160 PHARMACOPEIAL DRUGS 



This drug, and its resin as well, was used empirically in 

 domestic (native) medicine before its introduction to 

 the profession. 



Resin of Guaiacum is a product obtained from slow 

 combustion, wherein, by a very crude method, a hor- 

 izontal guaiacum log, raised from the ground, is slowly 

 burned, the liquid resin collecting in grooves cut in the 

 log. The resin is used more extensively than is the 

 wood. 



GUARANA (Guarana) 



Introduced into Pharmacopeia in edition of 1880. Official in 

 later Pharmacopeias, through 1910. 



Guarana, a dried paste from the crushed seeds of 

 Paullinia Cupana, was introduced into France from 

 South America by a French officer in 1817, as a product 

 of an unknown plant. This paste was made and used 

 by the tribe of Indians (Guaranis), from whom it took 

 its name. In 1826 Martius (409) identified the plant 

 which is called Paullinia sorbilis in deference to Simon 

 Paulli (493). In 1840, (Am. Journ. Pharm.), (I7b), 

 Dr. Gravelle presented to the Paris Society of Medicine 

 a specimen of guarana, which was analyzed by M. de 

 Chastetus, who discovered therein "a crystaUizable 

 matter, which possessed the chemical properties of 

 caffeine." In 1888, Professor H. H. Rusby, (564) 

 (Amer. Journ. of Pharmacy, p. 267), authoritatively 

 described the manner in which the natives prepared 

 Guarana from the seed, and in their crude way pro- 

 duced the smoked sausage-like rolls familiar in com- 

 merce. The date of its discovery by the Indian tribes 

 whose preparation and use of guarana as "a stimulating 

 substance" led to its European notice, is lost to record. 



