10-i CAPRIFOLIACEyE. 



Viburnum prunifolium Tjumi-.—Jilnrk Ilnn. 



Dc^cripliiH). — I'lowerH all iilikc, fertile. Fruit oblong-ovoid, compressed, 

 bluisli-l^liick, gliiucous, swcot. 



A shrub or small tree, 8 to 20 feet bigli. Loaves roundiAli-oval, ovate 

 or obovate, obtuse or abruptly pointed, finely and sharply serrate, l)riglit 

 green, glabrous. Cymes numerous, sessile, ajipoaring in May. 



Jfiil)il(if. — In dry woods and tiuclvcts from Connecticut to Illinois and 

 soutliward. 



Viburnum Opulus Linn,'. — Granbemj Tree, IHijh Granhcrry, Cramp- 

 Hark. 



Desicription. — ]Marginid flowers of the cymes without stamens or pistils, 

 but with cv^rollas nuich lai-ger than those of the fertile flowers. Fruit 

 nearly spherical, half an inch long, bright red, of a pleasant acid taste, re- 

 sendjling that of cranberritis, for whicli it is sometimes sidjstituted. 



A shrub, 3 to 10 feet high, with spreading branches. Leaves 3-lobed, 

 3-ribbed, the lobes acuminate, toothed. Cymes 3 to 4 inches in diameter. 

 The flowei'S appear in May and June. A cultivated variety of this species, 

 the common garden snow-ball bush, has all its flowers st(!rile. 



Ilabilnl. — In swani])S and ah)ng streams from Pennsylvania northward ; 

 less common than the preceding. 



Part Used. — Tlie b:u-k of V. prunifolium — United States Pharmacopcpia. 

 The bark of V. Opulus has also been employed, and is said to act like that 

 of the ofiicial species. 



(JondUticnix. — Analysis of V. prunifolium has shown the pi*escnce of a 

 brown resinous b(Kly of a very bitter taste, a greenish-yellow resin, or neutral 

 principle, aloo bitter, termed vUmrnin, valerianic acid, tannin, and other 

 unimportant vegetable constituents. V. Opulus probably possesses similar 

 constituents. 



Preparation!^. — Extractum viburni fluidum — fluid extract of viburnum. — 

 United States Pharniacopa;ia. There are commercial fluid extracts of V. 

 Opulus. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Both these species of vibunuim are said 

 to be antispasmodic, nervine, astringent, and tonic, and to act specifically 

 upon the uterus. V. prunifolium is especially praised as a uterine sedative, 

 and is considered by many very efficient in threatened abortion and in 

 dysmenorrluea. The author has experimented with it to a considerable 

 extent, but with very unsatisfactory results. He has employed it in many 

 cases of threatened abortion, enjoining at the same time absolute rest in 

 the recuml)ent position, but never with any good effect Avliich could be 

 fairly attributed to the drug. He has never been able to discover that it 

 restrains hemorrhage or abates any of the ordinary symptoms of threat- 

 ened abortion. He has observed, however, that to many patients it is in- 

 tensely disagreeable, not nnfrequently exciting nausea and vomiting, and 

 thus directly contributing to bring about the result which it was intended 



