INTRODUCTION. 15 



joyment in the contemplation of their beautiful forms and co- 

 lours ; in their fragrance, by which, in their peculiar language, 

 they seem to hold secret communion with our minds ; He has 

 not only given them for our food and clothing, but with kind, 

 parental care, has, in them, provided powers to counteract 

 and remove the diseases to which mankind are subject. 

 For many ages plants were the only medicines known, or 

 used ; but modern discoveries in Chemistry, by forming com- 

 pounds of previously existing elements, have, in some degree, 

 superseded their use. Although the science of medicine has 

 received much additional, light from Chemistry, it may perhaps 

 in modern days have occupied the attention of medical men too 

 exclusively ; inducing them to toil in their laboratories to form 

 those combinations which nature had done, much more per- 

 fectly, in the plants which they pass unheeded. It is probable 

 that the medicinal productions of the animal and mineral king- 

 doms, bear but a small proportion to those of the vegetable. 



When our forefathers came to this country, they found the 

 natives in possession of much medical knowledge of plants. 

 Having no remedies prepared by scientific skill, the Indians 

 were led, by necessity, to the use of those which nature offered 

 them ; and, by experience and observation, they had arrived at 

 many valuable conclusions as to the qualities of plants. Their 

 mode of life, leading them to penetrate the shades of the forest, 

 and to climb the mountain precipices, naturally associated them 

 much with the vegetable world. The Indian woman, the pa- 

 tient sharer in these excursions, was led to look for such plants 

 as she might use for the diseases of her family. Each new 

 and curious plant, though not viewed by her as a botanist 

 would now behold it, doubJess was regarded with scrutinizing 

 attention; the colour, taste, and smell, were carefully re- 

 marked as indications of its properties. But the discoveries 

 and obsorvations of the Indians have perished with themselves; 

 having no system for the classification or description of plants, 

 nor any written language by which such a system might have 

 bean conveyed to others, no vestige, but uncertain tradition, re- 

 mains of their knowledge of the medicinal qualities of plants. 



The study of nature in any of her varieties is highly interest- 

 ing and usjful. But the heavenly bodies are far distant from 

 us, and were they within our reach,, are too mighty for us to 

 grasp ; our feeble minds seem overwhelmed in the contempla- 

 tion of their immensity. 



Animals, though affording the most striking marks of design- 



Experienes of the Indians with respect to plants Medicinal virtues of 

 plants Heavenly bodies Animals. 



