357 



proper credit to each individual for the materials furnished, We 

 received prompt answers from Drs. S. W. Williams, of Mass. ? 

 Phelps of Vermont, and F. P. Porcher of South Carolina; promis- 

 ing to enter on their duties with industry and pleasure. It was 

 our plan to make up a catalogue, embracing all the plants claimed 

 as medicinal in the whole country, based on catalogues presented by 

 members of the committee in the several States. But only two 

 members have furnished catalogues, or, indeed, a single item of 

 knowledge of any kind, and these were presented at so late a period 

 that they could not be used in making this report. That of Dr. 

 Williams was sent me some two weeks since, and the other by F. P. 

 Porcher, M.D., has only been sent in since the present session com- 

 menced. Hence no general catalogue has been made ; but this is 

 the less to be regretted as another year's delay will render it more 

 complete and valuable. Another part of our plan was to take up 

 a limited number of plants, whose properties and value were not 

 well understood, and investigate them thoroughly in regard to the 

 following points, viz: 1st. What is their mode of action on the 

 human system, and to what parts of the system is their action par- 

 ticularly directed? 2d. What morbid indications are they well 

 adapted to fulfil? and 3d. In which of their proximate principles 

 does their medicinal properties reside, and what the best mode of 

 preparation and administration? By such an investigation carried 

 on from year to year, we hoped to succeed in placing the reputation 

 of our indigenous remedies on some more substantial basis, than that 

 of mere hearsay evidence or the report that they had been at some 

 remote period used among the Indian tribes. It will he seen that 

 we have this year made no more than a bare beginning, but we 

 hope that our labours will be sufficient to induce the Association to 

 continue the subject in the hands of a good working committee. 



Our analysis of the plants, mentioned in this report, is not quite 

 so complete as we desired, and hence the results must be reserved 

 until the next meeting of the Association. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



N. S. DAVIS, 



Chairman of Committee. 

 New York, Jpril 29th, 1848. 



