THE SICK mate's COMPANION. " o5 



mankind, is in some deeiree withdrawn. Man- 

 kind begin to view the science of medicine with 

 a more natural eye, and the number in whose 

 hands it has hitherto been detained by a com- 

 bination of foreign and impenetrable technicali- 

 tiesjhave themselves in agreat measure relinquish- 

 ed theit umpire, and agree with the more mod- 

 ern system, its utility, and the efficacy of simples 

 from the vegetable kingdom: a kingdom, or part 

 of creation which is fully sufficient to afford 

 the helpless and afflicted a due portion of medi'- 

 cinal materials to heal their maladies and relieve 

 their sufferings. The present accepted and pro- 

 mulgated system of practice; so justly apprecia- 

 ted by the thousands who have experienced its 

 utility,' is acknowledged to be founded upon the 

 true properties, or healing virtues of vegetation 

 atone; and not combined with the administration 

 of deleterious and poisonous minerals or vegeta- 

 bles, as has hitherto been the practice of former 

 *ge8. You are also well aware, we presume, of 

 the poisonous and dangerous effects of many 

 plants on the human system, both externally 

 and internally, which are found in great profu- 

 sion throughout the western country; such plants, 

 we do not profess to use, or recommend, and 

 those we have described, br will hereafter aien- 

 tion; as regards their poisonous or deleterious 

 properties, may be looked upon as harmless and 

 inoffensive materials of medicine; but all of them 





