GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 7 



9. These Classes may be divided into Orders, Genera and Spe- 

 cies of Chemical Bodies, each possessing peculiar properties and 

 actions, 



10. Vegetable Chemistry has not yet obtained the same cer- 

 tainty and attention as Mineral Chemistry. It is now emerging 

 from the Clouds of ancient errors, and becoming a Science ofde* 

 cided importance, 



11. A small portion as yet of the endless chemical Constituenta 

 of all the plants, has become known. 



12. A long time will be required before the 60,000 knowtl 

 plants be^analyzed, or even the 5000 Speciesdfisrorth America. 



13. But some Substances are common to many different plants, 

 and each active Genus has generally the same active principles. 



14- The special knowledge of this branch of Medical Botany 

 must be sought for in the Chemical Works. We shall merely 

 give here a small Table of*" the principal Orders and Genera, 

 lately detected and well ascertained. 



15. It must be remembered that every plant contains many 

 Elementary bodies, and that these Bodies are all reducible to 

 their pristine Si nple Elements. 



16. It is not our purpose to designate the properties of these 

 Vegetable Substances. This knowledge constitutes Medical 

 Chemistry, a new Science, or branch of Pharmacy. 



CHEMICAL TABLE, 



\ 



I. Class— MINERAL ELEMENTS— 5 Orders, 



1. Order. SIMPLE ETHERIAL. G. Caloric. Light, Oxi^ 

 gene. Hydrogene. Azote. 



2. Order. SLMPLE and COMBUSTIBLE. G. Sulphur. Car- 

 bone. Phosphore* 



3. Order. SIMPLE and oklDABLE. G. The Metals. 



4. Order. OXIDES. G. Airs. Waters. Limes, Potashes. 

 Ahimines. Chalybates. Silicates, &c, 



5. Order. SALTS. G. Carbonates. Citrates, Fungatfes, Muri- 

 4tes. Malates. Gallates. Nitrates. Oxalates. Phosphates. Sul* 



fates. Tartrates, &c. 



