VI - INTRODUCTION. 



they are either prepared from bad or damaged 

 articles, or are considerably adulterated. Besides, 

 as seeds mostly contain a large portion of essential 

 oil, if they are kept in a pulverized state, they will 

 soon lose their volatile matter, in which their 

 medical qualities chiefly reside. 



Such is the design which the author has at- 

 tempted to accomplish : with what success, the 

 intelligent practitioner and a candid public will 

 now decide. That the following pages are en- 

 tirely free from deficiencies, is more, perhaps, than 

 he is entitled to expect ; but if, in its present im- 

 proved state, it should again be honoured by a 

 portion of that approbation which has been con- 

 ferred on his former labours, he will be abundantly 

 compensated for the time and attention which he 

 has bestowed upon the present edition, in order 

 to render it worthy of public acceptance. 



