GUAIACYL. 



GUANO. 



substances hare occurred, such M pieces of wood and bark, sand, or 

 amber. To purify it from than, it u commonly dissolved in proof 

 spirit. By thi> mean* a larger quantity of resin i* procured than waa 

 originally subjected to the solvent, owing to a hydrate being formed. 

 Resin which has been so purified has lost nearly all acrimony ; the 

 resin U likewise adulterated with colophony ; and it U said to be adul- 

 terated with the resin or gum of the manchineel-tree, a most culpable 

 substitution, owing to iU formidable powers. 



According to Unverdorben, guaiac-resin consUU of two dutinct 

 resins : the one is easily soluble in aqua ammonia}, which the 

 alcoholic solution of acetate of copper precipitates ; the other forms 

 with ammonia a tarry combination, which is soluble in six thousand 

 parts of water, and which the alcoholic solution of acetate of copper 

 does not precipitate. 



The resin of guaiao becomes blue by continued exposure to the air, 

 and also when in contact with many organic substances : many vege- 

 table substances, particularly several containing gum and starch , turn 

 the tincture of guaiac blue ; a point of importance, from the similar 

 effect of iodine on starchy substances. 



The acrid taste of guaiac-resin is owing to a peculiar bitter acrid, 

 so-called extractive (or guaiacin), which is contained in much greater 

 quantity in the bark than the wood. It is to this principle, accord- 

 ing to Buchner, that guaiac-resin is indebted for its medicinal 

 powers. 



Ouaiac possesses the property of stimulating the system generally, 

 causing increased vascular action, augmented heat of the body, and 

 promotes the secretions of the skin and lungs ; but in large doses it 

 produces nausea, anxiety, abdominal pains, and stupor. It is not 

 prized now so highly as on its introduction into European practice in 

 the 16th century, when it bore a most extravagant price, four ducats 

 being often given for a pound of the wood. It is, however, a useful 

 agent in certain forms and stages of gout and rheumatism, and in some 

 cutaneous diseases, especially when in the first set of disorders it is 

 combined with ammonia, aud in the latter with mercurials and 

 diaphoretics or antimonials, as in Plummer's pills. 



Its insolubility in watery menstrua is an obstacle to its easy adminis- 

 tration, and even its alcoholic solutions are precipitated on the addition 

 of water. It is generally made into an emulsion, or given in pills ; 

 but a soap may be formed by means of heated aqua potass*, in which 

 the resin is to be dissolved, then evaporated, and a soft consistent mass 

 is obtained, which may be formed into pills or a bolus. 



GUAIACYL (C 14 H,O.), the theoretical base of the resin called 

 guaiacum. If this resin is distilled, an oily liquid is obtained, which 

 is regarded as a hydride of guaiacyl, C U H,0 4 + H, although it has 

 been named pyroguaiacie acid. 



Another constituent of guaiacum resin is guaiaeic acid (C 1: H S ), 

 which crystallises in needles, and is freely soluble in water. 15y 

 destructive distillation the resin also yields guaiacene (C 10 H,Oj), a light 

 volatile oil, which absorbs oxygen from the air, and forms a crystalline 

 compound. 



QUANINE (C IO N,H,0,), a compound discovered by Unger in guano. 

 It resembles urea in its properties, forming crystallisable salts with 

 hydrochloric, sulphuric, and nitric acids. It is a white powder, and 

 insoluble in water. Its salts are all neutral or acid, none basic. 



GUANO (from the Peruvian word liuanu, which signifies dung) in 

 the excrement of sea-fowl, and was used as a manure probably for ages 

 before Peru was visited by the Spaniards. It is spoken of by Herrera 

 in a work published at Madrid in 1601 ; by Qarcilaso de la Vega, in 

 his ' Memoriales Keales,' published at] Lisbon in 1609 ; and by Ulloa in 

 his ' Voyage.' Garciloso de la Vega says that " in the time of the 

 Incas there was so much vigilance in guarding these birds (the sea- 

 fowl), that during the rearing season no person was allowed to visit the 

 islands which they frequented, under pain of death, in order that they 

 might not be frightened and driven away from their nests. Neither 

 was it allowed to kill them at any time, either on 01 off the islands, 

 under the name penalty. Each district or territory had a portion of 

 these islands allotted to it" Mr. Thairlwall, of Richmond, Yorkshire, 

 who has visited the western coast of South America, describes a small 

 inland, about three miles in circumference, in 13 44' S. lat., on which 

 guano is deposited in a solid mass 200 feet in depth. The surface is 

 coated over with a thick incrustation of almost pure muriate of 

 ammonia ; and when the bulk is disturbed, the ammonia given out is 

 ao strong as to affect respiration, and to cause an unpleasant sensation 

 in the eyes. Peruvian guano is imported into England only by the 

 gents of the Peruvian government, Messrs. A. Gibbs & Co. About 

 the commencement of 1843 guano was discovered on the island of 

 Ichaboe, about two miles and a half from the mainland of Africa, in 

 26* 13' S. lat. and 14' 15' E. long. The place soon attracted notice, 

 and by the end of 1844 the whole of the guano had been carried away. 

