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1288
'999' brand morphine blocks
A morphine block will usually contain approximately 80 per cent of morphine hydrochloride. The hydrochlorides of morphine and codeine are the two main ingredients, with trace amounts of other opium alkaloids such as narcotine and papaverine. Although variations do occur, when one con- siders that the blocks are prepared in 'field' laboratories, the composition is remarkably consistent. Over a 10-year period up to June 1976, the average morphine hydrochloride content of compressed blocks has been calculated as 85.05 per cent, with a minimum of 80.0 per cent and a maximum of 92.4 per cent. (The standard deviation for averages during the period is 8.6).
Codeine is also present in the block as the hydrochloride salt. The ratio of morphine to codeine has shown a range from 4.2 to 13.0 with an average of 5.8.
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Morphine blocks in their original wrappings. An accounting number and the weight in grammes can be seen on some of the blocks. (Y/CCB/4331/1975)
In 1970 and 1971 five seizures were made in which a number of the mor- phine blocks also contained caffeine. The caffeine content ranged from 14 per cent to 19 per cent and was prob- ably added as a diluent, although the morphine content was still in the re- gion of 70 per cent. During the last 10 years about 2,400 morphine blocks have been examined, and on only these five occasions has a diluent or adulter- ant been detected.
In contrast to the isolation of mor- phine from opium there was an inves- tigation in 1954 into attempts to extract morphine from Dover's Pow- der for subsequent conversion to heroin. Dover's Powder contains only one per cent of morphine, and the difficulties of procedure and low yield made this a most uneconomical ven-
ture.
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