Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 09.djvu/367

* GUAIACOL. 325 GTJALEGUAY. South American name), or JIethyl Ptrocate- ciiiN, t'„H,.OI1.0CH3. A preparation obtained by distillation of bcechwood creosote, of which it contains from 00 to itO per cent. It is a colorless, oily liquid, soluble in 85 parts of water and much more freely in alcohol, ether, glycerin, and oils. Its taste and odor strongly resemble those of creosote, but it is less disagreeable. Of its com- pounds, guaiacol carbonate is best known. This is a tasteless, odorless, white powder insoluble in water. Both guaiacol and its carbonate are employed as substitutes for creosote in the treat- ment of tuberculosis, being, in many cases, less irritating to the stomach. OUAIACUM, gwi'a-ktim (Neo-Lat., from Sp. guayaco, guutjucan ) . A genus of trees of the natural order Zygophylleie, natives of the trop- ical parts of America, which have abruptly pin- nate leaves, and axillary flowers on one-flowered stalks, often in small clusters. The trees are remarkable for the hardness and heaviness of their wood, generally known as lignum vita', but also as guaiacum wood, and sometimes as Brazil wood; as well as for their |-)eculiar res- inous product, guaiacum. often but incorrectly called gum guaiacum. The species to which the commercial lignum vitae and guaiacum are com- monly referred are Guaiacum officinale and Guaiacum xanctum, natives of the West India Islands, and of some of the continental parts of America. Guaiacum officinale is a tree some- times 00 feet high, with two or three pairs of ovate, obtuse, and perfectly smooth leaflets, pale- blue flowers, a furrowed bark, and generally a crooked stem and knotted branches. Some spe- cies have been grown as ornamentals in Florida and southern California. It seems probable that other species supply part of the guaiacum wood and resin of commerce. At present the supplies are obtained chiefly from Cuba, Jamaica, and San Domingo. The wood is exported in billets about three feet long and one foot in diameter, of a greenish-brown color. This is the color of the heart-wood; the sap-wood is pale yellow. Guaia- cum wood sinks in water, and is remarkable for the direction of its fibres, each layer of which crosses the preceding diagonally; annual rings are scarcely to be observed, and the pith is ex- tremely small. It is much valued, chiefly by turners. Ship's blocks, rulers, pestles, and bowls (q.v. ) are among the articles most commonly made of it. When rubbed or heated it emits a faint disagreeable aromatic smell : its taste is also pungent and aromatic. Shavings and rasp- ings of the wood are bought by apothecaries for medicinal use. The bark is also used in medi- cine on the Continent of Europe, but not in Great Britain or America. The virtues of both wood and bark depend chiefly on the resin which they contain, and which is itself used in powder, pill, and tincture. It is an acrid stimulant, and has been employed with advantage in chronic rheu- matism, skin diseases,* and catarrh. It has also been highly praised as a preventive of gout. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries guaiacum was the remedy most in repute for syphilis. The resin sometimes flows spontaneously from the stem of the guaiacum-tree; it is sometimes ob- tained artificially. It is of a greenish-brown color, and has a brilliant resinous fracture. It has scarcely any taste, but leaves a burning sen- sation in the mouth. One of its most striking characteristics is that it is colored blue by its oxidizing agents. It contains guaiacic acid, which closely resembles benzoic acid, and yields on dis- tillation certain definite compounds known as guaiacin. jiyroguaiacin, and guaiacol. GUAICUBUAN, gwi-kon'roo-iin'. A distinct stock of South American Indians living in the Gran Chaco. There are about twenty tribes of them, all of the same warlike, roving, equestrian habit. The best known of the tribes are the Abipone, Guaicuru, Mataguay, and Toba. The Guaicuru originally lived farther south upon the Paraguay River. They have a system of hereditary castes, distinguished by different colors used in painting the body, the ruling family painting with black. The men go naked, but the women wear a short skirt. Tlu>y place large wooden labrets in the lower lip. They tend immense herds of cattle and horses, but re- fuse to cultivate the ground. GtTAJACON, gwil'Ha-kun'. The Cuban name for the various top-minnows of the genus Gambusia. exceedingly abundant in Cuba. See , Plate of KiLLiFisiiES and Top-Minnow.s. GUAjAn, gva-n;ln'. See Guam. GTJAL, goo-ill', Pedbo (1784-1802). A South American patriot, born in Caracas, Venezuela, and educated at the university in that city. He tooic part in the Revolution of 1810, was a member of the Legislature, and secretary to Miranda. After an e.xile of several years, he returned, was made Governor of Cartagena, and then Ambassador to the United States. In 1810 he joined Bolivar's revolt, and for some time acted as Minister of Finance and Foreign AfTairs in the newly estab- lished Government. For many years he lived in retirement, which was broken only by a mission to Europe for Ecuador in 1837, resulting in the final acknowledgment of that State's independence by Spain. In 1858, while living quietly at Ca- racas, he was chosen President of a Provisional Government, established in opposition to that of Monagas; and again entered actively into polit- ical affairs, serving as president of the Council of State luider the Castro Government. In 1859 he was elected Vice-President of the Republic of Venezuela, and succeeded, in the following year, to the Presidency, which he resigned on account of failing health' in 1801. GTJ ALBERT, gwal'bfir'. or GALBERT, .Joux. See V.LLuMi!ROSA, Congregatio.n ok. GUALDO TADINO, gwiil'do ta-de'nft. A city in Central Italy, 58 miles southwest of Aneona. In the cathedral and in the city hall are paint- ings by Niccolo da Foligno. Near the city are the ruins of the ancient Taginte, where Narses in 552 defeated and slew the Ostrogothic King, Totila. It markets oil, grain, and millstones. Population of commune, in 1881, 8477; in 1901, 10,055. GUALEGUAY, gwa'la-gwl'. A city in the Province of Entrc Rios, Argentina, situated on a small tributary of the ParanS. 120 miles north- west of Buenos Ayres (Map: Argentina. F 10). It has tanneries and flour-mills, and in its vicinity are situated extensive slaughter-hou.ses. It has railway comnnmication with the more important towns of the province, and through Puerto Ruiz. 7 miles below, it exports a con- siderable quantity of animal products. It con-