INTRODUCTION. 2 
13. The present work on Botany will embrace 
VEGETABLE ANATOMY 
VeGETABLE PaystoLocy 
BorantcaL TERMINOLOGY ; 
BorantcaL Taxonomy; 
constituting the principles of general Botany, and which will 
enable the student to understand the arrangement and de- 
scriptions in any Fiora ; and 
Those details in the History of the Natural Families, 
which are interesting to the medical student.* 
\ or GeNERAL PuyToLocy ; 
14. We have above attempted to convey a general sketch 
of what the science of Botany embraces, that the student 
may have some idea of the field of study on which he is 
about to enter, and the path to be pursued. In commencing 
the study, it would be desirable if we could also furnish him 
eaten. of Botany, that he may know the limits by which 
plants are separated from other bodies, and have a correct 
ss notion a what are to be the objects of examination. 
15, This, however strange it may appear, it is impossible 
to do, except in a general way. ‘There is not one absolute 
and exclusive character by which a plant can be defined, 
which would include all plants, and exclude all objects but 
plants. A mathematical figure can be defined with great — 
precision, as for example, a PARALLELOGRAM, —a plane 
right-lined four-sided figure, of which the opposite sides are _ 
parallel to each other. This is precise: it describes that | 
particular figure, and cannot be applied to any other figure. _ 
as there are none such belonging to plants which are not — 
found in animals. Nor can we distinguish them by nega- 
ves, as there are many undoubted animals; which yet ap- 
Dose te cuatro te Fain nla wer Taxon. 
with a precise definition of a plant in general, the subject _ 
But it is not so with the objects which compose the vegeta-_ = 
ble kingdom. We cannot define them by positive qualities, 
