Codeia is stated to act like morphia; the author questions the statement, having repeatedly found 5 grains of codeia fail to relieve pain (in the case of a patient suffering from a tumour pressing on a nerve), which was always readily subdued by the fourth of a grain of morphia. The therapeutics of codeia require to be investigated.

Narcotine was at one time supposed to be the narcotic principle of opium, but is now known not to be so; it probably acts as a tonic and antiperiodic: the author has given it with this view in half-drachm doses without the production of any narcotic symptoms.

The actions of the other crystalline principles of opium are as yet almost unknown; the resinous matter certainly possesses considerable power, and in one case in which it was administered in rather large doses, giddiness and great contraction of the pupils ensued.

Dose. Of opium, 1/4 gr. to 3 gr. or more; of extract opii, 1/4 gr. to 3 gr. or more; of extractum opii liquidum, 4 min. to 40 min, or more; of tinct. opii (laudanum), 4 min. to 40 min. or more; of vinum opii, 4 min. to 40 min. or more; of pulv. cretae aromaticus cum opio, 10 gr. to 60 gr.; of pil. opii, 2 1/2 gr. upwards; of pulv. kino. cum opio, 10 gr. upwards; of tinctura camphoras cum opio, 1 fl. drm. to 2 fl. drm.; of pil. plumbi cum opio, 4 gr. to 8 gr.; of trochisci opii, one to four; of morphiae hydrochloras, 1/8 gr. to 1 gr.; of liquor morphias hydrochloratis, 20 min. to 2 fl. drm. [of Liquor Morphiae Sulphatis, U. S., 30 min. to 2 fl. drm.]; of trochisci morphiae, one to four; of trochisci morphiae et ipecacuanha, one to four.

Adulteration. Opium often contains many mechanical impurities, as stones, sand, clay, bullets, etc.; it may also be mixed with vegetable extracts of various kinds, sugar and treacle; it may contain much water, and it may have had much of its active matter extracted by water, and subsequently dried; physical examination will throw much light on the value of the drug, but on account of its very varying quality, processes are employed for ascertaining the amount of morphia contained in it, and this is taken as the index to the commercial value of the drug. The process given above may be resorted to with advantage. Good Smyrna opium should yield 10 per cent. of morphia; Egyptian opium about 6 or 7 per cent.; East Indian, from 3 to 8 per cent. or more.

Rhoeas. [Not officinal in U. S. P.] The dried petals of Papaver Rhoeas, the Red or Corn Poppy; Lin. Syst., Polyandria mono-gynia; indigenous: growing in fields and waste places.

Description. The petals are of a rich scarlet colour when fresh, becoming dull red on drying. They have the peculiar heavy odour of opium when fresh, but become scentless on drying.

Prop. & Comp. The petals yield to water red colouring matter, for which they are chiefly prized: this colour is much darkened by alkalies. They contain, in addition to the red colouring matter, minute traces of the peculiar constituents of opium.

Off. Pre]). Syrupus Rhoeados. Syrup of Red Poppy. (Red poppy petals, thirteen ounces; boiling distilled water, one pint; sugar, two pounds and a quarter; rectified spirit, two fluid ounces and a half. Add the red poppy petals gradually to the water, heated in a water-bath, frequently stirring; then set the vessel aside, macerate for twelve hours; afterwards press out the liquid. Strain, add the sugar, and dissolve by means of heat. When cold add the spirit, and as much distilled water as may be necessary to make up for loss in the process, so that the product shall weigh three pounds ten ounces, and should have the specific gravity 1.33.)

Therapeutics. The action of red poppy is very slight, but similar to that of opium; the amount of active ingredients is very small, and rather uncertain in quantity. It is chiefly used as a colouring agent.

Dose. Of syrupus rhoeados, from 1 fl. drm. upwards.

[Sanguinaria. Bloodroot. U. S. The rhizoma of Sanguinaria Canadensis; Lin. Syst., Polyandria monogynia. A perennial herb growing throughout the United States.

Description. In pieces of from one to three inches in length, half an inch in thickness, dark brown; externally, wrinkled, contorted, terminating abruptly; internally, the colour varies from whitish to a dark-red, and has, when the root is good, a resinous appearance.

Prop. & Comp. Odour faint, taste bitter, acrid, and persistent. Contains an alkaline principle, Sanguinarine, which forms with acids, salts having some shade red or scarlet.

Off. Prep. Tinctura Sanguinariae. Bloodroot, in moderately fine powder, four troy ounces; percolate with diluted alcohol until two pints of tincture are obtained.

Therapeutics. Bloodroot is emetic, but is rarely used to produce vomiting: in moderate doses it is a useful expectorant, not impairing the appetite or quickening the circulation. In over doses its action is violent and it causes depression of the pulse and disturbance of the nervous system.

Dose. Of powder, as an emetic, from 10 to 20 gr.; of the tine, ture, 20 fl. drm. to 1/2 an ounce; as an expectorant, of the powder, 3 to 5 gr. every few hours; of the tincture, from 20 minims to a fl. drm.]