but retains a little 
of the acid; the diluted acids somewhat aid its solution, but 
present considerable differences in this respect; thus, sulphuric 
and nitric have little influence, hydrocloric more, and acetic a 
still greater. Concentrated sulphuric acid gives it a brown 
colour, and alters its properties; concentrated nitric acid pro- 
duces the same action as on morphia, giving it an intense red 
colour, and finally changing it into oxalic. But the most singu- 
lar property of this substance, is, that it becomes of an intense 
blue colour with the per salts of iron, and especially the hy- 
drochlorate of the peroxide; it is also remarkable that this 
colour disappears on the addition of an acid. The affinity of 
this substance for iron is so great, that whilst it resists the 
solvent power of sulphuric acid, and is only slightly soluble in 
hydrochloric acid; the hydrochlorate of the peroxide of iron 
dissolves it freely; the solution is of a bright blue; when 
heated, it becomes of a dirty green; if ammonia be added, a 
slight precipitate takes place, and the fluid assumes the colour 
of red wine. Somewhat the same phenomena occur, when 
morphia is treated in a similar manner. 
In making comparative experiments on morphia and this 
new substance, I was enabled to elucidate some points con- 
nected with toxicological researches of great interest. First, 
the discovery of a substance which enjoys two of the most 
characteristic properties of morphia, and yet which is not poi- 
sonous, namely, that of becoming red with nitric acid, and 
that of striking a blue colour with the salts of iron, should 
render toxicologists very circumspect, as even when they find 
these characters, they ought not to positively assert that mor- 
phia is present ; to do which, as in cases of other poisons, the 
substance should be obtained in an isolated state. I will also 
add, that the absence of these phenomena should not prevent 
the experimenter from pursuing his researches, as circum- 
stances may prevent their manifestation. In fact, I have re- 
