A cardboard box containing plant material is wrapped in plastic that has been sealed on both sides with transparent tape; box is covered on front, top and back with a paper label.
A cardboard box containing plant material is wrapped in plastic that has been sealed on both sides with transparent tape; box is covered on front, top and back with a paper label.
Top: "WILD CHERRY // BARK // (VIRGINIAN PRUNE BARK, B.P.) // Prunus serotina Ehrh. // No. 298 // C141417 [stamped] // PARKE, DAVIS & CO. // WALKERVILLE, // ONTARIO, CAN."; front: "SYNONYMS - PRUNUS VIRGINIANA, U. // S.P.; Ecorce de cérisier de Virginie, // Fr.; Wildkerschendrinde, Ger. // PART EMPLOYED - The bark. // FAMILY - Rosaceae. // HABITAT - Eastern North America."; back: "PROPERTIES - Tonic and stimulating to // the digestive apparatus, sedative to nervous // system and circulation. Useful in hectic // fever, some forms of dyspepsia, whooping // cough, nervous irritability, and as a pallia- // tive in consumption. // DOSE - 1 to 2 fluidounces (30 to 60 mils) of an infusion, one ounce to the pint."
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A1-3 Row C
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
Length 5.3 cm x Width 5.4 cm x Depth 2.9 cm
Condition Remarks
Cardboard and paper are yellowed; scuffs, scratches and holes in plastic; some dried plant material has escaped box and is escaping plastic; all text is legible.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Person
Reference Comments
"Parke-Davis Antique Pharmacy Collection," by Jack Willson, part 1 page 4; personal communication with Jack Willson, May 2000
Research Facts
A Native American medicinal staple, the bark of wild cherry is used for its medicinal properties; it is most commonly used to treat symptoms of respiratory ailments, such as colds and bronchitis; its sedative, drying, and expectorant properties make it a common ingredient in cough syrups; also used to treat pain and digestive disorders. Cherry bark is great at combating dry and irritable coughs. Overuse of cherry bark can be toxic..
The plastic wrap is not part of the original packaging; it was added to protect the materials as they were collected after 1949.
Exhibit History
On exhibit, "Potions, Pills, and Prescriptions," Museum of Health Care, May 1, 2000 - 28 Jan 2017.