150 
ELIXIR  OF  VALERIANATE  OF  AMMONIA. 
amber,  by  one  hundred  grains  of  nitric  acid,  weighed  thirty- 
four  grains.  This  substance  was  partially  soluble  in  alcohol, 
wholly  so  in  liquor  potassas,  from  which  it  was  precipitated  by 
a  dilute  acid. 
When  dry  it  had  the  sp.  gr.  1"103,  broke  with  a  resinous 
fracture,  and  was  readily  reduced  to  powder.  This  is  the 
article  described  as  "  artificial  musk,"  but  it  possessed  none  of 
the  odor  of  that  substance.  Although  well  washed,  it  still  re- 
tained a  strong  nitrous  odor. 
Note. — Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  been  led  into  the 
"  secrets  of  the  trade  "  by  one  of  the  "  initiated,"  who  informs 
me  that  the  "  rectified  oil  of  amber  "  is  prepared  by  agitating 
turpentine  with  the  crude  oil,  until  the  desired  shade  of  color 
is  acquired,  when  it  is  separated  and  offered  for  sale.  As 
turpentine  has  been  rather  expensive  of  late,  it  would  appear 
that  some  ingenious  individual  has  improved  this  process,  at 
the  same  time  increasing  the  profits,  by  simply  substituting 
Kerosene  for  the  turpentine,  and  proceding  "  Secundum 
Artem" — Proc.  of  Amer.  Pharm.  Asso.,  1865. 
ELIXIR  OF  VALERIANATE  OF  AMMONIA. 
By  J.  Faris  Moore. 
Mr.  Joseph  Roberts,  of  Baltimore,  having  failed  to  reply  to 
the  Query,  the  following  formula  is  presented  as  a  simple  mode 
of  preparing  the  elixir,  which  has  given  satisfaction,  and  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Maryland  College  of  Pharmacy. 
Take  of  Valerianic  acid,  one  fluidounce  ; 
Distilled  water,  twenty-four  fluidounces  ; 
Carbonate  of  Ammonia,  a  sufficient  quantity ; 
Inodorous  Alcohol,  twelve  fluidounces  ; 
Simple  Syrup,  twelve  fluidounces  ; 
Peach  water,  eight  fluidounces ; 
Saturated  tinct.  of  Red  Saunders,  four  fluidrachms; 
Saturated  tinct.  of  recent  Orange  Peel,  one  fluidounce; 
Oil  of  Bitter  Almonds,  five  minims ; 
Oil  of  Sweet  Orange,  twenty  minims ; 
Caramel,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
