ii. INTRODUCTION 



had fur gathering, will answer the same pur- 

 pose. 



However, as there are cases, in which more 

 help may be had from drugs brought from abroad 

 than from any thing we can procure at home, an 

 account of those roots, barks, seeds, gums, and 

 other vegetable productions, kept by the druggists 

 and apothecaries, is also added ; and of the several 

 trees and plants from wjiich they are obtained ; 

 together with their virtues. 



This work, tliereforc, will tend to instruct those 



charitable ladies who may be desirous of giving 



this great relief to the afflicted poor in their 



neighbourhood, and to remind apothecaries of 



what they had before studied : but the first men- 

 tioned purpose is by much the most useful, and 



the most considerable, and for this reason the 

 greatest regard is paid to it. 



The plants are disposed in the al|ihabct, ac- 

 cording to their English names, that they may be 

 turned to the more readily ; and an account is 

 given, in two or three lines, of their general as- 

 pect and place of growth, that those who in part 

 tnow them already, may understand (hem at once : 

 af they are not perfectly known from this, a nioro 

 particular description is added, by observing 

 which they cannot be mistaken or confounded 

 with any others ; and after this folUnv, not only 

 their virtues, as others are content to set them 

 down, but the part of each plant which contains 

 themi in most perfection is named, and the manner 

 in which they may best be given 



With regardto the virtues of plants, it has been 

 the custom to attribute too many to most of them : 

 so much is said more than the truth on these oc- 

 casions, that those who would be informed, know 



