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Among the drugs listed as unimportant, inactive or useless in the reports of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry of the American Medical Association are a number that have been reputed to possess certain "tonic" or "sedative" actions on the uterus. These drugs have never been studied pharmacologically; clinical observations on their usefulness are either entirely wanting or are inconclusive, and undoubtedly they would have fallen into disrepute long ago had they not been foisted on the medical profession in the form of a long list of proprietary preparations and on the public in the form of "patent" medicines. These drugs, and specimens of the claims that have been made for some of them in medical literature or in proprietary medicine advertising, are as follows: Black haw (Viburnum prunifolium) : "sedative, antispasmodic, nervine and tonic. .. of value in all congested, inflamed and irritable conditions of the uterus, ovaries and adnexa." "Will certainly relieve dysmenorrhea." Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) :".. .. quite an efficient remedy to increase the force of uter¬ ine contractions ... of service in the treatment of spasmodic dysmenorrhea." Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) : "A uterine tonic and sedative of surprising potency." ".. . highly beneficial in the cramps of disordered menstruation, in the convulsions of pregnancy, in spasmodic con¬ traction of the bladder and in cramps and spasms in general. .. anti-abortive and alterative to the reproductive system." Liferoot (Senecio aureus) : "Regulates the func¬ tions of the uterus and allied organs, diminishing secretion when excessive or increasing it if scanty.

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