PAPAVER
somniferum.
MANUFAC
-
TURE.
Alkaloids.
74
Extracted from the Dictionary of
Manufacture of Alkaloids.
MANUFACTURE OF ALKALOIDS.
In the Pharmacographia Indica the following account of the manufac
- t u r e o f t h e a l k a l o i d s a s p r a c t i s e d a t B e n a r e s i s g i v e n , f r o m t h e p e n o f M r .
Gregory, Officiating Principal Assistant Opium Agent :
—
" The opium used at Ghazipore for manufacture of alkaloids, consists
of confiscated opium so adulterated as to be unfit for provision or áb kári
purposes; adulterated contraband opium and dhoi. The average amount
of opium used, taking the figures for three years from 1886 to 1888,
amounts to about 16,626th annually.
The yield of alkaloids during 1887-88 was as follows :—
Indian
Alkaloids.
Hydrochlorate of Morphia
. . .
242lb 1 4½- o z .
Acetate " "
. . .
34 ",
1 1 " ,
Sulphate " "
. . .
19,, 10½ ,,
Codeine " "
. . .
3 0 , ,
10½,,
No narcotine has been manufactured since 1881-82, there being no de
-mand for it. In 1879-80, the yield was 188th.
Morphia is manufactured by the Gregory-Robertson system modified
in a few minor details. The opium is steeped in small vats with water,
and the liquor passed through blanket filters : the maceration of the resi
-due is repeated until the filtrate is colourless. The mixed filtrates are
evaporated by steam to a thin syrupy consistence. Chloride of calcium is
then added in the proportion of about 5 per cent. of the weight of the
opium used, and the mixture evaporated until it solidifies on cooling. The
crystalline magma is then powerfully pressed. The dry cake is dissolved
in boiling distilled water, filtered, and the filtrate evaporated until it soli
-difies on cooling. Pressure is again applied to the magma ; and the re
-sulting cake again dissolved in water, and this process is repeated perhaps
a dozen times, until the cake is almost white. The expressed mother
liquors are again worked up for morphia. The nearly white cake is finally
dissolved in boiling distilled water, and ammonia in slight excess added.
The precipitate is collected and worked with cold distilled water, until it
ceases to give the reaction for chlorides. The precipitated morphia is
then neutralised with hydrochloric acid, and the solution crystallised. The
crystals are pressed, and mixed with twice their weight of water, and
wood charcoal added in the proportion of 2 oz. to each th of the mass.
This mixture is heated to 200° F. for about twenty minutes, and then
filtered. On cooling, the hydrochlorate of morphia separates in crystals.
Codeia is obtained from the mother liquor, left after the precipitation of the
morphia by ammonia. The liquor is concentrated to a moist mass and
strongly pressed ; the cake is moistened with water and again pressed,
and this is repeated until the alkaloid is nearly white. The cake is
broken up in water, and caustic pótash added in considerable excess.
The codeia separates in crystals slightly coloured. It is finally purified
by crystallisation from alcohol. Narcotine is obtained by digesting
with hydrochloric acid the insoluble residue left by the action of water
on opium, and precipitating with ammonia. The impure narcotine is
purified by repeated solution and crystallisation from acchol, and de
-colorised by charcoal."
The authors of the Pharmacographia Indica give the following re
-marks regarding the Indian prepared alkaloids of opium :—
" INDIAN MANUFACTURED ALKALOIDS.—We have examined morphia,
codeine and narcotine manufactured at Ghazipore.
The morphia hydrochlorate was in white acicular prisms of silky lustre
and free from odour. Dried at 100°C., the crystals lost 1274 per cent.
The hydrochlorate is usually stated to contain three molecules of water