ngth. 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. The iodic acid test is very
delicate, but requires great care, and may be used in the presence of
organic matter.

Meconic acid gives a blood-red colour with perchloride of iron, not
discharged by corrosive sublimate or chloride of gold. The similar
colour produced by sulpho-cyanide of potassium and perchloride of iron
is discharged by chloride of gold and corrosive sublimate.

=Morphine Habit.=--Individuals who have acquired this habit take the
drug usually by hypodermic injection. The victim suffers from nausea and
vomiting, and becomes so mentally debilitated that asylum treatment is
required.

XXX.--BELLADONNA, HYOSCYAMUS, AND STRAMONIUM

=Belladonna.=--The root, leaves, and berries, of the _Atropa belladonna_
are poisonous from the presence of alkaloid atropine.

_Symptoms._--Dryness of mouth and throat, intense thirst, dysphagia and
dysphonia, quick pulse, noisy delirium and stupor. Strangury and
haematuria, and redness of the skin, especially of the face, like that
of scarlatina, have been noticed. Dilatation of the pupil occurs,
whether the poison be taken internally or applied locall