Introduction 17 



Then, too, H. C. Wood, Sr., followed up in America 

 the scientific method of Trousseau, and he had an 

 immense influence here. 



Probably the last prominent proponent of the 

 botanic remedies in so-called "Regular" practice 

 was Robert Bartholow. A most able man, as he 

 was, yet his was not the scientific method; and there 

 has been no prominent writer since who adhered 

 so closely to the empiric method in the study of 

 materia medica. 



Laurence Johnson lists 4 upwards of two hundred 

 medicinal plants as indigenous to North America, 

 principally in the United States. He does not pre- 

 tend to list all of them, and few of those peculiar 

 to Mexico and Central America. This is both an 

 encouragement and a discouragement an encour- 

 agement in that so great a diversity is ours and a 

 discouragement in that we shall be tempted to use 

 too much of it. Even to-day we are making foolish 

 additions to materia medica. 



This brief review of the history of botanic medi- 

 cation prepares the way for some considerations 

 quite necessary for us to face if we hope to place 

 plant remedies upon a scientific basis. 



INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION 



The study of botany is neglected in our medical 

 colleges; so it is too often forgotten that plants are 

 just as definitely related to each other as are in- 

 organic chemical compounds. Credulity, as in- 

 volves botanic remedies, is proportional to ig- 

 norance of botanical relationships. We may in 

 our neighborhood know the Smith family and their 



* "A Manual of the Medical Botany of North America." 

 2 



