XH PREFACE. 



without knowing their origins^ preparations^ com- 

 bination of principles, or the exact line of distinc- 

 tion that renders them salutari/ remedies or power^ 

 ful poisons f 



It is also highly necessary to introduce a mattcj: 

 perfectly applicable to the subject of investigation, 

 as an imposition very little known (except to the 

 faculty); and is a palpable disgrace to that body, 

 of which every profes:»or of medicine constitutes a 

 member. It is the common and scandalous adulte- 

 ration of drugSj a practice too prevalent amongst 

 the druggists in the Tiu'tropoli.^:, as well as the coun- 

 try; who, fiom the predominant passion Oif gain, 

 so curiously adulterate, as to deceive even those 

 who consider themselves adepts in deception. And 

 this, to be better enabled to undersell their compe- 

 titors, convinced, by experience, the majority of 

 FARRiLKS admit the medicines that can be puj*- 

 chased cheapest to be much the rest. 



These circumstances are not introduced or ha- 

 zarded as matters of opinion, bus as palpable facts 

 that speak home to every reader of judgment or 

 experience; and sufficiently indicate the necessity 

 of circulating, from medical authority, the present 

 improved system of modern composition, universally 

 adopted and generally approved, to the approach- 

 ing extermination of empiriccd practice and dcui". 

 gcrous experiviiciit. This publication being under- 



