586 ANNUAL RECOKD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



so, as a cat will resist poison almost as long as a dog of three 

 or four times the size. Cold-blooded animals, as fish and non- 

 venomous snakes, and invertebrates generally, are sure to die 

 if bitten. In poison by the colubrine snakes the blood coag- 

 ulates firmly, but in death by the viperine, according to Dr. 

 Fayrer, it remains permanently fluid. 20^4, August 31, 1872, 

 243. 



NATURE OF GUAEAUNA. 



The Indians of Brazil are in the habit of j^reparing a sub- 

 stance known as " Guarauna," from the Paullinia sorbilis, and 

 of using it in an infusion as a beverage. The substance has 

 recently been imported in large quantity into Germany, and 

 is considered of much efficacy as a remedy for sick-headache. 

 The crystallizable principle of this substance, which is termed 

 guaraunine by Dr. Stenhouse, and generally considered iden- 

 tical with theine and caffeine, has recently been subjected to 

 examination by Mr. Williams. After adopting a better meth- 

 od than that of Dr. Stenhouse for isolating it, he joins in the 

 opinion of its relationship to the other substances named, but 

 thinks it is rather more soluble in water, and not quite so bit- 

 ter in taste. 1 A, August 30, 1872, 97. 



ST7LPH0HYDRATE OF CHLORAL. 



The sulphohydrate of chloral is a newly-discovered sub- 

 stance, the chemical and physiological properties of which 

 have been discussed by Mr. Byasson. It is prepared by sub- 

 mitting anhydrous chloral to a current of dry sulphuretted 

 hydrogen, various precautions being taken to render the ex- 

 periment successful. The sulphide body, after being purified, 

 is white, of a disagreeable smell, and of a peculiar odor, some- 

 what similar to that of chloral-hydrate. It crystallizes in 

 right prisms, and readily evaporates, like camphor, its vapors 

 blackening moistened paper impregnated with a soluble salt 

 of lead. As this substance is decomposed by water, and al- 

 cohol containing any per cent, of water, its administration 

 presents considerable difficulties. Rabbits treated by sub- 

 cutaneous injection with quantities dissolved in ether, in 

 moderate doses, exhibited an appreciable diminution of tem- 

 perature, a relaxation of the muscles, with quiet slumber last- 

 ing for about two hours, no notable diminution of sensibility, 



