Indian toxicology / by F.N. Windsor.

  • Windsor, F. N.
Date:
1906
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Indian toxicology / by F.N. Windsor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the alcoholic top layer is removed to an evaj^orating basin, preferably of glass, and placed on a water-bath at a temperature below boiling point. An open water-bath ensures the temperature not rising too high. The alkaloid morphine will be thus left practically pure and may be scraped up with a knife blade, and subjected to chemical morphine tests—* (1) Pure nitric acid gives an orange colour unchanged by sodium thiosulphate. This test is best performed on a glass slide on white paper, by applying a drop of the acid on a glass rod to a little of the solid morphine. (2) Dissolve the solid in a few drops of very dilute acetic acid, and evaporate to dryness. The acetate of morphia is now present and is soluble in distilled water :— To a drop of this solution on a glass slide add a drop of dilute ammonia, a fine precipitate of the alk^doid falls which, under the microscope, is seen to consist of fusiform or prismatic crystals in pairs, sheaves, rosettes or crosses. Drops of ammonia should be added to the rest of the solution till it is alkaline. This precipitates pure morphine which sinks to the bottom, so that with a fine pipette all the supernatant fluid can be removed. A little distilled water is to be added, agitated with the precipitate and again removed with the pipette, and the crystals dried on a water-bath. A drop of nearly neutral ferric chlo- ride solution turns blue when a little of the morphine is added on the point of a spatula. A solution of iodic acid turns yellow when morphine is added, from liberation of * If the quantity of morphine is very small test (2) will probably fail.
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