OPIUM
Derivation.—The concrete, milky exudate obtained by incising the unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum Linne, and yielding in its normal, moist condition, not less than nine per cent of crystallized morphine when assayed by the official process. Opium is imported from Turkey, Asia Minor, Persia, India and Egypt. The Smyrna, or Turkey opium, is the more common variety used in the United States. It occurs in irregular, globular masses, covered with poppy leaves and capsules of a species of dock, weighing from one-half to one pound.
Properties.—In irregular, flattened, more or less rounded masses of variable size, externally grayish-brown, covered with particles of poppy leaves and with occasional fruits of a species of Rumex; more or less plastic when fresh, but becoming hard on keeping; internally dark brown, somewhat lustrous; odor strong, narcotic; taste bitter and characteristic. It yields its medical properties to water, alcohol and dilute acids, forming dark brown solutions. Ether extracts its principles in part.
Constituents.—There are about nineteen or twenty alkaloids derived from opium, but only a few are of any importance so far as their medical value is concerned.
Dose.—Of the crude opium—Horses, 1 to 2 dr.; cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; sheep, 10 to 30 gr.; pigs, 5 to 10 gr.; dogs, 1⁄2 to 2 gr.