276 PHARMACOPEIAL DRUGS 



sweet melodies perched on the highest branches; the 

 dew-drops hung on the rose like tears on the cheek of 

 an angry beauty; the parterre was covered with hya- 

 cinths of a thousand hues, among which meandered a 

 limpid stream. When morning came my friend 

 gathered roses, basilisks, and hyacinths, and placed 

 them in the folds of his garments; but I said to him, 

 'Throw these away, for I am going to compose a Gul- 

 istan (garden of roses), which will last for eternity, 

 whilst your flowers will live but for a day.' " (Book of 

 Perfumes, Rimmel, p. 129.) 



RUBUS VILLOSUS (Blackberry) 



Rubus villosus has been official in every edition of the U. S. P. 

 until 1910, when it was dropped. In the early editions, from 1820 

 to 1850, it was mentioned along with Rubus trivialis, (Dewberry), 

 in the Secondary List. In 1860 dewberry was dropped, Rubus vill. 

 being promoted to the Primary List, retaining its official position 

 until 1910. In 1880 and 1890, the variety Rubus Idceus (Rasp- 

 berry), was also official, but was then dropped. 



Blackberry, Rubus villosus, grows abundantly in 

 most parts of the United States. The roots of the 

 various species as well as varieties of rubus are more or 

 less astringent, and have been used in domestic medi- 

 cine from the days of America's first settlement. The 

 Cherokee Indians, (Rafmesque), (535), chewed the 

 root of this plant and swallowed the saliva for treat- 

 ment of cough, its astringency being probably helpful 

 to the throat membranes. They also used a poultice 

 of rubus for the piles, in which direction its mild astrin- 

 gency seems rationally to adapt it. A syrup of black- 

 berry root has ever been a great favorite in some sec- 

 tions of the country as a remedy for dysentery. This 

 use of rubus in domestic medication, in which it has 

 always been valued in America, led finally to its em- 



