CERASUS VIRGIN I AKA. 
99 
grows throughout the Union, flourishing most in those parts where the soil is 
fertile and the climate temperate, and abounding in the Middle Atlantic States, 
and in those which border on the Ohio. In the neighbourhood of Philadelphia 
it affects open situations, growing solitarily in the fields and along fences, 
and seldom aggregated in woods or groves. It is highly valued by the cabinet¬ 
makers for its wood, which is compact, fine-grained, susceptible of polish, and 
of a light-red tint, which deepens with age. The fruit has a sweetish, astringent, 
bitter taste ; and is much used in some parts of the country to impart flavour to 
spirituous liquors.’’ It flowers in May, and ripens its fruit in the Northern. 
States in August and September. 
Collection , etc .—The part of this plant which is employed in medicine is 
essentially the inner bark (see General Characteristics, below). This is obtained 
indiscriminately from all parts of the tree, although that of the root is com¬ 
monly regarded as the most active. From experiments, made by Mr. J. S. Perot,* 
it appears that the bark collected in autumn is stronger than that obtained in 
the spring. Thus, 1000 grains of bark collected in April, yielded 0-478 grains 
of hydrocyanic acid ; the same quantity of bark obtained in June, yielded 
1*007 grains of hydrocyanic acid; and from a similar weight collected in Oc¬ 
tober, he obtained 1-436 grains of hydrocyanic acid. Hence it appears that 
the best time for collecting the bark is about the end of October. From the 
experiments of Mr. Perotf it also appears that the bark should be preferred when 
recently dried, as it deteriorates by keeping.J 
General Characteristics. —Wild-cherry bark, as found in commerce, 
consists essentially of the inner layers ( derm ) of the bark only, but varying- 
sized portions of the outer bark ( periderm ) are commonly attached to these 
inner layers. It occurs in nearly flat, or slightly curved or arched pieces, of va¬ 
rious sizes. In length, the pieces of bark vary from about one inch to six inches 
or more, a common size being about four inches; and in breadth, from about 
half an inch to three inches or more, averaging about one inch and a half. The 
average thickness of the pieces which consist entirely, or nearly so, of the inner 
bark, is from one-tenth to one-eighth of an inch, but in some cases it is much 
less than this. In those pieces or portions of pieces where the outer layers of 
bark ( periderm ) are attached, the thickness is more considerable, being some¬ 
times nearly a quarter of an inch. 
The pieces vary in colour and other characteristics externally, according to 
their size, and the presence or absence of periderm, etc. Thus, those which are 
principally composed of inner bark present a reddish-brown colour, and may be 
seen to consist of cross fibres, between the interstices of which the soft cellular 
matter is placed, the whole being more or less rough to the touch. When the 
periderm is attached, the pieces are of a rougher character, and in such parts of 
the bark the colour is redder, and sometimes spotted at intervals with portions 
of greyish, silvery-white, or brownish patches. Some of the smaller pieces pre¬ 
sent a uniform reddish-yellow appearance, and are nearly smooth externally. 
Internally, the bark has a deep yellowish-brown or reddish-brown colour, the 
larger pieces being the more red. If has a more or less roughened character ac¬ 
cording to the size of the pieces, and consists of irregular fibres crossing each in 
a diagonal direction. Projecting from the inner surface of the bark may be also 
observed the ends of numerous fibres, and on some of the pieces are to be found 
portions of the wood, which are of a yellowish-white colour, and perfectly 
smooth. 
The longitudinal fracture of the inner bark is close, and presents a yellowish- 
grey colour, interspersed with reddish spots and stripes. The transverse frae- 
* Amer. Journ. Pharm. new ser. vol. xviii. April 1852, p. 110. f Idem p. 111. 
J Wood and Bache’s ‘United States Dispensatory,’ 11th edit. p. 627. 
