Am.  Jour  Pharm. 
July, 1877 
Hypophosphate  of  Berberina. 
339 
who,  from  25  grams  of  guarana,  obtained  1*260  grams  of  caffeina 
=  5-04  per  cent.,  and  from  14  grams  5*1  percent.     Average  ==  5.07. 
As  this  method  of  extracting  caffeina  is  entirely  devoid  of  all  com- 
plicated steps,  and  requires  but  a  short  space  of  time  for  its  completion, 
it  may  be  used  advantageously  in  estimating  the  percentage  of  caffeina 
in  the  fluid  extract  of  guarana,  which  is  prescribed  to  a  certain  extent 
at  present,  and  may  possibly  be  more  extensively  used  in  the  future. 
In  regard  to  the  proper  accentuation  of  the  name  of  the  substance 
prepared  from  the  seeds  of  the  Paullinia  sorbilis,  by  the  Indian  tribes  on 
the  upper  Amazon,  I  would  state  that  throughout  Brazil,  and  in  all 
parts  of  South  America,  where  the  preparation  is  used,  the  word  is  uni- 
versally accented  on  the  last  syllable,  guarana,  and  never  pronounced 
guar&na,  the  popular  method  of  accenting  the  term  in  this  country. 
The  placing  of  the  accent  on  the  last  syllable  in  words  ending  in  a  is 
not  at  all  unusual  in  the  Guarany  language  ;  for  instance,  as  regards 
localities,  Parana  and  Ceara,  retain  their  Indian  accentuation;  and  in 
the  vegetable  world,  the  Caladium  esculentum  is  always  spoken  of  as 
the  Taja  or  Taya,  the  Franciscea  uniflora  as  the  Manaca,  and  the 
Gomphia  parviflora,  as  the  Batiputa. 
NOTE  ON  HYPOPHOSPHITE  OF  BERBERINA. 
By  J.  U.  Lloyd. 
Take  of    Sulphate  of  berberina,  .  .  .1  part 
Distilled  water,     .  .  .24  parts 
Lead  monoxide,   .  .  ^  part 
Hypophosphorous  acid,  .  .  q.  s. 
Dissolve  the  sulphate  of  berberina  in  the  distilled  water  at  the  tem- 
perature of  i8o°F.  Add  the  lead  monoxide,  and  digest  at  the  above 
temperature  until  a  filtered  portion  will  not  produce  a  precipitate  with 
solution  of  acetate  of  lead  (or  a  hot  solution  of  chloride  of  barium) ; 
from  6  to  12  hours  will  accomplish  this.  Filter  out  the  excess  of  lead 
and  sulphate  of  lead  formed,  pass  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  the 
solution  to  separate  any  traces  of  lead  which  may  remain,  and  filter 
again.  Evaporate  the  solution  of  berberina  to  the  measure  of  8  fluid- 
ounces,  add  solution  of  hypophosphorous  acid  until  in  slight  excess,  and 
allow  the  mixture  to  cool.  Separate  the  magma  of  fine  crystals  with  a 
filter  paper  or  muslin  strainer,  and  dry. 