 A* many u 360 ships have been anchored off the island at the same 

 time. The guano was 35 to 38 feet in depth, and the deposit extended 

 to a length of about 1100 feet, with an avenge width of 400, feet 

 Towards the close of 1844 another guano island (Malagas) was dis- 

 covered at the entrance of Saldanha Bay. The guano covers an extent 

 of about eight miles, and gradually increases in thickness from about 

 4 yards to 8 yards. It is obtained for shipment by a licence from the 

 collector of customs at Cape Town. In October, 1845, a cargo of guano 

 was brought to this country from Patagonia. It has been supposed 



that the excrement of the sea-fowl which swarm on some parts of the 

 coast of Great Britain might be used as a fertiliser with the same results 

 as Peruvian ur African guano; but the quantity which could be 

 collected is comparatively small, as the annual accumulation is in most 

 cases washed away by the rains, and the valuable properties of that 

 which remains are dissipated by the changeable nature of our climate. 

 In South America and Africa the dryuess of the climate allows the 

 ;uano deposits of successive years to accumulate, and the heat of the 

 sun produces a coating of the surface which preserves its virtue as a 

 manure. The superiority of the Peruvian over the African and 

 other guanos is owing chiefly to the greater dryness of the climate. 



A guano has been found on the Koorya Moorya Islands off the 

 southern coast of Arabia, and has been imported to some extent, but 

 its composition is very inferior to that of the Peruvian in all that con- 

 stitutes worth in a manure. 



The value of guano is to be estimated according to the proportions 

 which it contains of 1, ammonia; 2, phosphates ; 3, organic matter. 

 The results of a number of analyses] of Peruvian and African guano 

 show the following variations in their composition : 



Peruvian. 

 . . 12 to 15 

 . 90 to 60 

 f 12 to 15 



( parts of ammonia 

 Phosphate of lime . . 15 to 25 

 Fixed salts . . 



Water . 

 Organic matter 



containing 



African. 

 25 to SO 

 25 to SO 



5 to 9 > 



parts of ammonia ) 

 25 to SO 



8 to 10 



African guano had the largest proportion of soluble matter, and 

 that from Pent is remarkable for the quantity of uric acid tliat it 

 contains, an element which dissolves very slowly. African guano may 

 therefore have acted with greater rapidity, but the effect of Peruvian 

 is felt for a long period. 



Good Peruvian guano sells now at 13J. per ton. The article is 

 extensively adulterated, and instances have occurred in which the 

 adulterated matter prevailed to the extent of 97 per cent Umber, 

 stone ground into a fine powder, various earths, old mortar, and par- 

 tially decomposed saw-dust, are employed for this purpose. The 

 mixture is moistened with putrid urine and re-dried. Even genuine 

 juano differs so frequently in quality, that it is never advisable to 

 purchase it without a satisfactory analysis. Purchasers are often 

 deluded with false analyses, and those who deal only with those who 

 profess to be importers are not always safe. Dr. Ure advises the 

 farmer before he buys to obtain an analysis from a competent chcmi.-t , 

 and then to cork up a sample in a bottle, and in the event of his crops 

 disappointing reasonable expectation he is in a better position for 

 obtaining satisfaction for any fraud which may have been practised 

 upon him. Farmers' clubs might retain a respectable chemist at a 

 salary on condition that he should perform analyses for the members 

 at a moderate fee. This is what in effect was done by the Agricultural 

 Chemistry Association of Scotland, and the consequence was that 

 scarcely a single sample of adulterated guano was offered for sale in 

 that country. 



The easiest test of the purity of guano is its weight. It may vary 

 from 69 to 73 Ibs. a bushel, and the lighter the better, provided on 

 throwing it into water some of it floats. If heavier than 73 Ibs. per 

 bushel, it has been adulterated with earth. The following are the 

 common chemical tests of its genuineness, as given by Mr. Nesbitt : 



(1). Procure from any druggist a common wide-mouthed 6-oz. 

 bottle, with a solid glass stopper. Let this bottle be filled with 

 ordinary water, the stopper inserted, and the exterior wrll <li ii-il. The 

 scales to be used ought to turn well with a couple of grains. In one 

 pan of the scales place the bottle, and exactly counterpoise it in tin; 

 other by shot, sand, or gravel. Ilemove the bottle from the scale, pour 

 out two-thirds of the water, and put iu 4 oz. avoirdupois of the guano 

 to be [tested. Agitate the bottle, adding now and then a little more 

 water; let it rest a couple of minutes, and fill with water so tli 

 the froth escapes from the bottle. Insert the stopper carefully, wipe 

 dry, and place the bottle in the same scale from which it was t.ikni. 

 Add now to the counterpoised scale 14 oz. avoirdupois and a fourpi'tmy 

 piece ; and if the bottle prove the heavier, the guano is in all pn>K-i- 

 bility adulterated. (2.) Place 10 grains of the guano in a platinum 

 capsule, which is held by the tongs in the flame of a npirit l;ini|. tr 

 several minutes, until the greater part of the organic matter i lumit 

 away. It is allowed to cool fora short time, and a few drops ..f a 

 strong solution of nitrate of ammonia is added, to assist in cotmming 

 the carbon in the residue. The capsule is again gently heated (taking 

 care to prevent) its boiling over or losing any of the ash), until the 

 moisture is quite evaporated. A full red heat nnwt then be given it, 

 when, if the guano be pure, the ash will be pearly white, and will nut 

 exceed 3J grains in weight If adulterated with sand, marl, &c., tho 

 ash will always be coloured, and will weigh more tlian 3J grains. (3). 

 Dissolve in a quart of water as much common salt as it will take up, 

 and strain tho solution. Pour a quantity of it into a saucer or basin, 

 and sprinkle on the surface the guano to be tested. Good guano sinks 

 almost immediately, leaving only a very slight scum. The adult 

 leaves the light materials floating on tho water. (4.) If chalk or 

 ground limestone has been used in adulterating guano, it may be shown 

 by pouring strong vinegar over a tea-spoonful of the sample placed iu a 



