ANALYSIS OF THE GUACO. 
245 
ART. XXXIX. — ANALYSIS OF THE GUACO. 
By M. Faure. 
I undertook the chemical examination of the leaves of the 
Guaco, soon after the Royal Society of Medicine of Bordeaux 
received the dried plant from Dr. Chabert of Mexico. This 
article was announced as a specific in cholera, which was then 
prevailing in our city. At this time my brother who was re- 
siding in Mexico, informed me that he was engaged in the 
analysis of the plant. I therefore abandoned the undertaking 
being convinced that he would be enabled to throw much 
more light on the subject than myself. Some time afterwards 
my brother wrote to me that he had obtained a resinous sub- 
stance, from the fresh plant, to which he attributed the active 
properties, and which he had named guacine. My brother 
having died before he completed his investigations, I was 
never able to obtain any further account of his researches on 
the subject. 
I therefore resumed my examination of this plant, as well 
for my own satisfaction as to confirm the discovery made by 
my brother. 
The leaves of the guaco as found in commerce appear to be 
injured both by want of care in drying them and the voyage, 
the latter deteriorating them very sensibly. The leaves on 
which I experimented were carefully selected from several 
bales. 
Treatment with Ether. Thirty two grammes of the leaves 
in coarse powder were subjected to three successive macerations 
in 125 grammes of ether, each time. The different tinctures were 
unitedand filtered; they were of a dark colour and had a marked 
bitter taste. The filtered liquid was distilled on a sand bath 
till half the quantity had passed over; the residue was poured 
into a capsule and evaporated to dryness* This extract was 
