ii. INTRODUCTION. 



had for gathering, will answer the same pur- 

 pose. 



However, as there are cases, in which more help 

 may be had from drugs brought from abroad than 

 from any thing we can procure at home, an account 

 of those roots, barks, seeds, gums, and other veget- 

 able productions, kept by the druggists and apothe- 

 caries, is also added ; and of the several trees p.nd 

 plants from which thev are obtained ; together with 

 their virtues 



This woru. therefore, will tend to instruct those 

 charitable ladies who may be desirous of giving 

 this great relief to the aftl-cted poor in their neigh- 

 bourhood, and to remind apothecaries of what 

 they had before studied : but the first mentioned 

 purpose is by much the most useful, and the most 

 considerable, and for this reason the greatest regard 

 is paid to it. 



The plants are disposed in the alphabet, ac- 

 cording to their English names, that they may be 

 turned to the more readily ; and an account is 

 given, in two or three lines, of their general as- 

 pect and place of growth, that those who in part 

 know them already, may understand them at once : 

 if they are not perfectly known from this, a more 

 particular description is added, by observing which, 

 they cannot be mistaken or confounded with any 

 others ; and after this follow, not only their virtues, 

 as others are content to set them down, but the part 

 of each plant which contains them in most perfection 

 is named, and the manner in which they may best be 

 given. 



With regard to the virtues of plants, it has been 

 the custom to attribute too many to most of them i 

 so much is said more than the truth on these oc- 

 casion*. that those who would be informed, know 



