%Jao;i'f8H73RM-}  FL  Ex.  of  Valerian  Containing  Glycerin.  199 
die  acid  produced  a  blue  color,  proving  the  crystals  to  be  arbutin 
(Jungmann's  test). 
Kawalier's  process  for  obtaining  arbutin  was  attended  with  the  same 
results. 
Since  my  efforts  have  been  successful  in  isolating  arbutin,  I  hope 
to  be  able  to  investigate  more  thoroughly  the  constituents  of  this 
plant,  which  seem  to  be  so  closely  allied  to  those  of  Uva  ursi. 
FLUID  EXTRACT  OF  VALERIAN  CONTAINING  GLYCERIN. 
Editor  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Dear  Sir :  In  preparing  fluid  extract  of  valerian  with  stronger  al- 
cohol according  to  the  directions  given  in  the  U.  S.  P.,  I  was  dissat- 
isfied with  the  result,  which  induced  me  to  proceed  to  prepare  a  fluid 
extract  of  valerian,  using  as  a  menstruum  a  mixture  of  alcohol,  glycerin 
and  water,  with  a  highly  satisfactory  result. 
I  proceeded  according  to  the  directions  of  the  U.  S.  P.,  1870,  for 
making  that  class  of  fluid  extracts  which,  when  finished,  contain  four 
fluid  ounces  of  glycerin. 
After  obtaining  eighteen  fluid-ounces  of  percolate,  the  next  fluid- 
ounce  which  passed  through  was  nearly  colorless,  and  entirely  desti- 
tute of  the  odor  and  taste  of  the  root,  showing  that  the  drug  was  ex- 
hausted ;  and  having  reserved  the  first  fourteen  fluid-ounces,  after 
adding  a  fluid-ounce  of  glycerin  to  the  remaining  four  fluid-ounces, 
evaporating  to  two  fluid- ounces,  and  mixing  with  the  reserved  portion, 
I  obtained  a  fluid  extract  much  richer  and  heavier  in  appearance,  pos- 
sessing a  more  powerful  and  much  finer  odor  of  the  rhizome,  and  su- 
perior in  every  way  to  the  officinal  alcoholic  preparation. 
Valerian  in  "moderately  fine  powder,"  is  better  adapted  for  perco- 
lation with  the  above  menstruum  than  the  "fine  powder"  which  is  di- 
rected in  the  officinal  formula. 
I  deem  this  mode  of  preparation  worthy  of  bringing  forward  to  your 
notice  from  its  three-fold  advantages,  which  are — 
Its  cheapness,  when  compared  to  the  alcoholic  preparation  ;  the  less 
amount  of  evaporation  required,  and  hence  it  is  a  more  speedy  and 
•consequently  less  troublesome  way ;  and  lastly  and  pre-eminently, 
the  superiority  of  the  preparation  when  completed,  both  in  a  medici- 
nal and  pharmaceutical  point  of  view. 
Yours  respectfully, 
Philadelphia,  April  3,  1873.  Munroe  Bond. 
