x -PREFACE. 
tive, as Linnzeus has made those of his own north- 
ern country.” 
Under the title of Amertcan Mepica Bora- 
NY, it is my intention to offer to the public a se- 
ries of coloured engravings of those native plants, 
which possess properties deserving the attention 
of medical practitioners. ‘The plan will likewise 
include vegetables of particular utility in diet and 
the arts; also poisonous plants which must be 
known, that they may be avoided. In making the 
selection, I have endeavoured to be guided by 
positive evidence of important qualities, and not 
by the insufficient testimony of popular report. 
_ In treating of each plant, its botanical history will 
be given ; the result of such chemical examina- 
tions as, I have been able to make of its constitu- 
ent parts, and lastly its medical history. The 
botanical account will be found more diffuse than 
is necessary for exclusive botanists. The chem- 
ical inquiries are made chiefly with a view to the 
pharmaceutical preparations of each plant, or to 
interesting principles it may contain. Its medic- 
al history will contain such facts, relative to its 
operation on the human system, as are known to 
me from my own observation, or the evidence of 
those, who are qualified to form correct _— 
on the subject, 
