ON VALERIANATE OP ZINC. 
3 
sorted to, viz. Four pounds of valerian in coarse powder 
were thrown into two gallons of hot water, in which had 
been dissolved four drams of caustic potassa ; the whole 
was heated for a short time, and then allowed to macerate 
for twenty-four hours, and then displaced with water until 
the liquid passing possessed but little taste. The clear in- 
fusion, which was slightly acid to litmus paper, was satu- 
rated, and evaporated until reduced to two pints, and as 
much diluted sulphuric acid was added as would neutralize 
the quantity of alkali employed. By this means the vale- 
rianate of potassa formed in the infusion was decomposed, 
and its acid set free. The whole was then placed in a 
glass retort on a sand bath, the distillation conducted until 
the liquid passing over was but slightly acid to litmus. 
The liquid in the receiver consists of a saturated solution 
of valerianic acid, with globules of that acid floating on its 
surface. 
The next step in the process consists in preparing the 
hydrated carbonate of zinc by precipitation from a solution 
of the pure sulphate, by carbonate of soda, and washing 
to remove the saline matter. 
The valerianic solution is then placed in a suitable vessel, 
an excess of the hydrated carbonate added, and the mix- 
ture heated until effervescence ceases and the saturation is 
effected, — the liquid should then be filtered, evaporated and 
crystallized. If the process has been carefully conducted, 
the product will amount to two drams, or about thirty grains 
per pound. 
The salt thus obtained is often colored brownish, and if 
required, can be obtained white by re-dissolving, treating 
with charcoal and again crystallizing. Since adopting this 
method, which yields a larger product than by saturating the 
distilled water with the hydrated carbonate, I have seen a 
similar suggestion in the UAbeille Medicate, by M. Guille- 
minet Macors, Pharmacien of Lyons, who, however, em- 
ployed the carbonate of potassa. 
