IIVTRODUCTIOJS^. 1. The Science of Botany was at all times intimately connected with medical knowledge. 5. Several ancient nations, such as the Grecians, Romans, Hindoos, Chinese, &c. considered Medical Botany as equivalent to both botanical and medical knowledge. 3. Medicine was then, and is still among rude nations, nothing more than the application of an empirical knowledge of vegetable substances. 4. Thence the usual vulgar division of Plants, into the five great Classes of Aliments, Simples, Poisons, Flowers and Weeds, or alimentary, medical, poisonous, ornamental and useless plants. I 5. At the revival of learning in Europe, this "notion being general, the first works on Botany, "were of course mere sketches of Medical Botany, and comments on Grecian or Roman writers. 6. When Tournefort and Linnseus, about a century ago, became botanical reformers, and made Botany a separate Science, their efforts and improvements were resisted by those who at all times contend against useful innovations. A

INTRODUCTION. 7- Linnseus in his Materia Medica, gave a model of systematical Medical Botany, equally concise, perspicuous and accurate; but destilute of the help of figures. 8. This model was followed by Schoepf in his Materia Medica of North America, the first general work on our medical plants, published in Germany and in Latin towards I787. This small work of Schoepf has never been translated nor republished in America, although highly deserving of it. 9. When America was settled, the native tribes were in possession of many valuable vegetable remedies, discovered by long experience, the knowledge of which they gradually imparted to their neighbours. 10. This knowledge partly adopted even as far as Europe, and partly rejected by medical skepticks, became scattered through our country in the hands of country practitioners. Herbalists, Empirics and Botanists. 11. Schoepf collected his materials from them, and noticed about three hundred and sixty plants as medical; but he did not go every where, nor exhaust the subject, since nearly double that number are actually in common use in diflerent States of the Union. 13. Since the United States have become an independent and flourishing nation, much has been done to teach and spread correct medical knowledge. 13 The establishment of Medical Schools, Chairs of Materia Medica, of Medical and Systematical Botany, Medical and Botanic Gardens, Infirmaries, Hospitals, have largely

INTRODUCTION. Ill contributed to impart Medical and Botanical knowledge, tlirough the professional class. 14. This purpose has been aided by mimereus publications of learned Physicians and Botanists, Medical Works, Pamphlets and Journals, Pharmacopeias, Dispensatories, Inaugural Theses, &c. 15. Notwithstanding all these means, it is a positive and de{)lorab]e fact, that but few medical practitioners, apply themselves to the Study of Botany, and therefore are deprived of the aid of comparative Medical Botany. 16. It is not less certain, but still more deplorable that beyond (be immediate sphere of medical knowledge, the majority of the people are yet in prey to medical credulity, superstition and delusions, in which they are confirmed by the repeated failures of Theorists, and the occasional success of Empirical Rivals. 17. Even in large cities and in the centre of medical light. Empirics are thriving, because they avail themselves of the resources aflbrded by active plants, often neglected or unknown to the regular practitioners. 18. it is not perhaps so well known that tbere are in this Age and in the United States, American Marabouts who like the Marabouts of the wilds of Africa, attempt in some remote places, to cure diseases by charms, prayers, blowing, spitting, &.c. 19. It is therefore needful to spread still further correct medical knowledge; and the state of medical science is such in the United btates, as to require a greater diffusion of the