PREFACE, -_ ix 
but are still in use, and often advantageously so, 
in the hands of country practitioners, There 
are some of yet inferior efficacy, which, having 
formerly enjoyed a certain degree of medicinal 
notoriety, are inserted here with a view of defin- 
ing their true character. 
The progress of botanical atidents. 3 is much 
facilitated by the possession of correct drawings 
and dissections of a variety of dissimilar plants. 
In this country botanical figures, especially of 
American plants, are scarce, and accessible to but 
a small number of those who pursue this study. 
It is hoped that the present work may, in a cer- 
tain degree, supply the deficiency, at least until 
the extension of natural science among us, and — 
the increased number of botanical students, shall 
call forth and support works of greater magnitude. 
A part of the plants contained in this work 
have never been figured in any botanical work, 
Others have been represented a great number of 
times ; yet their importance, in a medical puint of 
view, required their admission ; and the figure 
being always made from an American specimen, 
it may, on this account, be not destitute of in- 
terest. 
Having arrived at the termination of the 
American Medical Botany, the author feels it 
2 
