NOTICE OF SOME BRAZILIAN DRUGS. 
83 
repandate. Stem diffuse, pubescent. Fruit, sulcate, clavate, 
Swartz. It has been confounded with B. diandra. 
The root of this plant is fusiform, elongated, thick as the 
finger above, very tapering to the extremity, with a number of 
branching radicles ; brown externally, with transverse warty 
elevations of the coitical substance, and wrinkled spirally. In- 
ternal structure spongy, fibrous ; fracture tough, and of a light 
colour ; odor feeble ; taste starchy. 
In the Dictionary of Lamark the plant is known by the 
name of Patagone. 
This drug is stated to be diuretic, and is employed in gonor- 
rhoea (op. cit.) in the form of decoction, made of 2 oz. to 
a pint of water. Externally it is used in the form of ca- 
taplasms. 
The juice of the leaves is employed in Brazil, according to 
Martius, in jaundice, and induration of the liver. 
Other species of Boerheevia are also used in the treat- 
ment of disease in Brazil, as the B. scandens as a diuretic, 
and the B. tuber osa, which is a purgative. 
Guar ana. 
This, is the gum resinous concrete of the fruit of the Pau- 
linia sorbilis, of Martius. Class Octandria, Order Trygi- 
nia, L. Nat. Fam. Sapindacece. 
The plant is an inhabitant of Para. In the 12th vol. of 
this journal, page 340, will be found all that is known of the 
plant, in an interesting memoir by M. Virey. 
The drug is prepared by the Indians of Para, and is in the 
form of cylindrical masses, elongated, and smaller towards the 
extremities, weighing from four to eight ounces. Externally, 
the surface is smooth, and of a dirty blackish brown colour. 
It is very hard, and breaks with a short, brittle fracture, pre- 
senting a deep brown, somewhat shining, irregular surface, a 
little mottled. It has no odour, and its taste is astringent, very 
slightly bitter, and decidedly possessed of the chocolate fla- 
vour. The powder is of a light chocolate colour. 
By M. Cadet it was found that it was partly soluble in al- 
