CRUDE DRUGS. 505 



Constituents. Volatile oil 0.5 to 3 per cent., of which 9.5 

 per cent, is bornyl valerate. It also contains bornyl formate, 

 acetate and butyrate ; borneol ; pinene ; camphene, and a sesqui- 

 terpene. The odor of valerian is due to the isovalerianic acid 

 which is formed from the bornyl valerate by the action of an oxy- 

 dase during the drying of the drug. The fresh drug contains 

 0.015 per cent, of an alkaloid and also a glucoside and a resin, 

 all three of which are physiologically active, the two former 

 being unstable. The drug also contains free formic .and acetic 

 acids and malates ; tannin ; saccharose ; and starch. 



Allied Plants. Kesso root oil is obtained from Japanese 

 Valerian (Valeriana angustifoJia). The constituents are similar 

 to those of the volatile oil in Valerian, but it contains in addition 

 kessyl acetate and kessyl alcohol. Mexican Valerian, derived from 

 V. mexicana, yields an oil containing about 89 per cent, of iso- 

 valerianic acid. 



The small rhizomes of Valeriana celtica, a plant growing in 

 the Styrian Alps, yield a volatile oil with an odor resembling that 

 of Anthemis and patchouly. 



Adulterants and Substitutes. The most dangerous ad- 

 mixture that has been reported is Veratrum, which is readily 

 distinguished (p. 492). Cypripedium macranthnm (Fam. Orch- 

 idacese), of Germany, has been used as a substitute for valerian. 



GERANIUM. WILD OR SPOTTED CRANESBILL. 

 The dried rhizome of Geranium maculatum (Fam. Geraniacese), 

 a perennial herb (Fig. 155), indigenous to Canada and the East- 

 ern and Central United States (p. 301). The rhizome is collected 

 in the late summer or early autumn. 



Description, Horizontal, cylindrical, tuberculate, curved or 

 bent pieces, 2.5 to 5 cm. long, 3 to 10 mm. "in diameter; exter- 

 nally dark brown, wrinkled, upper and side portions with numer- 

 ous buds or circular stem-scars, under surface with numerous root- 

 scars ; fracture short ; internally light brown, bark thin, wood 

 indistinct, pith large ; odor slight ; taste astringent. 



Constituents. Tannin 15 to 25 per cent., which on hydro- 

 lysis yields gallic acid ; starch ; and calcium oxalate. 



Allied Plants. Other species of geranium contain similar 

 principles. 



