ADVERTISEMENT. 
Upon presenting to the public the portion of this work, which 
completes one half of his labours, the author of the American 
Medical Botany feels himself bound to offer some report of the 
progress and prospects of his undertaking. 
The plan of this work was formed and announced at a time 
when such a subject was wholly novel, and when coloured bo- 
tanical engravings, from the difficulty and expense of their exe- 
cution, were almost unknown in this country. It was endeay- 
oured that the plan should be such as in some degree to insure, 
what both authors and their friends should desire, extensive cir- 
culation and permanent utility. An edition of a thousand copies 
was printed, and that the work might be generally accessible, — 
the price was fixed at a lower rate, in proportion to the number 
of plates, than works of the kind have ever been placed at in this 
country ; a rate which the probable sale of the whole edition 
could alone justify. As permanent utility was esteemed of more 
importance than ephemeral success, the work has not been hur- 
ried in any stage of its execution, even though some temporary 
advantages might have been obtained by its earlier appearance. 
The author has not willingly adopted the opinions of others in bot- 
any or medicine without examination, and has thought no delay in- 
jurious which might lead to the establishment of truth or the de- 
tection of error. He has been desirous, in adding the results of 
his own experience, that the book should have, in some degree at 
