PREFACE. vii 



have given themselves any trouble about their 

 virtues ; when physic is becoming entirely chymi- 

 cal^ and a thousand lives arc thrown away daily 

 by these medicines^ which might be saved by a 

 better practice ; it appeared a useful undertaking*^ 

 to separate the necessary from the frivolous knovv'- 

 ledge ; and to lay before those who are inclined 

 to do good to their distressed fellow-creatures, all 

 that it is necessary for them to know of botany for 

 that purpose^ and that in the most familiar man* , 

 ner ; and to add to this^ what experience has con- 

 firmed of the many things written by others con- 

 cerning their virtues. This is the intent of the fol* 

 lowing' work. 



The plants are arranged according to the English 

 alphabet^ that the English reader may know where 

 to find them : they are called by one name only in 

 English, and one in Latin ; and these are their 

 most familiar names in those languages ; no matter 

 what Caspar, or John Bauhine, or Linnjeus 

 call them, they are here set down by those names 

 by which every one speaks of them in English ; 

 and the Latin name is added^ under which they will 

 be found in every dictionary. To this is subjoined 

 a general description of the plant, if it be a com- 

 mon one, in a line or two ; that those who already 

 know it, may turn at once to the uses ; and for 

 such as do not> a farther and more particular 

 account is added. Last come the virtues, a« they 

 are confirmed by practice : and all this is delivered 

 in such words as are common^ and to be understood 

 hy alL 



Every thing that is mperfluoiis is omitted, that 

 the useful part may remain upon the memory : 

 and to all this is prefixed, in a large introduc- 

 tion, whatsoever can be necessary to com pleat the 

 good intentions of the charitable in this way. 



/^ 



