^ B 



PREFACE. 



In the whole catalogue of the Materia Medica, the productions 

 of the animal and mineral kingdom bear a small proportion to 

 those of the vegetable. Though it must be acknowledged that, fur 

 some time past, the medicinal uses of vegetable simples have been 

 less regarded by physicians than they were formerly, which probably 

 may be ascribed to the successive discoveries and improvements in 

 chemistry ; it would, however, be difficult to show that this prefer- 

 ence is supported by any conclusive reasoning, drawn from a com 

 parative superiority of chemicals over galenicals, or that the more 

 general use of the former has actually led to a more successful 

 practice. 



The various American works on Botany have given but very 

 limited portions of the vegetable kingdom ; yet limited as they are, 

 few medical practitioners have a distinct botanical knowledge of the 

 individual plants of which they are composed, though generally well 

 acquainted with their effects and medical uses. But the practitioner 

 who is unable to distinguish those plants which he prescribes, is not 

 only subjected to the impositions of the ignorant and fraudulent, but 

 must feel a dissatisfaction which the inquisitive and philosophic 

 mind will be anxious to remove, and to such, it is presumed, the 

 American Flora will be found an acceptable and useful work ; the 



