172 
New  Compound  Valerates. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1887. 
This  salt  is  soluble  in  alcohol  in  all  proportions,  but  the  residue 
left  on  evaporation  gives  no  satisfactory  appearance  under  the  micro- 
scope. When  valeric  acid  is  treated  with  excess  of  magnesium  car- 
bonate in  the  presence  of  water  a  solution  of  magnesium  valerate  re- 
sults. This  solution,  whether  concentrated  or  dilute,  appears  to  be 
acted  on  by  the  carbonic  anhydrate  of  the  atmosphere,  as  a  thin  in- 
soluble pellicle  of  magnesium  carbonate  soon  covers  the  surface.  In 
consquence  the  dry  salt  cannot  be  secured  entirely  free  from  this  con- 
tamination. Nevertheless  the  salt  gives  a  very  satisfactory  appearance 
with  the  microscope  whilst  the  polariscopic  effect  is  very  pleasing. 
The  crystals  have  the  form  of  delicate  branched  wavy  f. laments  eman- 
ating from  a  center.  This  salt  has  an  all-proportional  solubility  in 
alcohol  which  solution  leaves  an  amorphous  residue.  This  with  a 
half-inch  objective  and  B  eye-piece  is  seen  covered  with  branched, 
wavy  striae.  The  alcoholic  residue  differentiates  no  colors  with  the 
polariscope. 
Magnesium  valerate  forms  a  compound  salt  with  quinium  valerate 
of  extreme  solubility  in  water  and  in  alcohol.  The  aqueous  solution 
is  only  stable  when  highly  concentrated,  since  the  addition  of  water  at 
once  precipitates  the  greater  portion  of  the  quinium  salt.  An  aqueous 
solution  containing  some  alcohol  remains  intact  whether  strong  or  di- 
lute. Such  a  solution  can  be  heated  with  impunity  during  evapora- 
tion without  separating  quinium  valerate  providing  some  alcohol  is 
continuously  present.  Toward  the  last  all  the  alcohol  must  be  dissi- 
pated in  order  to  permit  crystallization.  The  dense  residue  Avhen  left 
at  rest  sets  to  a  crystalline  mass  after  some  time.  But  if  stirred  for  a 
short  time  after  a  rather  dense  pellicle  has  covered  the  surface  congela- 
tion of  the  whole  mass  immediately  takes  place,  leaving  a  perfectly 
dry  salt.  Its  appearance  under  the  microscope  resembles  that  of  mag- 
nesium valerate.  The  writer  believes  that  the  formula  (QuH)Mg 
(Va3).  x  Aq.  represents  its  composition. 
Although  magnesium  valerate  in  aqueous  solution  suffers  decompo- 
sition on  exposure,  the  compound  salts  remain  unaffected.  In  the  dry 
state,  the  compound  salts  are  wholly  odorless  whilst  their  solutions 
have  but  a  feeble  valeric  odor;  owing  to  their  rather  agreeable  flavor 
and  inobtrusive  odor  they  commend  themselves  instead  of  the  simple 
salts.  The  writer  would  suggest  an  elixir  of  ammonium  and  magnes- 
ium valerate. 
Great  convenience  results  from  having  in  stock  an  aromatized  li- 
