VIBURNUM PRUNIFOLIUM 353 



In 1913, Mr. Oliver A. Farwell, of Parke, Davis & 

 Company (116a) established that the bark of Acer spi- 

 catum, under the name "Cramp bark," was being used 

 instead of Viburnum Opulus. Investigation demon- 

 strated that practically the total drug of commerce, at 

 that date, was derived from this tree. Just when the 

 substitution began has not been determined. 



VIBURNUM PRUNIFOLIUM (Black Haw) 



Introduced into U. S. P. in 1880. Official in all editions 

 following, including that of 1910, which makes official the bark 

 of Viburnum prunifolium, or of Viburnum Lentago. 



Black haw, Viburnum prunifolium. The bark of this 

 tree was employed in American domestic medication 

 during the first part of the 19th century. The first 

 authentic reference we have observed is in the American 

 Family Physician, 1857, by Professor John King, M. D. 

 (356), who describes the drug, and makes the statement 

 that it acts as a uterine tonic, its uses, as given by 

 Dr. King, being practically those now recorded of this 

 remedy in current medical literature. In 1860 Dr. 

 I. J. M. Goss, (New Preparations, 1878, p. 61), com- 

 mended the drug, probably brought to his attention 

 through the to him familiar writings of King, as well, 

 possibly, as from its local use in his part of the South. 

 (Dr. Goss lived in Atlanta, Georgia.) He introduced 

 it into his own practice, and commended it to his pro- 

 fessional friends. From this date "black haw" grew 

 rapidly in favor, and through repeated notice in medical 

 as well as pharmaceutical literature, came into exten- 

 sive demand, being finally given a position in the Phar- 

 macopeia of the United States. Being possessed of no 

 toxic qualities or immediate physiological action, it is 

 considered by some writers "valueless" in therapy. 



