FLUID EXTRACTS OF RHUBARB AND VALERIAS 1S5 
tion was published in the last number of this Journal, by 
Evan T. Ellis, which appears to have met with favour from 
those who have tried it, and it is certainly the best form of 
exhibiting this drug yet proposed. In some recent experi- 
ments on valerian root, I have been led to doub.t the entire 
completeness of the formula alluded to, for the following 
reasons. 
When valerian in powder is percolated with a mixture of 
one part of ether and two of alcohol, in such a manner that 
the menstruum shall pass slowly, and cease to extract mat- 
ter from the root, it requires about three times the weight 
of the latter. If water is now added it is with great diffi- 
culty that it passes, if the valerian has been sufficiently fine 
for the first menstruum. When it has passed, the infusion 
has a very dark colour, and but little taste. 
If now the ethereo-alcoholic liquid be suffered to evapo- 
rate spontaneously till it amounts to one half the weight of 
the valerian used, a quantity of green oily looking globules 
gradually separate, which attach themselves to the sides of 
the vessel, or float in the liquid, which is a yellowish, 
strongly odorous fluid, having a decided acid reaction, and 
the bitter, disagreeable taste of valerian. If the globules 
are now separated by a filter they amount to about one 
fiftieth of the root used, and are in fact an oleo-resin, con- 
sisting of oil of valerian, valerianic acid and the soft resin 
proper to the drug. When brought in contact with litmus 
paper it instantly reddens it more decidedly than the liquid 
from which it was separated, especially if touched with a 
drop of alcohol. The dark aqueous infusion is now reduced 
to three times the bulk of the alcoholic fluid, by a careful 
evaporation, and mixed with the latter, which causes a tur- 
bidness which arises partially from the separation of resinous 
matter by the water, and partially from the precipitation of 
gummy matter by the alcohol. 
From these facts it is evident that the whole of the active 
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