4 INTRODUCTION 
but I expected, if gathered always in one condition 
‘of the plant, viz. when it was in its flowering ftate, 
‘and carefully dried, that the dofe might ‘be afcer- 
tained as exadtly as that of any other medicine; nor 
have I been difappointed in this expectation. The 
more T faw of the great powers of this plant, the 
more it feemed neceflary to bring the dofes of ‘it to 
the greateft poffible accuracy. I fufpected that: this 
degree of accuracy was not reconcileable with the 
ule of a-decodion, as it dependec not only upon the 
cate of ‘thofe who had the preparation of it, but it 
‘eafy to conceive from the analogy of another 
plant of the fame natural order, the tobacco, that 
its ative properties might be impaired by long boil- 
ing. The decoétion was therefore difcarded, and 
the infufion fubftituted in its place. After this I be- 
gan to ufe the leaves in powder, but I fill very often 
aia the infifion, © | 
