IV PREFACE. 



He has avoided the technical terms of 

 Botany as much as the subject would pos- 

 sibly allow ; keeping in mind the advice of 

 an ancient poet, who says, 



'A/uadiarepov <j>pdaop icai aatyiarzpov. 



" Speak with less shew of learning, so it be with 

 more perspicuity." 



And the extracts from medical works have, 

 on the same principle, been as much sim- 

 plified as the nature of the subject would 

 properly admit. 



In giving the medicinal qualities of the 

 plants, the Author's intention is to make 

 their various properties known, in order that 

 the prescriptions of the physician may not be 

 counteracted by the effects of an improper 

 vegetable diet ; not to induce the inexperi- 

 enced to tamper with their constitutions, 

 by means of the powerful juices of physical 

 herbs, which are not more beneficial when 

 skilfully applied, than they are baneful when 

 administered unseasonably by the ignorant. 



