238 VALERIANE. 
The most important constituent of valerian rootis its volatile 
oil. Free valerianic acid does not exist in the fresh root, ‘but _ 
is generated from the volatile oil.on exposure. The latest in- 
vestigation of the oil is by Bruylants (1878), who ascertained 
some new facts. The hydrocarbon, C!°H'®, was named borneene 
by Gerhardt (1841) and valerene by Pierlot (1859). The 
valerol of the latter differed from Gerhardt’s valerol, C&H!°O, 
which he believed to become oxidized in contact with air to 
valerianic acid, carbonic acid being given off at the same time. — 
Bruylants explains the generation of valerianic acid in old oil 
of valerian from the decomposition of C'!°H!7C5H90%, which | 
is the valerianic ether of borneol ; besides this one, it contai 
the corresponding ethers of formic and acetic acids, the alcoho. 
borneol, C!°H!80, and its ether, C!°H'70%. Gerhardt assumed 
the production of borneol from the hydration of borneene. 
For a comparison of the chemical constitution of the root 0 
an Indian officinal valerian with that of the European dr 
the reader is referred to the next article. . 
VALERIANA WALLICHII, v0. 
Fig.—Asiat. Research. ii., p. 405. 
Hab.— Temperate Himalaya. The rootstock. 
Vernacular.—Tagar (Hind., Beng., Mar.), Tagar-ganthod 
(Guz.), Nandibattal (Can.), Mushk-i wéli, Bala (Punjab) 
Pampe (Bhutan). re 
History, Uses, &o.—A fragrant drug called Tagara 1 
frequently mentioned by Sanskrit writers, other names for it 
are Nandy4varta, Nandini, Varhini, Nahushékhya, and Pindi- 
tagara. It is described in the Nighantas as sweet, emollient, 
pungent, hot and light; aremedy for suppresion of urine, 
' poisons, epilepsy, swoons and headaches. Besides it dici 
nal uses it is an ingredient in perfumed powders, in the sam 
manner as jatamansi. The drug appears to have attracted 
