JV PREFACE. 



profos.seil dcsi^r. of v. Lull is uol only to enable the reader to dis- 

 tinguish with prccisiou all those plants which are directed for med- 

 ical use, and to furnish him at the same time wiih a circumstantial 

 detail of their respective virtues, and of the diseases in which they 

 have been most successfully employed by different authors. 



A child may walk into the field, and amuse himself with the 

 groups of flowers which there present themselves to his notice. He 

 may be able to distinguish between the Tulip and the Snowdrop, 

 the Rose and the Lili/, and be delighted with their external beauties 

 and rich varieties; but it is the liotanist alone, who by an accu- 

 rate knowledge of the various parts of the plant, can expatiate on 

 its wonderful formation. 



If, then, a knowledge of Botany is so necessary to men of 

 science and general literature, it must be obvious that those plants in 

 the vegetable kingdom which possess medicinal properties, ought 

 certainly to attract the attention of medical men. 



The Author has the satisfaction of introducing many rare and 

 valuable plants, which have never been completely portrayed in any 

 preceding work whatever, embracing all the Wild Flowers of 

 America, all beautifully colored, and their drawings taken from 

 nature ; and by subjoining a botanical description, natural and medi- 

 cal liistory of each species, curiosity is more fully giatified, and a 

 double interest is excited in the mind of the student. 



