March 29,1873.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
775 
sugar. It is now to be found in several Pharmacopoeias, 
and is considered specially efficacious in cases of sick- 
headache. 
Martius was the first to introduce to us this substance, 
in his work ‘ Travels in the Brazils.’ Since then many 
authors have noticed it, amongst others Gavarelle, Petz- 
holt, and Silva Continho. The subject, abandoned for a 
time, was taken up again by Jules Wiesner, who pub¬ 
lished a remarkable notice of it in the ‘ Ausland.’ Lat¬ 
terly Dr. Wilks, of Guy’s Hospital, has communicated 
to the ‘British Medical Journal’ a series of observations 
that leave no doubt as to the active properties of gua- 
rana. Dr. Leconte adds :— 
“We were not at all surprised at the results obtained 
by Dr. Wilks ; we were cognizant for a long time before 
of the properties of guarana. In our hands it has rarely 
failed, and we are convinced that its success is certain if 
it is employed pure and without any admixture or adul¬ 
teration.” 
The powder of guarana prepared by Grimault is an 
alcoholic extract of guarana, and represents in a small 
bulk all the active principles of “ Paullinia.” 
Dechastilus has found in this plant the following sub¬ 
stances,—gum, starch, a resinous matter of a reddish- 
brown colour, a fatty oil coloured green by chlorophyll, 
tannin, colouring solutions of iron, green, and a crystal- 
lizable substance containing the chemical properties of 
caffeine. 
More recent analysis, due to Trommsdorf, Petzholt, and 
Stenhouse, have shown that the crystallizable substance 
alluded to by Dechastelus is identical with the alkaloid of 
tea and coffee. These chemists have found in addition, 
saponine, carbonates and phosphates of soda, potassa, and 
lime. While tea contains but ’06 to 2 per cent, and coffee 
'02 to ‘08 per cent, of caffeine, these chemists have found 
in guarana 4 to 4‘28 per cent, and as much as 5 per cent, 
of this substance. 
Trousseau gave guarana in quantities of 1 or 2 grams 
(15 to 30 grains), not all at once, but distributed into 
several doses. This dose, he says, is sufficient to remove 
the most severe headache. Recent trials have proved, 
however, that this quantity may be increased ; two grams 
(30 grains) may be administered at once, and repeated in 
a couple of hours if necessary. 
The introduction of this remedy has been attributed to 
several sources, but there is no doubt its medicinal value 
was first discovered by the Indians, who in South America 
differ greatly from their brethren of the northern hemi¬ 
sphere. While the latter take interest in little except 
what pertains to the war-path or hunting, the former are 
a quiet, laborious, and patient race, living in a country 
especially rich in medicinal products, few of which have 
been brought before the notice of civilized mankind; and 
for a long time past they have learnt the uses and applica¬ 
tions of many medicinal agents, the names of which are 
unknown to us. Formerly (for of late years there have 
been fewer of these visits) it was a common thing for the 
Indians to travel thousands of miles with a collection of 
these medicines to sell their “ specifics” in the towns and 
villages of the whites ; amongst these was guarana, which, 
on account of its superior merit, claimed special attention, 
and thus became known. It was sought for and procured, 
but until recently, in very small quantities, and could only 
be bought at a very high price. As the demand increased, 
the supply was found to be readily met, and at the present 
time the exportation has reached a very considerable 
figure. We believe the reason why it has sometimes 
failed in this and other European countries, is, that, on its 
being largely sought for, it was sent out in a very mixed 
and adulterated state, some specimens which I have seen 
not containing more than sufficient guarana to give a 
colour and appearance to the substance, the bulk being 
merely a mass of hardened farinaceous matter; and the 
characteristics of the true guarana being so little known, 
the mixture passed undetected. But I am convinced that 
a full and fair trial of its medicinal properties, made with 
specimens unmixed and unadulterated, would lead to its 
adoption in numerous forms of biliary and stomachic de¬ 
rangements, and that ultimately the medicine would take 
rank in this country, as in that in which it is found, as a 
valuable and indispensable therapeutic agent. 
Lastly, as to the dose. Of the powder made from an 
average sample of guarana from 30 to 60 grains is, I 
believe, the right quantity. It remains to be tried how 
and in what manner a certainty is to be arrived at in its 
administration—whether an alcoholic or other extract may 
not be made, which shall be invariable in strength, for at 
present the samples received vary so greatly, that, except 
to an expert, it is difficult to ascertain the exact value of 
the material as imported. Messrs. Rigaud and Leconte 
have introduced what they state is an alcoholic extract, 
and of a certain and fixed strength ; but should guarana 
be found to have the merit its advocates claim, it will be 
very easy to discover the best form for employing it with 
certainty and exactness. It has been suggested to import 
the seeds, and prepare in this country from them, either 
the guarana or a better form still for embodying the 
active principles of this substance. This suggestion is 
worth attention, meanwhile the substance as known 
already might be thoroughly tried, from reliable samples; 
and its value once established, the seeds might possibly be 
procured in sufficient quantity to enable the pharmacist 
to make his own guarana, or something better still to 
substitute it. 
NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
The fourth meeting of the session was held in the 
rooms of the Society, Exchange Buildings, on February 
28th ; the President, Mr. J. H. Atherton, in the chair. 
The following donations were announced : The Calen¬ 
dar of the Pharmaceutical Society, from the Society; 
Specimen of Scammony Root, from Mr. Ransome Kit¬ 
chen ; Variety of chemicals, from Messrs. Hearon, 
Squire, and Co. The thanks of the Society were cordially 
given to the respective donors. 
Three new members were elected. After which the pre¬ 
sident introduced the subject of the “ Recent Schedule of 
Poisons ” sent to chemists and druggists throughout the 
country ; and elicited some discussion respecting the sale 
of vermin killers. 
Dr. Souter delivered an interesting lecture on the 
“ Cryptogamics of the Coal Measures.” A hearty vote of 
thanks was awarded to the lecturer. 
The fifth general meeting of the Association was held 
on Friday evening, March 21; the President, Mr. J. H. 
Atherton, in the chair. Several members and associates 
were elected, and the thanks of the Society given to' 
donors to the library and museum. The president con¬ 
gratulated the Society on the receipt of a donation of £15 
towards the museum from the Pharmaceutical Society of 
Great Britain, and announced that a sub-committee had 
been formed to arrange for glass cases to hold the chemical 
and other specimens. Subsequently a . special vote of 
thanks was accorded to the Pharmaceutical Society foi 
the valuable assistance given. 
Mr. Smith then gave an illustrated lecture on the 
“ Construction and uses of the Microscope. The lecture 
was one of an exceedingly practical nature, and the 
lecturer was warmly applauded at its conclusion. Before 
and after the lecture many interesting objects were shown 
by various members of the Society who had kindly brought 
their microscopes. 
LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The fifth meeting of the present session was held in the 
Clergy-room, on Wednesday, February 12th; the Piesident, 
