INTRODUCTION. 
Together with his brother, Mr. C. G. Lloyd, the writer began, in 
1884, a quarterly publication entitled Drugs and Medicines of North 
America, with the object of considering, consecutively, the American 
remedial agents then in use by members of the various professions of 
medicine in America. It was planned to give the historical record of 
every American medicinal plant, as well as its pharmaceutical prepara- 
tions, whether Pharmacopeial or otherwise. The literature on the sub- 
ject being largely Americana, the authors believed that they were in a 
position to do passable justice to the subject, inasmuch as they had, for 
a number of years, given much study in that direction. 
This publication was kindly received by the medical and pharma- 
ceutical professions of America, as well as by scientists throughout 
the world. However, notwithstanding the cordial reception of the 
work, its authors became convinced that, before going further in this 
direction, much reference literature not then at their command should 
be provided. Owing to this fact, and to the increasing cares of busi- 
ness, and notwithstanding the additions that were continually being 
made to their libraries, the publication was reluctantly suspended with 
Number 5 of Volume II, which appeared in June, 1887. 
With the hope of again resuming the work thus temporarily (as 
it was hoped) laid aside, even more persistent efforts were made to 
collect books, pamphlets, essays, travelers’ narratives, and other litera- 
ture concerning the American materia medica, as well as foreign publi- 
cations, botanical and otherwise, connected with the discovery, intro- 
duction, or uses of medicinal plants generally. But now, when the 
literature on the subject is at last passably satisfactory, the authors 
comprehend that it is too late for them to hope to resume, much less 
complete, a work after the nature and plan of Drugs and Medicines of 
North America. 
This definite abandonment of a plan long so ardently cherished, 
is due, not to the cooling of enthusiasm, but to the multiplicity of duties 
in other directions, linked with the enervating touch of this writer’s 
more than threescore years. It is earnestly hoped, however, that the 
connected data brought together in the Lloyd Library through so many 
years of earnest effort on the part of its founders, and now donated 
to the world of science, may some day be happily utilized in the re- 
sumption of this work by persons younger and less burdened by cares. 
Disappointment not Altogether Fruitless—However, the efforts 
of the authors of Drugs and Medicines of North America were not 
altogether fruitless. The publication led to many delightful corre- 
spondences with men concerned in like directions, both at home and 
abroad. Among these may be named the renowned Professor Friedrich _ 
A. Fliickiger, (of Strassburg University) Germany, then, perhaps, 
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