FLUID  EXTRACT  OF  VALERIAN. 
381 
make  this  preparation  without  the  use  of  ether,  and  always  with 
a  satisfactory  result. 
Based  upon  this  plan  of  treatment  and  carrying  out  the  views 
suggested  in  a  paper  on  fluid  extract  of  buchu,  published  by  the 
writer  in  the  last  number  of  the  Journal,  it  is  now  proposed  for 
consideration,  to  prepare  fluid  extract  of  Valerian  of  double  the 
officinal  strength,  so  that  each  fluid  ounce  shall  represent  one 
ounce  of  the  root. 
The  strength  of  alcohol  found  best  in  the  writer's  hands  as  a 
proper  solvent  for  valerian,  is  made  by  mixing  five  parts  of  com- 
mercial 95  per  cent,  alcohol  with  three  parts  of  water.  In  this 
proportion,  a  little  more  of  the  coloring  matter  is  taken  up  than 
when  a  mixture  of  two  parts  to  one  is  used,  and,  while  it  does 
not  impair  the  transparency  or  permanency  of  the  extract,  a 
richness  of  appearance  is  given  to  it,  at  the  same  time  the  idea 
is  maintained  of  lessening  the  alcohol  in  all  such  preparations 
whenever  it  can  be  effected  without  detriment  to  the  result. 
The  following  is  the  proposed  formula  and  illustrative  of  the 
above  views : 
Fluid  Extract  of  Valerian. 
Take  of  Valerian,  in  powder,  (prepared  by  passing  through  a 
No.  60  seive)  16  ounces. 
Diluted  alcohol,  (95  per  cent,  alcohol,  5  parts, 
Water,  3  parts,)        ...      a  sufficient  quantity. 
Pour  on  the  powder,  contained  in  a  dish,  sufficient  of  the  men- 
struum to  dampen  it,  (about  7  fluid  ounces)  rub  it  in  uniformly 
by  means  of  the  hands,  and  transfer  it  immediately  to  a  glass 
funnel  arranged  for  displacement,  pack  firmly  and  evenly,  using 
considerable  pressure  with  the  hands,-— cover  the  surface  with  a 
piece  of  perforated  filtering  paper,  pour  on  a  pint  or  more  of  the 
menstruum,  and  lay  over  the  funnel  a  piece  of  oiled  silk  to  pre- 
vent evaporation.    When  fifteen  fluid  ounces  of  liquid  shall  have 
passed,  remove  and  properly  secure  it ;  continue  the  percola- 
tion until  eight  ounces  more  pass,  or  to  exhaustion ;  evaporate 
this  latter  portion  spontaneously  in  a  warm  place,  (finishing  it 
in  a  water  bath  at  a  temperature  of  130°  F.,)  until  reduced  to 
half  a  fluid  ounce,  add  to  this  half  a  fluid  ounce  of  alcohol  to 
produce  a  clear  solution,  filter  and  mix  with  the  fifteen  fluid 
ounces  first  obtained. 
