INTRODUCTION. U 



Chemistry, by forming compomids of previously existing ele- 

 ments, have, in some degree, superseded their use. Although 

 the science of medicine has received much additional light 

 from Chemistry, it may in modern days have occupied the at- 

 tention of medical men too exclusively ; inducing them to toil 

 in their laboratories to form those combinations which natur«^ 

 has done more perfectly in the plants which they pass un- 

 heeded ; for, in reality, the medicinal productions of the animal 

 and mineral kino;doms bear but a small proportion to those ot 

 the vegetable. . w hen our forefathers came to this country, 

 they found the natives in possession of much medical knowl- 

 edge 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 observa- 

 tion, they had arrived at many valuable conclusions as to the 

 qualities of plants. Their mode of life, leading them to pene- 

 trate the shades of the forest, and to climb the mountain preci- 

 pices, naturally associated them much with the vegetable 

 world. The Indian woman, the patient sharer in these excur- 

 sions, 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 with the eye of a botanist, was regarded 

 with scrutinizing attention ; the color, taste, and smell were 

 carefully remarked, as indications of its properties. But the 

 discoveries and observations of the Indians have perished with 

 themselves ; having had no system for the classification or de- 

 scription of plants, nor any written language by which such a 

 system might have been conveyed to others, no other vestige 

 remains than uncertain tradition, of their knowledge of the 

 medicinal qualities of plants. 



5. The study of nature, in all her forms, is highly interesting 

 and useful. But the Tieo/venly todies are far distant from us ; — 

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

 grasp ; our feeble minds are overwhelmed in the contemplation 

 of their immensity. Animals^ though affording the most strik 

 ing marks of designing wisdom, cannot be dissected and ex- 

 amined without painful emotions. The vegetable world ofters a 

 boundless field of inquiry, which may be explored with the 

 most pure and delightful emotions. Here, the Almighty mani- 

 fests himself to us, with less of that dazzling sublimity which 

 it is almost painful to behold in His more magnificent crea- 

 tions ; and it would seem that, accommodating the vegetable 

 world to our capacities of observation, He had especially de- 

 signed it for our study and amusement, as well as om- sus- 

 tenance and comfort. 



Experieno« of the Indians wiUi r«8p«et to planU.— 5. Study of nature— Variont departmenU. 



