The inspissated juice obtained from the poppy, Papaver somniferum. Grown in Asia Minor.

Preparation. - The unripe capsules are incised, or rather deeply scratched. The milky juice which exudes becomes inspissated by spontaneous evaporation, and is scraped off and made into lumps. As these ought to consist only of the tears of thickened juice from the incisions, the lumps should tear with an irregular surface, and when drawn across a piece of paper should leave a light-brown interrupted streak. Sometimes vegetable extracts are used to adulterate opium, and then it has a more even fracture, and makes a more or less even streak on a piece of paper.

Characters. - Irregular lumps, weighing from four ounces to two pounds; enveloped in the remains of poppy-leaves, and generally covered with the chaffy fruits of a species of rumex; when fresh, plastic, tearing with an irregular, slightly moist, chestnut-brown surface, shining when rubbed smooth with the finger, having a peculiar odour and bitter taste.

Test. - Opium should yield, when assayed, about 10 per cent. of morphine, B.P., 9 per cent. according to the U.S.P.

Preparations

B.P.

Dose.

Codeina..................................

.............................................

1/4-2 gr.

Confectio Opii (pulv. Opii Co.

192 gr.; Syrup 1 oz.) ...............

1 part in 40, nearly

5-20 gr.

Emplastrum Opii (with resin plaster)..........................

1 part in 10..............................

for external use.

Enema Opii..............................

1/2 fl.,dr. tincture to 2 fl. oz. starch mucilage.

Extractum Opii..........................

About 1 part from 2

1/4-3 gr. or more.

Extractum Opii Liquidum.....................

22 grs. extract in 1 fl. oz. nearly..

4-40 m. „ „

Injectio Morphinae Hypodermica...

1 gr. acetate of morphine in 10 m.

Linimentum Opii (vide p. 516)..

1 of tincture in 2.

Morphinae Acetas.........................

About 1 part from 8 or 10 of opium...................

1/8/1/2 gr.

Morphinae Acetatis Liquor......

4 1/2 gr. acetate in 1fl. oz..................

10-60 m.

Morphinae Bimeconatis Liquor..........

5 1/2 grs. bimeconate in 1fl. oz.........

5-40 m.

Morphinae Hydrochloras.....................

About 1 part from 8 or 10 of opium....................

1/8-1/2 gr.

Morphinae Hydrochloratis Liquor..

4 1/2 gr. hydrochlorate in 1 fl. oz...

10-60 m.

Morphinae Sulphas................

1 part from 7 1/2.................

1/8-1/2 gr.

Pilula Ipecacuanhae cum Scilla

(vide p. 522).........................

1 part in 23, nearly.....................

5-10 gr.

Pilula Plumbi cum Opio (vide p. 522)......................

1 part in 8......................

4-8 gr.

1 Pilula Saponis Composita

(vide p. 523)..................

1 part in 6, nearly.....................

3-5 gr.

Pulvis Cretae Aromaticus cum Opio.

1 part in 40......................

10-60 gr.

Pulvis Ipecacuanha Compositus...

1 part in 10..........................

5-15 gr.

Pulvis Kino Compositus......................

1 part in 20...........................

5-20 gr.

Suppositoria Plumbi Composita...

1 grain in each suppository.

Pulvis Opii Compisitus......................

1 part in 10.............................

2-5 gr.

Tinctura Camphorae Composita..................................

2 gr. to 1 fl. oz................................

15 m.-l fl. dr.

Tinctura Opii (Laudanum)........................

33 grains to 1 fl. oz., nearly................

4-40 m. or more.

1 Pilula Saponis Composita is purely a preparation of opium. It is sometimes convenient to give opium to patients without their knowledge. If the pill were called Pilula Opii the patients would see from the prescription what they were taking, while they learn nothing about the nature of the medicine from the name Pil. Saponis Co. The name of this pill was changed from Pil. Saponis Co. to Pilula Opii in the B.P. of 1864, but the inconveniences which arose from this were so great that the name was altered again.

Preparations - continued.

Dose.

Tinctura Opii Ammoniata.....................

5 grains to 12 fl. oz. .........................

1/2-1 fl. dr.

Trochisci Opii..........................................

1/10th grain of extract in each.........

1-4.

Unguentum Gallae cumOpio....................

32 grains to 1 oz. galls ointment.......

for external use.

Vinum Opii...............................................

22 gr. extract in 1 fl. oz., nearly......

4-40 m. or more.

B.P. Pulvis Kino Compositus. Compound Powder of Kino. - Kino, 3 3/4; opium, 1/4; cinnamon bark, 1.

B.P. Pulvis Opii Compositus. Compound Powder of Opium. - Opium, 1 1/2; black pepper, 2; ginger, 5; caraway fruit, 6; tragacanth, 1/2.

B.P. Tinctura Camphorae Composita. Compound Tincture of Camphor (English Paregoric). - Opium, 40 gr.; benzoic acid, 40 gr.; camphor, 30 gr.; oil of anise, 1/2 fl. dr.; proof spirit, 1 pint.

B.P. Tinctura Opii Ammoniata. Ammoniated Tincture of Opium (Scotch Paregoric). - Opium, in coarse powder, 100 gr.; saffron, 180 gr.; benzoic acid, 180 gr.; oil of anise, 1 fl. dr.; strong solution of ammonia, 4 fl. oz.; rectified spirit, 16 fl. oz.

B.P. Vinum Opii. Wine of Opium. - Extract of opium, 1 oz.; cinnamon bark, 75 gr.; cloves, 75 gr.; sherry, 1 pint.

Preparations

U.S.P.

Dose.

Extractum Opii..............................................

..............................1/2-1 gr.

(0.031-0.065 gm.)

Emplastrum Opii (6 parts in 100) Trochisci Glycyrrhizae et Opii (1/20 gr. in each lozenge).................................

prepared from Extractum Opii.