1 
2 ON VALERIANATE OF ZINC. 
cessive portions of boiling alcohol until all the bitterness 
was removed. These solutions were mixed and evapo- 
rated until a black oily substance remained, which was 
well washed with boiling water, re-dissolved in alcohol, 
and the alcoholic solution boiled with animal charcoal, 
filtered and evaporated to a small bulk and set aside. When 
cold, crystals were deposited, which were contaminated 
with fatty matter. The impure crystals were dissolved in 
a large portion of cold alcohol, and the fatty matter sepa- 
rated by filtration. The solution, after being boiled with 
animal charcoal, filtered, and concentrated, yielded fine 
silky needle-shaped crystals of a white color, which 
weighed four and a half grains when dried. This sub- 
stance, from subsequent experiments, appears to be the 
bitter principle. It is insoluble in water, soluble in ether, 
and more so in hot than in cold alcohol ; it is perfectly neu- 
tral, having no effect on either turmeric or litmus ; is desti- 
tute of odor, but having in solution a very intensely per- 
manent bitter taste, and melts like resin when heated. 
Neither the sulphuric or hydrochloric acids produce any 
change, but nitric acid causes it to assume a deep yellow 
color. . It does not unite with either acids or alkalis, nor 
is it precipitated by subacetate of lead, corrosive sublimate, 
the persalts of iron, or iodine." 
ART. II.— NOTE ON VALERIANATE OF ZINC. 
BY WILLIAM PROCTER, JR. 
Having had occasion to prepare this salt several months 
ago, the inconvenience of distilling so bulky an article as 
valerian (which swells much by maceration) was found to 
be so great, that in order to supersede the necessity of 
placing the root in the still the following method was re- 
