1. (Messrs Smith.) Opium, 4 oz., is made into an extract, and ‘denarcotised’ by ether; it is then dissolved in alcohol, filtered, evaporated nearly to dryness, and redissolved in water q. s. to furnish 12 oz. of solution; to this is added, of rectified spirit, 23⁄4 oz., with water q. s. to make the whole up to 16 oz.—Dose, 3 to 12 drops.
2. (Acetic; Liquor opii aceticus, L.) See Laudanum (Houlton’s).
3. (Citric; Liquor opii citricus, L.)—a. Powdered opium, 11⁄2 oz.; lemon juice, 11⁄2 pint; evaporate to one half, cool, add of rectified spirit, 5 fl. oz., and the next day decant or filter; same strength as ‘LAUDANUM,’
b. (Liquor morphiæ citratis—Dr Porter.) Opium, 4 oz.; citric acid, 2 oz.; triturate, and add of boiling water, 15 fl. oz.; digest with agitation for 24 hours, and filter. This last has above three times the strength of ‘LAUDANUM,’ It is sadly misnamed.
4. (Hydrochloric; Solution of Muriate of Opium; Liquor opii hydrochloricus, L.—Dr Nichol.) Powdered opium, 11⁄2 oz.; distilled water, 1 pint; hydrochloric acid, 11⁄2 fl. oz.; digest a fortnight, and strain with expression. Same strength as ‘LAUDANUM,’ According to Dr Nichol, this is preferable to every other preparation of opium.
5. (Sedative; Battley’s Sedative solution of Opium; Liquor opii sedativus, L.)—a. Hard aqueous extract of opium (bruised), 3 oz., is boiled in water, 11⁄2 pint, until dissolved; to the solution, when cold, rectified spirit, 6 oz. is added, together with water, q. s. to make the whole measure exactly 1 quart; the liquor is, lastly, filtered.
b. From hard extract of opium, 22 oz.; boiling water, 13 pints; rectified spirit, 3 pints; as the last.
c. From extract of opium—Ph. L., 41⁄4 oz.; water, 1 quart; boil till reduced to 34 fl. oz.; cool, filter, and add of rectified spirit, 5 fl. oz., and water, q. s. to make up exactly 1 quart.
Obs. The first two formulæ, which vary only in their quantities, are identical with that employed by Mr Battley. As hard extract of opium is not always at hand, we have introduced a formula in which the ordinary extract is ordered. It gives a precisely similar product to the others, provided the cold aqueous decoction is filtered before adding the spirit. Battley’s LIQUOR OPII SEDATIVUS is an excellent preparation, less exciting than opium or laudanum.—Dose, 10 to 30 drops. Dr Christison states that 20 drops of Battley’s solution are equal to 30 drops of the common tincture.