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MORPHINE. 463

The principal salts of morphine are the acetate, the hydro-
chlorate and the sulphate.

MORPHINE ACETAS ACETATE OF MORPHINE.
Formula.—C,,HigNO.,,CMi02+3H^O.
Derivation.—Acetate of Morphine is obtained by precipitating
morphine from the hydrochlorate of morphine, by the aid of am-
monia, the precipitate resulting being washed in distilled water
and dissolved and neutralized by acetic acid, after which it is
evaporated and dried by heat. It is in the form of a white or
yellowish-white, amorphous or crystalline powder, altogether
soluble in water and alcohol, and of a bitter taste.

MORPHINE HYDROCHLORAS OR MURIAS—HYDROCHLORATE OR
MURIATE OF MORPHINE.

Formula.—C.^^^^O^, HCI + sH^O.
Derivation.— Hydrochlorate or Muriate of Morphine is ob-
tained by macerating opium in distilled water, evaporating to a
small quantity, and adding chloride of lime, and concentrating
the solution until it becomes solid when cool, after which it is
pressed, washed with distilled water, again evaporated, cooled
and pressed, and again dissolved in distilled water, when it is sub-
jected to animal charcoal, to remove the coloring matter, filtered
and precipitated by ammonia, the codeia of the opium remaining
in solution. The crystals resulting are then dissolved in muriatic
acid, and the morphine allowed to crystallize into hydrochlorate
or muriate of morphine. It is in the form of snow-white,
feathery, flexible and acicular crystals of a bitter taste and silky
lustre, and altogether soluble in water and alcohol.

MORPHINE SULPHAS—SULPHATE OF MORPHINE.

Derivation.—Sulphate of Morphine is obtained by dissolving
morphine in boiling alcohol, and saturating it while hot with sul-
phuric acid, the coloring matter being removed by animal char-

coal ; it is then boiled and filtered while at the boiling tempera-