Inaugural Address. 65 
and medical botany are two different sciences; whereas, the 
one is but a part of the other, just as the fruit is but a part 
and production of the tree on which it grows. Hence, it 
must be evident that there areno means practicable of learn- 
ing just so much, and so much only, of the philosophy of the 
vegetable world, as may be immediately applicable to the 
purposes of medicine, without at the same time studying the 
science as a whole; and this could alone efficiently be done 
by making it an independent subject for instruction, and 
enacting that an attendance on botanical lectures should 
henceforth become an essential part of every student's duty; 
for, without such knowledge, no medical education can be 
truly esteemed complete. ‘he junction of botany to materia 
medica is absurd, as one must, of necessity, be neglected; for 
if, in the time allotted to the course, equal attention be paid 
to both, both will be imperfectly and unsatisfactorily taught. 
The courses must be kept essentially distinct, even when de- 
livered by the same professor. If, in the infancy of physic, 
their union was tolerated, and botany studied merely because 
some plants afforded medicines, such an occultation no 
longer can be borne. Both sciences, by such a scheme, are 
injured, and keep each other, as it were, in thraldom. They 
are both sufficiently extensive and important to form separate 
studies. 
The advantages resulting from the division of labour 
are too well known, and have been too long established, 
to need illustration here; and our Society, although akin 
to others, of which it would almost seem an emanation, 
has objects as important and distinct as those have from 
their antitypes. Thus, the Royal Society, which at first, 
and in our infant days of science, included in its foster- 
ing arms every department of philosophy, soon gave rise 
to other associations for the especial advancement of par- 
ticular sciences: such as the Antiquarian Society, for 
archeological researches; the Linnean Society, for the 
encouragement of natural history, whence the Horticultural, 
the Agricultural, the Medico-Botanical, and Zoological So- 
cieties have sprung. ‘Thus, as science advances, each sepa- 
rate branch, arriving at maturity, quits the parent institution 
which nurtured it in youth; and hence there has arisen that 
brilliant galaxy of British associations, of which our country 
justly boasts, as the Royal Society, the Royal Society of 
Literature, the Royal Institution, the Medical and Medico- 
Chirurgical Societies, the Geological, Geographical, Astrono- 
mical, and numerous other learned associations, all striving in 
honourable warfare against indolence and error, all apieed 
kK 
