x | Preliminary Observations. 
in a country like ours, rich in the production of new and curious 
plants, domestic medicine would be neglected by the natives or in- 
habitants ; or that the practitioner who might think proper to em- 
ploy indigenous medicinal plants in his practice, would stand in need 
of useful remedies. Accordingly we find, that not only the Indians 
of our country, and the European inhabitants who emigrated hither, 
but the farmers who were scattonade over its extensive territory, had. 
long been in the habi tof curing ' > common diseases incidental to 
their state of life, by means Sof ihn scrke vicinal plants. Many of 
the vegetables thus employed had considerable reputation. It is not 
unlikely that some were undeservedly praised, while it would be un- 
reasonable to suppose that all of those which had acquired repute, 
were undeserving attention. Dr. Shepf, however, set himself as- 
siduously to investigate all such plants as were reputed to possess 
medicinal powers; and, satisfying himself, by. ocular proof, of the 
real species in question, he was enabled, by ascertaining their_bota- 
nical characters and history, to’ present us with Some e certain facts 
for. faenre, RS nd Aisi be gu babe a 
mum Regni Vegctibis’ This pecioenneaoe laid the Pel i, of a 
the information we now possess, concerning our native medicinal 
plants. Besides this work, a paper was published i in the Ameenitates 
Academicze, (vol. iv. Dissertatio LXXII. p. 522.) entitled Specifica 
Canadensium, in a miich ~eosende the author, enumerated and daa 
some few indigenous medicin: " 
1798, the late - peal Durtom-rén 
2 
