29. _Denarcotized Laudanum_.—Thinking it important to ascertain whether, by the removal of narcotine from opium, the unpleasant effects which, according to the opinions at present entertained upon that subject, are produced by that drug would be removed, Dr. Hare prepared some opium with ether, guided by Robiquet’s statement that narcotine was soluble in that fluid: the opium was shaved by rubbing it on the face of a jack-plane, and subjected four times successively to as much ether of the specific gravity 0.735 as would cover it, the operation being performed in a small Papin’s digester, at a temperature near the boiling point of ether, and each [p216] portion of the fluid being allowed twenty-four hours for its action. A crystalline deposition was soon observed in the ether which had been removed from the opium, and, allowing the stopper of the vessel to remain out, nearly the whole of the liquid evaporated in a few days, and left much coloured crystalline matter. This, Dr. Hare has no doubt, was narcotine in an impure state. The opium was afterwards subjected to as much alcohol as would have been required to convert it into laudanum, had it been in the ordinary state; and this being administered medicinally, was found to occasion none of those uneasy and unpleasant sensations which often follow the use of ordinary opium.—_Silliman’s Journal_, xii. 291.
30. _Extraction of Morphia from Dry Poppy Heads_, by M. Tilloy.—Make an aqueous extract of the heads, add alcohol to the extract, separate the alcoholic solution, and distil it; by this means the gummy matter is separated. An extract like syrup will be obtained by the distillation, which, being heated to make it thinner, and of the consistency of treacle, is to be again treated with alcohol; a separation of more gum, with much nitrate of potash, will be effected. The solution being withdrawn, is to be distilled, and the extract which will remain is to be acted upon by a sufficient quantity of water, and filtered, to separate the resinous matter present. The morphia may then be separated from this liquid, either by ammonia, carbonate of soda, or magnesia. Ammonia does not precipitate all the morphia; carbonate of soda precipitates a large quantity, but, it separates resinous matter also, which is found mingled with the morphia. Magnesia is preferable; but as the liquid contains much free acetic acid, it is expensive to employ the necessary quantity of pure magnesia: the liquid may, therefore, be partly saturated, whilst hot, by carbonate of magnesia, or even by carbonate of lime. A judgment, when no more must be added, must be formed from the effervescence; then pure magnesia is to be added, which will cause the liberation of ammonia; the whole is to be left for twenty-four hours to cool: being then filtered, the precipitate is to be washed, and, when dry, acted upon by alcohol. Operating in this manner, morphia may be obtained from all kinds of poppies.—_Bull. Univ._ E. viii. 10.