\'ALERIAN AND VALERATES 387 



Habitat. — Southern Europe or Central Asia. 



Description. — Mericarps usually coherent; cremocarp nearly globular, from 

 3 to 5 mm. in diameter; externally light brown or rose colored; the powder is 

 light brown. Odor and taste agreeably aromatic. 



Constituents. — 1, the volatile oil, oleum coriandri, a colorless, or pale yellow 

 liquid, having the characteristic odor and taste of coriander. 



Dose of coriander and its oil, same as for anise and its oil. 

 FoLXicuLUM. Fennel. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Foeniculi fructus, B. P.; semen foeniculi, fennel fruit or .seeds, K.; 

 fenouil, Pr. ; fenchel, G. 



The dried, ripe fruit of cultivated varieties of Foeniculum Vulgare, Miller 

 (Fam. Umbelliferse). 



Habitat. — Southern Europe and Levant. 



Description. — Mericarps usually separate, each being broadly ellii>tical, more 

 or less "urved, from 4 to 10 mm. in length and from 1 to 3.5 mm. in breadth; 

 dorsal surface convex, yellowish-green to grayish-brown. Odor and taste aromatic 

 and characteristic. 



Constituents. — A volatile oil of almost similar action and composition to oil 

 of anise, oleum foeniculi. A colorless, or pale yellowish liquid, having the charac- 

 teristic aromatic odor of fennel, and a sweetish, mild and spicy taste. Soluble 

 in alcohol. 



Dose of fennel and its oil, same as that for anise and its oil. 

 FoiNuoREEK. (Non-official.) 



The seeds of Trigonella foenum grsecum, cultivated in France and Germany. 

 They are oblong, cylindrical, somewhat compressed, obliquely truncated at each 

 end; 1 to 2 lines long; of a brownisli-yellow color, and have a strong, peculiar 

 odor, and oily, bitterish taste. Foenugreek contains both a volatile and fixed oil. 



Dose. — Same as for anise. 



Actions and Uses of Cardamom, Coriander, Fennel and Fenugreek. 



These drugs resemble anise in actions^ uses, and doses. They enter 

 into the composition of many popular tonic or "condition" powders and 

 drinks, and, by their stomachic and carminative properties, aid digestion. 

 Ginger is perhaps in more frequent demand than other agents of this 

 class, by the profession. 



Class 3. — Used Mainly for Their Antispasmodic Action in 

 Stimulating the Nervous System. 



Valeriana, ^'alerian. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Valerianae rhizoma, B. P.; val6riane, Fr. ; baldrian, G. 



The dried rhizome and roots of Valeriana officinalis I,inne (Fam. Valerian- 

 aceae). 



Habitat. — Europe and Northern Asia. Naturalized in New England. 



Description. — Rhizome upright, from 2 to 4 cm. in length and from 1 to 2 

 cm. in diameter, usually cut longitudinally into 2 to 4 pieces; externally yellowish- 

 brown or dark brown. Odor pronounced of valeric acid, becoming stronger upon 

 ageing; taste sweetish, camphoraceous and somewhat bitter. The powder is 

 light brown to grayish-brown. 



Constituents. — 1, a volatile oil (^ to 2 per cent.), consisting of pinene, a 

 terpene, and borneol, CmHigO; 2, valeric acid (C-.H.i.Oz), a colorless, oily acid, 

 with burning taste and odor of valerian. Soluble in alcohol and ether, and in 30 

 parts of water. Valeric acid, CjHuOz, is also made artificially by a complicated 

 process from the distillation of chromic acid and amylic alcohol; 3, tannic acid; 

 4, resin; 5, malic, formic and acetic acids. 



Dose.— H. & C.,-.?i-ii, (30-60); D., gr.x-5i, (0.6-4). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Fhiidextractum Valerianw. Fluidextract of Valerian. (U. S. P. 1905.) 



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