Treatment must be continued as long as life remains.
_Method of Extraction from the Stomach._--Opium itself cannot be
directly detected, but we test for morphine and meconic acid. These may
be separated from organic mixtures thus: Boil the organic matter with
distilled water, spirit, and acetic acid; filter, and to the fluid
passed through add acetate of lead till precipitate ceases. Filter.
Acetate of morphine passes through, and meconate of lead remains. The
solution of acetate of morphine may be freed from excess of lead by
hydrogen sulphide and filtered, excess of hydrogen sulphide driven off
by heat, and tests applied. Put the meconate of lead with water into a
beaker and pass hydrogen sulphide; sulphide of lead is formed, and
meconic acid set free. Filter. Concentrate the solution of meconic acid,
allow a portion to crystallize, and apply tests.
_Tests._--Morphine and its acetate give an orange-red colour with nitric
acid, becoming brighter on standing; decompose iodic acid, setting free
iodine; with perchloride of iron, gives a rich indigo-blue; with
bichromate of potassium, a green turning to brown. When the alkaloid is
heated in a watchglass with a drop of strong sulphuric acid until the
acid begins to fume, and is then allowed to get quite cold, a drop of
nitric acid produces a brilliant red colour.
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