Abstract

1. Morphine excretion studies were made on 352 urine samples from 29 morphine addicts receiving morphine sulfate subcutaneously in daily doses varying from 45 to 4439 mgm. Sixty-two samples from 11 of these patients were boiled for 3 hours in an acid solution before making the morphine extraction.

2. The average daily amount of morphine found in urine before hydrolysis was 8.6 mgm., or 4.42 per cent of the intake. The percentage excretion was slightly decreased at the higher dosage levels.

3. In some patients receiving morphine subcutaneously and orally it was found that during subcutaneous administration the percentage excretion in urine was higher than during oral administration, the values being 5.74 and 2.69, respectively.

4. The urinary out-put of morphine on the first day of abstinence markedly decreased and became lower each succeeding day until by the 5th or 6th day no more was found.

5. The amount of morphine found in urine after hydrolysis was from 3 to 36 times that found before hydrolysis, the higher portions being associated with the higher dosage levels.

6. The existence of a bound morphine in urine from addicts was established.