INTRODUCTAON. xvii 
With Regard to the Virtues of Plants, it has 
been the Cuftom to attribute too many to moft- of 
them: So much is faid more than the Truth on 
thefe Occafions, that thofe who would be inform- 
ed, know not what they fhould believe. This is 
more cautioufly regulated here. The real Virtues 
alone are fet down, as they are affured by Expe- 
rience: And the Principal of thefe are always fet in 
the moft confpicuous Light. © Perhaps it may be - 
allowed the Author, to fpeak with more Affurance 
than others of thefe Things, becaufe he has been 
accuftomed to the Praétice of Phyfic in that Way. 
Very few Things are named here, that he has not - 
feen tried; and if fome are fet down, which other 
Writers have not named, and-fome of which they 
have faid moft, are flightly mentioned; it is owing 
to the fame Experience, which has added to the Ca- 
talogue in fome things, and has found it too great 
for Truth in others... < : 
“Nature has in this pote ‘and doubtlefs alfo _ 
in all others, provided.in the Herbs of its own — 
Growth, the Remedies for the feveral Difeafes to 
whichit is moft fubject; and although the Addition - _ 
of what is brought from abroad, fhould not be 
fuppofed fuperfluous, there is no Occafion that it 
fhould make the other neglected. This has been | 
the Confequence of the great Refpeét fhewn to the 
others; and befide this, pains Ufe of chemical 
Preparations has almoft driven the whole of gale- 
_ nical: Medicine out’of our Minds. 
To reftore this more fafe, more gentle, and) 
_ Often: more efficacious Part of Medicine to its na-) 
tural Credit, has been one great Intent in the’ 
_ Writing this Treatife ; and it is the more neceflary 
for the Service of thofe, who are intended _mot 
to be directed in this Matter, fince this is 
lefs dangerous than the other: Nay it is 
