42 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
be detected in the forests. The wood is hard, and valuable in the construction of furniture. The fruit has a 
somewhat prussic, and slightly bitter taste. It is used for flavouring liquors. ; 
Not a little confusion has existed among botanists with respect to the name of this tree, from its hay; 
; ving been 
confounded with a species closely allied to it, the C. virginiana of De Candolle, or Choke 
ho. Cherry. The latter was 
described by Linneus as Prunus virginiana, which name was changed to Cerasus virginiana by Michaux, under the 
impression that the Wild Cherry was referred to by Linneus. To the Choke Cherry the name of C. serotina wag 
given by botanists, thus completely reversing the names. The error was corrected by De Candolle, and has been 
fully explained in Torrey and Gray’s Flora of North America. The designation at the head of our chapter is the 
true one. 
The bark of the branches or of the root is employed for medicinal purposes. The latter is regarded as best. It is 
collected and brought into the market in pieces or fragments several inches long, and from half an inch to two wide, 
curved laterally. The colour is reddish-brown, when free from epidermis; it is brittle and pulverizable, having a short 
fracture with grayish surfaces. When fresh, the odour is prussic, which in a measure is lost by drying, and regained 
by maceration. The taste is aromatic, prussic, and bitter. 
The first satisfactory analysis of this bark was made by Dr. Procter, (Journ. of Phil. Col. of Pharm., vol. vi. p. 8.,) 
who found it to contain starch, resin, gallic acid, tannin, fatty matter, lignin, red colouring matter, salts of lime, potassa, 
and iron. By distilling the bark with water a volatile oil was obtained, associated with hydrocyanic acid. More 
recently, 
(op. cit., vol. ix. p. 300, and x. p. 197,) Prof. Procter has shown that the oil and acid do not exist in the bark, 
but are due to the decomposition of the amygdakin in it. 
The medical properties are those of a tonic and sedative in union. It is used in convalescence with restlessness, in 
phthisis, &c. It is given in powder, cold infusion, and syrup. 
Prate XXXV.—Represents the plant in flower, the dissected flower and the fruit. 
MYRTACEA, 
R. BROWN. 
MYRTLE TRIBE. 
: <%< : imes 
Essentian Cuar.—Sepals four to six, generally five, concreted into a tube, which is adnate.to the ovary, sometim 
net at the apex, and as far 
Petals inserted on the 
* * 
posi i ite entire, dotted with pe 
glands, and usually with a vein pposite, rarely alternate, exstipulate, quite en 
parallel with their margin. Inflorescence variable, usually axillary: 
ue. (Pereira, Mat. Med.) 
Pertaining to the Myrtacex are due to volatile oil and tannin. 
