THOUGH the arrangement adopted in this volume, is sufficiently 
plain to the student,. it may not be amiss to make a few remarks : 
en the advantages it presents, for acquiring a knowledge of the 
subjects of Materia Medica. It will be perceived, that a reference 
is made, under each number, to the specimens of the articles treat- 
ed of under it, which belong to my Cabinet of Materia Medica and 
Botany in Jefferson College. This cabinet is the result of a gradu-_ 
ally increased collection of interesting specimens, and fine figures 
-of all the medicinal plants of the Materia Medica, during eleven’ 
years that I have been a Professor, and Teacher of Botany, Vegeta- 
ble Materia Medica, and Vegetable Toxicology, in the University — 
of Pennsylvania. Many of the more-rare specimens have been con- 
_ tributed by my eminent correspondents, Professors in the different 
Universities of the Continent of Europe; especially by Professor 
Mertens of Bremen; Professor Schrader of Gottingen ; Professor 
Sprengel of Halle; Professors Desfontain and Thoiiin of Paris; and 
many highly valuable specimens from Professor Horneman of the 
University of Copenhagen, whose liberality has been usefully pro- 
pitiated by my friend, his excellency, Mr. Pedersen, late minister 
from Denmark to the United States. To my pupils, in the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania, during the period mentioned, the Cabinet 
is also indebted for many; and for some rare specimens from the _ 
West Indies, and from Louisiana, it stands indebted to my secitite. git 
35 George Terrill, M. D. and Henry W. Bassett, M. D. 
b f the United States Navys two gentlemen who eae a 
tributed to science, by. pursuing assiduously the official recom-_ ; 
mendation given to the junior medical officers of the service, by the | 
Hon. Samuel L. Southard, Secretary of the ‘Navy, toayail them-— 
selves of the opportunities their continuance in this city during a 
respite from duty, afforded them, of cultivating the Science of 
Botany ; a recommendation, being one of the numerous acts of that 
distinguished director of the navy, which has elevated the dignity, 
respectability, and usefulness, of its Medical Corps. 
fl The whole cabinet, I venture to believe, when arranged, which 
~ from its extent has heretofore been impracticable, owing to a want 
of suitable apartments, will constitute the most complete collee- 
