GUARANA, AND ITS USE IN MEDICINE. 
53 
was apprised by them, that with a kind of alum, a compound 
could be formed which would take fire by contact with water, 
or even with saliva (sputo accenditur;) this is preserved in 
a vessel hermetically sealed, named a<3tio%o$ by the Greeks, 
who projected it against their enemies. This was probably a 
fulminating powder similar to Homberg's pyrophorus, formed 
from the sulphate of alumina, potassa, and carbon, which 
takes fire by moisture, or some of the compounds of sulphur, 
with the regulus of antimony and bismuth, recently discovered 
by Serullus, and exploding under water. 
It is certain that many adventurous attempts of the alchy- 
mists, then produced, independently of gunpowder, formida- 
ble preparations of which the processes remained secret ; it is 
on this account that every tiling which may throw light, upon 
the ancient compositions merits the attention of chemists. 
Journ. de Pharmacie. 
ART. X, — OF GUARANA AND ITS USE IN MEDICINE UNDER 
THE NAME OF PAULLIN1A. By M. de Dechasteles, 
Some months since, a very interesting notice, by Dr. Gar- 
velle, of the guarana or paullinia, has drawn the attention of 
many practitioners to this new medicine. The frequent use 
made of the guarana by Dr. Garvelle, whilst physician to Don 
Pedro, in Brazil, and the good effects which he has since ob- 
tained in France, have induced me to communicate to the 
Society of Pharmacy the different preparations and formulae 
in which this medicine has been prescribed by many physi- 
cians. 
As for the eminently tonic properties possessed by guarana, 
(called more judiciously by Dr. Garvelle, paullinia,) they may 
be well attributed to the tannate of cafeine, which we have 
proven to exist in so great a quantity, according to the ana- 
