INTRODUCTION, XUV 



kidneys, in the stomach, or even in the intestinal' 

 canal, we might then be able to detect their viodiis 

 operandi also. 



\ni\\t Bengal Dispensatory^ p. 162, it is said of 

 Ranunculeae^ — " They are extremely acrid and corro- 

 sive ; and so unmanageable, as to be excluded from 

 medical use by all modern practitioners." It would, 

 indeed, be much better to desist from using such- 

 strong medicaments altogether, when they are em- 

 ployed in undiluted doses only. It is really piti- 

 able when all other arts and sciences have made 

 such important progress, that medicine alone should' 

 continue stationary ; that its professors, from an- 

 unwillingness to investigate the nature, virtue, or 

 proper use of medicinal substances, should fancy 

 themselves bound to condemn simple yet efficacious 

 plants to oblivion, as things which providence has 

 created for the delight of our eyes only, and which 

 are sure to injure us, should we attempt to use 

 them ! Almost all the plants which were employed! 

 formerly, have met with this fate. Where are the 

 Salvia, the Ruta, Euphrasia,. Imperatoria ? As for 

 the deadly poisons,. Calomel and Opium ! these 

 glitter as fatally brilliant in the East Indian medi- 

 cinal horizon, as they do among English physicianSi 

 How beautiful and true are the lines of Shakes- 

 peare — 



O, mickle is the powerful grace, that lies 

 In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities : 

 For naught so vile, that on the earth doth live, 

 But to the earth some special good doth give ; 

 Nor aught so good, but strained from that fair use, 

 Revolts from true birth, sturabling^on abuse. 



