254 EOSACE^. 



brown fibrous prosenchyme. The liber is crossed in a radial direction 

 by numerous broad medullary rays of the usual structure. The paren- 

 chymatous portion is loaded both with very large single crystals, and 

 crystalline tufts of calcium oxalate. There is also an abundance of 

 small starch granules, and brown particles of tannic matters. Thin 

 slices of the bark moistened with perchloride of iron, assume a blackish 

 coloration. 



Chemical Composition — The bitterness and odour of the fresh 

 bark depend no doubt on the presence of a substance analogous to 

 amygdalin, which has not yet been examined. Hydrocyanic acid and 

 essential oil are produced when the bark is distilled with water, and 

 must be due to the mutual action of that substance alluded to, and some 

 principle of the nature of emulsin. From the fact that an extract of the 

 bark remained bitter although the whole of the essential oil and hydro- 

 cyanic acid had been removed, Proctor inferred the existence of another 

 substance to which the tonic properties of the bark are perhaps due. 



The fresh bark was found by Perot^ to yield -| per mille of hydro- 

 cyanic acid in April, 1 per mille in June, and 14! in October. The 

 best time for collecting the bark is therefore the autumn. 



Uses — In America, wild cherry bark is held in high estimation for 

 its mildly tonic and sedative properties. It is administered most appro- 

 priately in the form of cold infusion or syrup, the latter being a strong 

 cold infusion, sweetened ; a fluid extract and a dry resinoid extract are 

 also in use. The bark is said to deteriorate by keeping, and should be 

 preferi'ed when recently dried. 



FOLIA LAURO-CERASI. 



Common Laurel or Che^Ty-laurel Leaves; F. Feuilles de Laurier- 

 cerise ; G. Kirschlorheerhldtter. 



Botanical Origin — Prunus Lauro-cerasus L.,a handsome evergreen 

 shrub, growing to the height of 18 or more feet, is a native of the Cau- 

 casian provinces of Russia (Mingrelia, Imeritia, Guriel), of the valleys 

 of North-western Asia Minor, and Northern Persia. It has been intro- 

 duced as a plant of ornament into all the more temperate regions of 

 Europe, and flourishes well in England and other parts, where the 

 winter is not severe and the summer not excessively hot and dry. 



History — Pierre Belon, the French naturalist, who travelled in the 

 East between 1546 and 1550, is stated by Clusius^ to have discovered 

 the cherry-laurel in the neighbourhood of Trebizond. Thirty years 

 later, Clusius himself obtained the plant through the Imperial ambassa- 

 dor at Constantinople, and distributed it from Vienna to the gardens of 

 Germany. Since it is mentioned by Gerarde^ as a choice garden shrub, 

 it must have been cultivated in England prior to 1597. Ray ,^ who like 

 Gerarde calls the plant Cheri^-ho.y,stsi,tes that it is not known to possess 

 medicinal properties. 



In 1731, Madden of Dublin drew the attention of the Royal Society 



» Pharm. Joum. xviii. (1852) 109. ^ Herhall (1636) 160.3. 



- Rariorum Plantarum Historia, 1601. 4. •* Hkt. Plant, ii. (1693) 1549. 



