By A. JORISSEN.
The solution of morphia, free from foreign bodies, is evaporated to
dryness, and the residue is heated on the water bath with a few drops
of sulphuric acid. A minute crystal of ferrous sulphate is then added,
bruised with a glass rod, stirred up in the liquid, heated for a minute
longer, and poured into a white porcelain capsule, containing 2 to 3
c.c. strong ammonia. The morphia solution sinks to the bottom, and where
the liquids touch there is formed a red color, passing into violet at
the margin, while the ammoniacal stratum takes a pure blue. The reaction
is very distinct to 0.0006 grm. Codeine does not give this reaction. If
sulphuric acid at 190° to 200° is allowed to act upon morphia, there is
ultimately formed an opaque black green mass. If this is poured dropwise
into much water, the mixture turns bluish, and if it is then shaken up
with ether or chloroform, the form takes a purple and the latter a very
permanent blue. Codeine gives the same reaction, but no other of the
alkaloids. This reaction can be obtained very distinctly with 0.0004
grm. of morphia.
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