648 
VALERIANIC ACID IN PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
pressed on the dorso-lumbar spines. The appetite returned 
with the secretion of milk, and after a few days’ longer con¬ 
tinuance of the medicine, there was not a visible trace of 
the disease left in any of the cases I have thus treated. 
The following formula may, perhaps, show the manner in 
which it is possible this is effected. 
1 eq. Valerianic acid C 10 H l0 0 4 
1 eq. Glucose . . . C 12 H 14 0 14 
+ 1 eq. Ammonia . . NH 3 
+14 eq. Oxygen . . 0 14 
C.yr, NH 27 0 32 = 4 C0 2 + 18 aq + 1 
eq. Hippuric acid. 
— 4 eq. Carbonic acid C 4 O s \ Producing animal 
—18 eq. of Water . H 13 O l8 J heat. 
= 1 eq. Hippuric acid C 18 NH 9 O e 
I am aware that almost any formula may be made on paper 
to support a theory, but l think this is so much in accordance 
with the manner that nature works in the disintegrading of 
the tissues, viz., by the addition of oxygen and the formation 
of C0 0 and HO (causing animal heat) with other compounds, 
that there may be some truth in it. At any rate I know that 
after administering valerianic acid, as above stated, I found 
hippuric acid in the urine, which I could not detect before 
by any of the means prescribed by Drs. Beale, Bowman, 
and Gregory, and what is still more satisfactory, the animals 
are restored to as good health, to all appearance, as any the 
owners have. 
I know that hippuric acid is said to be formed of benzoic 
acid and glycolamide, but it appears to me by no means certain 
that because it is resolved into these by oxidation that it 
should be formed in the system by the union of these sub¬ 
stances, in fact there are many reasons for a contrary 
opinion ; the most conclusive to my mind is that in all cases 
of disintegration by oxidation, C0 2 and HO are given off in 
the formation of the compound, while in the case of this being 
formed of benzoic acid and glycocol, oxygen is virtually taken 
away instead of added in the two eq. of water to form the 
amide, and no carbonic acid is given off. 
