VALERIA'NA OFFICINALIS—ifedical Properties of. The root, or more properly the rhizome with its root-fibres, of this species, par ticularly the variety termed sylrestris, is used in medicine. It should be collected in spring before it shows flower, or late in autumn. It is best from plants of two or three years old, which grow in elevated stony places, rather than in very moist meadows. It varies con siderably in appearance and in its sensible properties, according to the age of the plant, its place of growth, and the length of time it has been kept. The rhizoma is small, short, rounded or oblong, truncated, furnished with very many root-fibrea, which are about the thickness of a straw, and from two to six inches long ; the colour of the freshly obtained root is a dirty yellowish-white ; the consistence fleshy ; by drying, which is easily effected, it becomes wrinkled, more yellow or brownish, and in time dark. The root gathered in spring becomes most wrinkled. The odour is heavy, penetrating, and very charac teristic. This odour is stronger in the dried than the fresh root, and is scarcely impaired by time, even when the access of the air is freely allowed. The taste is acridly aromatic, camphoraceous, and bitter. The English Valerian is the most esteemed : it is abundant in Hamp shire, formerly in Kent and Essex, and the wild plant is to be preferred to that which is cultivated for medical use. It is to be regretted that this root is often confounded or fraudulently adulterated with that of the ralcriana dioica, which is smaller and of much feebler odour, and that of the °cum urbanum or areas, which is pleasantly aromatic. 3luch more serious is tho confusion, probably always accidental or merely from ignorance, of the genuine root with those of several species of ranunculus, or crowfoot, namely, R. repcns, acrid, and even
polyanthemos, also those of Sium angustifolium and S. MVO um, or more rarely IleUeborus 'tiger and Aselepias Vincetoxicum ; bait tho absence of the peculiar odour of valerian, or the presence of a very repulsive one, may always distinguish them with moderate attention.
According to the analysis of Trommadorf (' Journal der Pharmacie, xviii., p. 3), 100 parts of the dried root yield of 'volatile oil 1.2, peculiar resinous extractive (termed valerianin) gummy extractive soft resin woody fibre 70.7; by distillation a volatile fatty acid termed valerianic acid is obtained, beside, the volatile oil. The medicinal action is chiefly duo to the volatile oil and extractive. Valerian is considered a cerebrospinal stimulant, large doses of it causing marked excitement of the nervous system, not only of the human race, but also of cats, which are remarkably fond of it. In the slighter forms of nervous diseases not dependent on any change of structure of the brain or spinal cord, valerian is of considerable utility. In several instances, especially if there be much acidity of stomach, its beneficial effects are increased by combination with ammonia. In other instances valerian (in powder) greatly heightens the tonic power of the disul phate of lemma, the absence of all aroma from which renders it inferior as a tonic to many of the other forms of administering bark. [Ctxcnosa.] Valerianio acid, combined with various bases, such as iron, sine, quinine, fic., furnishes compounds of great value as antispasmodics— more useful than any of these agents singly.