( 
NEW  PROCESS  FOR  VALERIANATE  OF  AMMONIA.  109 
I  am  unable  to  give  the  precise  per  centage  of  turpentine  in 
this  oil.  From  8  oz.,  Mr.  Parrish  obtained  about  5  oz.  of  dis- 
tillate, of  which,  No.  7  weighed  about  1  oz.;  the  resinous  residue 
in  the  retort  not  having  been  examined,  the  adulteration  with 
turpentine  must  amount  at  least  to  50  per  cent.;  but  to  judge 
from  the  solubility  of  the  spurious  oil  in  alcohol  at  60°  F.,  it 
may  amount  to  more  than  80  per  cent.  This  latter  supposition, 
though,  is  not  verified  by  the  behaviour  of  the  undistilled  spuri- 
ous oil  towards  ethereal  solution  of  bromine ;  the  reaction  with 
this  test  seems  to  indicate  that  the  adulteration  has  been  per- 
formed with  a  highly  resinified  oil  of  peppermint  and  oil  of  tur- 
pentine in  about  equal  weights. 
Philadelphia,  Feb.,  1860. 
NEW  PROCESS  FOR  THE  PREPARATION  OF  VALERIANATE  OF 
AMMONIA,  IN  DRY  CRYSTALS. 
By  Benjamin  J.  Crew. 
Having  experienced,  along  with  many  others,  considerable 
difficulty  in  obtaining  crystallized  Valerianate  of  Ammonia  in 
quantity,  by  any  of  the  published  formulas,  I  was  induced  to 
make  a  series  of  experiments,  which,  having  been  entirely  suc- 
cessful, I  am  willing  to  make  public  for  the  benefit  of  other 
operators. 
The  first  step  in  the  preparation  of  this  salt  is  to  procure  the 
monohydrated  valerianic  acid,  or  the  oily  inflammable  acid. 
The  terhydrated  acid  will  not  produce  crystals  under  any  cir- 
cumstances, or  with  any  amount  of  manipulation ;  a  very  dense 
solution  may  be  had,  but  it  will  not  crystallize,  even  if  the  tem- 
perature be  reduced  to  zero.  To  procure  the  monohydrated  acid, 
take  of  valerianate  of  soda  a  convenient  quantity,  say  5  lbs.,  boil- 
ing water  just  sufficient  to  dissolve,  strain  the  solution  through 
muslin,  if  necessary,  and  add  oil  of  vitriol  by  degrees  until  no 
further  action  is  induced,  or  until  the  valerianate  of  soda  is  en- 
tirely decomposed.  Allow  the  mixture  to  stand  a  short  time,  that 
the  valerianic  acid  may  rise  to  the  surface  and  separate  into  a 
distinct  layer,  which  may  be  drawn  off  with  a  syphon,  separating 
funnel,  or  pipette.    This  acid  (which  still  contains  sufficient 
