114 A COMPENDIUM OF 
tains a volatile oil (which is said to contain about 
five per cent. of valerianic. acid), cannin, resin, 
starch, mucilage, acetic and formic acids. Va- 
lerian has been used as a medicine since the time 
of Dioscorides, and is still well thought of as an 
agent bymodernschools. Valerian andits many 
preparations are stimulating, anodyne, nervine, 
and antispasmodic in action. The dose of the 
powder (not often prescribed) is 15 to 90 grains 
(1 to 6 grams), generally given in the form of an 
infusion. The dose of the tinctures and extract 
is from ¥% to 1 fluid drachm (2 to 4 grams). ‘It 
is not recommended in form of decoction or ex- 
tract when any heat is employed, as this is said 
to drive off the volatile oil, wherein lies the vir- 
tue of the drug. The officinal preparations are 
the abstract, extract, fluid extract of valerian, 
and the simple and ammoniated tinctures. 
Zingiber, Zingiber Officinale, Ginger.—Nat- 
ural order Zingiberacee. A rhizomous plant, 
whose root is biennial and creeping, whilst the 
stem is annual, erect, and attains the height of 
3 feet (1 meter) or more, inclosed in a sheath of 
two leaves on opposite sides of the stem; leaves 
radicle but elevated, oblong or obvate in shape; 
flowers in spikes, yellow and variegated in color; 
anthers crowned with a single incurved beak; 
capsules three-celled and three-valved, with 
many seed; three stamens, two of which are not 
fertile. Ginger is cultivated from the root stock 
by cuttings. The rhizome of the ginger is of 
two kinds, the scraped or uncoated and the coat- 
ed or unscraped; these are again divided in the 
African, East India, Chinese, Jafmaica and green 
gingers. The African, as the name implies, is 
