AMMONIUM VALERIANATE 511 



Hohitat — Europe and Northern Asia. Naturalized in 

 New England. 



Dt'scription. — EhizOme from 2 to 4 Cm. long, and 1 to 2 

 Cm. thick ; upright, subglobular, or obconical ; truncate at 

 both ends ; brown or yellowish-brown, internally whitish or 

 pale brownish, with a narrow circle of white wood under the 

 thin bark. Roots numerous, slender, brittle, brown, with a 

 thick bark, and slender, ligneous cord. Odor peculiar, 

 becoming stronger and unpleasant on keeping ; taste cam- 

 phoraceous and somewhat bitter. 



Constituents. — 1, a volatile oil ; 2, valerianic acid (CgHioOj), 

 a colorless, oily acid, with burning taste and odor of valerian. 

 Soluble in alcohol and ether, and in 30 parts of water. 

 Valerianic acid is also made artificially by a complicated pro- 

 cess from the distillation of chromic acid and amylic alcohol.* 

 3, tannic acid ; 4, resin ; 5, malic, formic and acetic acids. 



Dose.—R. & C, I i.-ii. (30.-60.) ; D., gr.x.- 3 i. (6.-4.). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Valeriance Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Valerian. 

 (U. S. P.) 



Made by maceration and percolation with water, and evaporation, 

 so that 1 Cc. = 1 Gm. of the crude drug. 



Dose.— H. & C, § i.-ii. (30.-60.); D., nix.- 3 i. (.6-4.). 



A tinctura Valerianae (1-5) and a tinctura valerianaB ammoniata 

 (1-5), prepared with aromatic spirit of ammonia, are also official. The 

 dose of either is 3 ss.-ii. (2.-8.), for dogs. 



Ammonii Valerianas. Ammonium Valerianate. 

 NH,C,H90,. (U. S. P.) 



Made by the action of ammonia gas upon valerianic 

 acid, and crystallization. 



Properties. — Minute, colorless, cubical crystals, or a white 

 granular powder ; without odor when colorless, but emitting 

 a slight odor of iodine when colored, and having a sharp, 

 saline taste. Very hygroscopic. Soluble in 1 part of water, 

 and in 9 parts of alcohol. 



Dose.— D., gr.ii.-v. (.12-.3) 



