Vill PREFACE. 
with the disease, they fail to produce benefit; while, in 
the practice of allopathy, the carelessness of a chemical pre- 
paration, the ignorance or thoughtlessness of an assistant, 
may produce consequences the most lamentable and dan- 
gerous. And let it be remembered, that a// medicines, in 
large doses, act poisonously upon the human system, 
modified by idiosyncrasy and other causes, from common 
uritation of the membranes, to ulceration, paralysis, and 
death. 
In arranging the notices of each plant under different 
heads, the Author has given: Ist, its botanical cha- 
racteristics. 2nd, its history, as well as the uses of the 
plant in allopathic practice, for the purpose of comparison. 
3rd, a botanical and general description to identify the 
species. 4th, the geographical distribution and locali- 
ties, as far as they are known, according to the latest 
authors. 5th, the physiological effects on man and ani- 
mals; a most important study in connection with our 
investigation of the pathogenetic effects of medicine on the 
human organism. 6th, the parts of the plant used, and 
the mode of preparation. 7th, the general uses of the 
plant, homeopathically considered ; and from Hahnemann’s 
useful and instructive remarks much valuable knowledge 
may be gained. Noack and Trinks’s clinical observations 
will be found interesting, in comparing the various diseases 
for which | each drug has been given under the different 
systems of medicine. | : 
The Author gladly seizes this occasion to offer his 
cordial thanks to those kind friends who have assisted 
him in the illustrations of his work, both as regards the 
original drawings and the lithographic execution. To Mr. 
