LECT. I.] SCIENCE OF BOTANY. 25 



adds grace to the medical character. Did I wish 

 to select examples in support of this remark, I 

 need only point to the works of Prosper Alpinus, 

 Sir Hans Sloane, Malpighi, Haller, Alston, Lewis, 

 and of our own contemporary, the indefatigable 

 Orfila. A practitioner, indeed, unacquainted with 

 Botany, may know the names of many plants and 

 their uses ; he may even gain a knowledge of the 

 physiognomy of a few of them ; but his ideas are 

 obscure and confused; his ignorance may often be 

 rendered conspicuous where he would most desire 

 to conceal it ; and it lays him open to the arts of 

 the designing, and of those who would wish to ex- 

 pose him. Of the advantages which the profession 

 has derived from the labours of Botanists, I need 

 mention a very few only of many examples that 

 might be adduced : the reintroduction of the Fox- 

 glove by Dr. Withering, as a remedy for dropsies, 

 and the recent extension to this country of the 

 Pyrola umbellata, and the Gurn Acaroides. As 

 many of the medicinal plants appear as common 

 weeds, a medical man ought to be able to distin- 

 guish these when required ; and, in the case of ve- 

 getable poisons, nothing will sink him more in the 

 opinion of others, than his appearing ignorant of 

 the plant which has occasioned the mischief; 

 while nothing will raise him more in their esteem 

 than his being able to point out its distinguishing 

 characteristics^ by which it may be known and 



