Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 19.djvu/937

* VALEKIAN. 801 VALEBItrS MAXIMUS. in ditches, moist woods, etc., throughout Europe and Northern Asia. Its lleshy root ( ru/c/unia' rhizoma) has been used in niedifine as an anti- spasmodic and stimulant — actions attributed to valerianic acid. The chief ingredients of valerian are woody fibre, resinous and gum-like matters, and a little more than one per cent, of a volatile oil, which is crystallizable, and in which rukrianic or vale- ric acid is developed on exposure to the air. There are three official preparations, viz. the fluid extract, the tincture, and the ammoninted tincture. The greater valerian (yaleriana Phii), which grows in alpine districts of the Continent of Europe, is now almost entirely disused, although it is said to be one of the strongest of the Euro- pean valerians, a preeminence which Valeriaita Dioscoridis disputes with it. Valeriana celtica and Valeriana saliunca, alpine species found in Styria and Carinthia, are exported to India to he used as substitutes for spikenard (q.v. ) and for perfuming baths. Valeriana Mtchensis, a na- tive of the United States, is said to possess the medicinal properties. The root of Valeriana eduHs, a sjiecies foimd in Xorthwestern Amer- ica, is used as food bj" the Indians. VALEKIAN (Publics Licinius V.lerian- Xis). Roman Emperor A.D. 253-200. He was de- scended from an ancient and noble family, and was chosen for his integrity and accomplishments to the otHce of censor. Faithful in his allegiance to Gallus, he went to suiumon the legions of Gaul and Germany to aid the feeble Emperor against the usurper .Emilianus, but arrived too late to save his master. The usurper's troops murdered their own chief, and united with their late antag- onists in proclaiming Valerian Emperor, August, A,D, 25.3. He was then about CO years old, and took as colleague his eldest son. Gallienus (q.v.). Valerian showed abundant proof during his short reign of most ardent zeal for the prosperity of the Empire, but the times required a ruler of more energy and ability, as the irruption of the Franks into Gaul, despite the efforts of Aureli- an, the devastation of Thrace, Macedonia, Greece, and the archipelago by the Goths, the advance of the Alemanni to Milan, and the conquest of Syria and Armenia l)y the Persian King Sapor (Sha- pur), testified. The troubles in the East appear- ing most threatening. Valerian went thither in person, and was for a time successful, but was surprised by superior numbers at Edessa,- w-as defeated, and with the remnant of his army forced to surrender (a,d, 260), Valerian remained in captivity till his death. The statements regarding the indignities heaped upon the unfortunate captive by his haughty conqueror are probably false, or at least much exagge- rated. After his death his skin was flayed off, stuffed, and preserved as a proud trophy of vic- tory, which was invariably exhibited to the am- bassadors from Rome to the Sassanid Court. VALERIANOS, va'la-re-il'nfls, Apostolos. The real name of the Greek navigator more com- monly known as Juan de Fuca (q.v.). VALERIC or VALERIANIC ACID. A volatile fatty acid represented by the formula CjHb.COjH. It is a limpid, colorless, oily fluid of a penetrating odor, similar to that of valerian Toot, and of an acrid taste. It makes a transpa- rent spot on paper, but the spot disappears on ex- posure to the air. It is only slightly soluble in water, but dis.solves in alcohol and ellu'r in all proportions. It exists in and is obtained by dis- tilling valerian root with water acidulated with sulphuric acid. It may be similarly obtained from angelica root, and .some other vegetable sources. It is also formed during the oxidation of fats and fatty acids (especially oleic acid), either by nitric acid or mere exposure to the air, by the oxidation and putrefaction of albuminoids, etc., but the best method of preparing it is by distilling a mixture of amyl alcohol (or fusel oil) with bichromate of potash and sulphuric acid. The following salts are used in medicine : ( 1 ) alerianatc of ammonia, which forms colorless, or white, flat quadrangular crystals that are de- liquescent in the air. (2) Valerianate of iron, a. dark-red amorphous powder which is readily soluble in alcohol, but is insoluble in cold water. (3) Valerianate of zinc, which forps brilliant white pearly tabular crystals, with a feeble odor of valerianic acid and a metallic taste, is scarcely soluble in water, in alcohol, or in ether. Valeri- anic acid and its salts are sujiposed to be useful remedies for refle.x neuralgia and for various neurotic troubles: but what their action consists in is entirely unknown. Amitl valerianate, C-Jllti. Cr.HjOj, is a volatile fluid with a penetrating odor of apples, slightly soluble in water, but dissolving freely in spirit and in ether. In the form of a dilute spirituous solution, it so strongly resembles apples in its smell that it is used in perfumery under the name of oil of apples, or essence of apples. The acid described above (boiling point 174°C.) is the modification of valeric acid usually met with. The existence of three other modifications of the same substance is possible according to the structural theory of organic compounds : and, as a matter of fact, all the possible modifications have been prepared by chemical methods. They have, however, no practical value and neeil not be described here. VALE'RITTS, Aktias, A Roman historian of the first century B.C., who wrote the history of Rome from the earliest times down to those of Sulla. This work, which consists of at least 75 books, was full of exaggerations, but was mentioned among the well-known annals, and was one of the chief sources of Livy, who mentions Valerius by name repeatedly, and fol- lowed him unhesitatingly in the first decades of his work. For the fragments of the Annates consult Peter, Uistoricorum liomanorum Frag- menta (Leipzig, 1883) ; also TeulTel. Ilistorii of Roman Literature (Eng. trans, by Warr, 1891). VALERIUS FLAC'CUS. A Roman scholar and teacher. See Fi.ai.cis. (iAifs Vai.eku'S. VALERIUS MAX'IMUS. A Roman his- torical compiler of tbi' reij;n of Til)erius, to whom he dedicated a work bearing the title of Factorum et Dictorum ilemnrahilium Libri /A'., and con- si'^ting of short stories and anecdotes from vari- ous avitbors. His style is ornate and often ob- scure, and his want of acquaintance with the his- tory and constitution of his country renders him an tmsafe guide: yet he was a favorite author of his own time, and nnu'h stu<iied in the Middle Ages. The best edition, including the two