§ 347. Medicinal and other Preparations of Opium.—The chief mixtures, pills, and other forms, officinal and non-officinal, in which opium may be met with, are as follows:—
(1.) Officinal.
Compound Tincture of Camphor, P. B. (Paregoric).—Opium, camphor, benzoic acid, oil of anise, and proof spirit: the opium is in the proportion of about 0·4 per cent., or 1 grain of opium in 240 minims.
Ammoniated Tincture of Opium (Scotch paregoric).—Strong solution of ammonia, rectified spirit, opium, oil of anise, saffron, and benzoic acid. Nearly 1 per cent. or 1 grain of opium in every 96 minims.
| The Compound Powder of Kino, P. B. | |||
| Opium, | 5 | per cent. | |
| Cinnamon, | 20 | „ | |
| Kino, | 75 | „ | |
| The Compound Powder of Opium, P. B. | |||
| Opium, | 10·00 | per cent. | |
| Black Pepper, | 13·33 | „ | |
| Ginger, | 33·33 | „ | |
| Caraway Fruit, | 40·00 | „ | |
| Tragacanth, | 3·33 | „ | |
| Pill of Lead and Opium, P. B. | |||
| Acetate of Lead, | 75·0 | per cent. | |
| Opium, | 12·5 | „ | |
| Confection of Roses, | 12·5 | „ | |
Tincture of Opium (Laudanum).—Opium and proof spirit. One grain of opium in 14·8 min.—that is, about 6·7 parts by weight in 100 by measure.
The amount of opium actually contained in laudanum has been investigated by Mr. Woodland,[372] from fourteen samples purchased from London and provincial chemists. The highest percentage of extract was 5·01, the lowest 3·21, the mean being 4·24; the highest percentage of morphine was ·70 per cent., the lowest ·32, the mean being ·51 per cent. It is, therefore, clear that laudanum is a liquid of very uncertain strength.
[372] Year Book of Pharmacy, 1882.