252 PROCESS FOR PREPARING VALERIANIC ACID. 
one half, then strained, and afterwards made into a syrup with 
the sugar. If these directions are literally followed, a syrup 
will be obtained super-saturated with sugar, because when it 
is attempted to strain a concentrated decoction of seneka com- 
posed of eight fluid ounces of liquid, with four ounces of seneka, 
in its swelled state, disseminated through it, not more than four 
or five fluid ounces will be obtained, unless subjected to much 
greater pressure than is at the command of most apothecaries, 
and consequently, unless in case the fluid is made up by the 
subsequent addition of water, the syrup contains too much 
sugar, and in either case will not embody all the strength of 
the root employed. A better plan would be to infuse the root 
in a close vessel until it was exhausted, then strain the infusion, 
and by subsequent evaporation reduce it to the required measure. 
The formula for compound syrup of squill (which would be 
more correctly designated compound syrup of seneka) has been 
amply discussed in a preceding volume of this Journal, 
ART. LXXI— PROCESS FOR PREPARING VALERIANIC ACID. 
By Messrs. T. and H. Smith. 
Having of late had considerable demand for valerianate 
of zinc, in consequence, probably, of a desire among medi- 
cal men to test its value as a therapeutic agent, we were 
led to inquire whether a method of obtaining the acid of 
valerian more quickly and abundantly than by the usual 
process, so very unsatisfactory in these respects, could not 
be devised. The method we adopted completely answered 
our expectations, and as it may be of some use as a guide 
