Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Nov.  f,  1874.  J 
Extract  of  Guarana,  etc. 
505 
bottle ;  while  the  dose  of  the  solid  extract  would  be  from  five  to  ten 
grains,  to  be  repeated  every  two,  three  or  four  hours,  or  three  or  four 
times  a  day,  according  to  circumstances. 
As  there  seem  to  be  no  established  data  to  be  taken  as  a  guide  in 
its  administration,  the  above  I  should  think  would  be  a  safe  approx- 
imation to  the  proper  dose.  Physicians,  of  course,  can  increase  or 
diminish  the  dose  as  their  experience  and  the  indications  seem  to  sug- 
gest or  demand.  In  this  way,  after  a  while,  the  proper  dose  may  be 
more  accurately  determined. 
The  fluid  extract  of  guarana  is  most  agreeably  administered  mixed 
with  simple  syrup  or  the  syrup  of  orange,  in  the  proportion  of  from 
fifteen  to  thirty  drops  to  a  dessertspoonful  of  the  vehicle. 
In  the  treatment  of  various  nervous  affections,  headaches,  etc.,  I 
have  no  doubt  that  bromide  of  potassium,  valerianate  of  ammonium, 
hydrate  of  chloral,  valerian,  morphia,  belladonna,  hyoscyamus,  and 
tincture  of  hops  will  be  found  to  be  its  best  adjuncts  and  most  eligi- 
ble associates  in  prescription. 
As  syrup  seems  to  be  so  pleasant  a  vehicle  for  guarana,  I  have  no 
doubt  a  syrup  of  guarana  would  be  a  very  desirable  and  useful  prep- 
aration of  the  drug.  I  am  therefore  about  commencing  some  exper- 
iments with  the  view  of  framing  a  suitable  formula  for  such  a  prep- 
aration, and  when  I  have  succeeded  I  shall  make  it  known  to  the 
readers  of  this  journal. 
I  did  think  a  tincture  might  also  be  desirable ;  but,  as  the  dose  of 
guarana  in  substance  is  quite  large,  and  it  requires  so  strongly  alco- 
holic a  menstruum  for  the  solution  of  its  active  principle,  the  propor- 
tion of  spirit  in  such  a  preparation  would  be  objectionable,  and  would 
be  injurious,  therapeutically,  in  the  class  of  diseases  in  which  guarana 
would  be  likely  to  be  most  generally  employed. 
I  will  now  resume  my  remarks  and  suggestions  on  percolation. 
The  powder  in  both  the  above  formulae,  after  being  moistened  for 
percolation,  should  be  passed  through  a  No.  20  sieve  previously  to 
packing,  in  order  to  break  up  any  little  lumps  or  aggregations  that  may 
be  formed  by  the  moisture. 
I  have,  for  years,  been  in  the  habit  of  treating  almost  all  powders 
in  this  way  after  they  have  been  moistened.  The  sieve  not  only 
finely  and  uniformly  divides  the  powder  again  and  restores  it  to  the 
most  perfect  condition  for  packing,  but  it  also  removes  any  portions 
that  are  imperfectly  powdered  or  any  accidental  impurities.  (I,  of 
course,  refer  here  to  powders  obtained  from  commercial  sources.) 
