The fresh leaves of Prunus Laurocerasus.

Characters. - Ovate-lanceolate or elliptical, distinctly toothed, furnished with glands at the base, smooth and shining, deep green, on strong short footstalks; emitting a ratafia odour when bruised.

Composition. - By distillation the leaves yield bitter-almond oil and hydrocyanic acid.

Action. - Cherry-laurel water has an action similar to hydrocyanic acid, but is only 1/20th of the strength of the B.P. acid.

Use. - Cherry-laurel water is supposed to be an elegant mode of giving prussic acid.