ON  GELSEMINIA.  35 
writer  submits  herewitli  three  specimens  of  valerianate  of  ammo- 
nia, prepared  from  acids  of  diflferent  degrees  of  density,  as 
marked  on  the  labels,  including  a  specimen  prepared  from  acid 
of  s.  g.  0-938.  A  careful  comparison  of  them  appears  to  con- 
firm the  experience  obtained  in  these  investigations  and  in  pre- 
vious practice  on  a  large  scale,  indicating  that  for  the  only  offi- 
cinal use  to  which  the  acid  is  applied  a  higher  specific  gravity 
answers  equally  well  and  saves  much  acid,  time  and  labor. 
In  conclusion  the  writer  presents  a  table  showing  the  specific 
gravity  of  the  acid  as  obtained  at  different  temperatures. 
Successive 
fluidounces 
as  distilled. 
Boiling 
Point. 
Specific 
gravity. 
Successive 
fluidounces 
as  distilled. 
Boilin 
g 
Point. 
Specific 
gravity. 
1. 
*280°  to 
328° 
0-959 
12. 
344° 
to 
345° 
0-936 
2. 
328°  " 
330° 
0-952 
13. 
345° 
0-936 
3. 
330°  " 
333° 
0-948 
14. 
345° 
a 
346° 
0-935 
4. 
333°  " 
344° 
0-947 
15. 
346° 
0-934 
.  5. 
334° 
337° 
0-944 
16. 
346° 
li 
347° 
0-934 
6. 
337°  " 
339° 
0-943 
17. 
347° 
a 
348° 
0  934 
1. 
339°  " 
340° 
0-941 
18. 
348° 
0-934 
8. 
340°  " 
342° 
0-940 
19. 
348° 
11 
350° 
0  934 
9. 
342°  " 
343° 
0-938 
20. 
350° 
ii 
351° 
0-933 
10. 
343°  " 
344° 
0-937 
21. 
351° 
Cl 
352° 
0-933 
11. 
344° 
0-937 
22. 
352° 
li 
354° 
0-933 
*  The  distillatioa  below  300^^  takes  place  without  boiling. 
The  query  is  therefore  answered  by  an  opinion  that  the  specific 
gravity  prescribed  by  the  Pharmacopoeia  for  its  valerianic  acid 
cannot  be  obtained  by  its  process,  and  is  lower  than  necessary; 
and  that  0-935  would  be  far  more  practical  and  economical,  and 
the  results  equally  good. 
Brooklyn,  Sept.,  1868. 
— Proc.  Amer.  Pharm.  Assoc. ^  1868. 
ON  GELSEMINIA. 
By  0.  L.  Eberle. 
Query  llth. — Is  the  so-called    gelserainia  "  a  neutral  or  alkaloid  prin- 
ciple ?    Does  it  exist  in  the  leaves  and  in  the  wood  of  the  root,  or  only  in 
th^  bark  ?    And  does  it  represent  the  activity  of  the  plant  ? 
The  root  of  Gelsemium  sempervirens  has  for  a  considerable 
time  been  employed  in  the  medical  practice  of  portions  of  our 
country  as  a  nervous  and  arterial  sedative — in  large  doses  oc- 
casioning dizziness,  dimness  of  vision,  dilated  pupil  and  uni- 
