AMMOOTUM VALERATE 535 



Habitat. — Europe and Northern Asia. Naturalized in 

 New England. 



Description. — Rhizome from 2 to 4 Cm. long, and 1 to 2 

 Cm. thick ; iipright, 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. Eoots 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 (CjIIjoOj), 

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



PEEPARATIONS. 



Fluidextr actum ValeriancB. Fluidextract of Valerian. (V. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with water, and evaporation, 



so that 1 CO. = 1 gm. of the crude drug. 



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



A tinctura Valerianae (i-5) and, a tinctura Valerianae ammoniata 



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



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



Tinctura Valeriana Ammoniata. (B. P.) 

 Dose.— D., 3 8s.-i. (a.-4.) 



Ammooti VAiiEEAS. Ammonium Valerate. NH^C^HgOj 

 (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Ammonium valerianate. 



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). 



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