TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 



This translation was undertaken with the especial object of 

 facilitating the study of the native medicinal plants by the 

 numerous medical officers stationed at small posts throughout 

 the Philippines. In order to aid in the recognition of these 

 plants, the botanical descriptions have been revised to the ex- 

 tent of adding, where possible, the size and shape of the plant, 

 English name, length of leaves, color of flowers, etc., in many 

 instances supplying the entire botanical description where it 

 had been omitted on account of general familiarity with the 

 plant. Comparing the few analyses that I have had an oppor- 

 tunity to make with corresponding ones in the native works 

 from which Dr. Tavera has taken his botanical descriptions, I 

 am impressed with the necessity for a revision of the Botany of 

 the Philippines. However, as the therapeutic properties of the 

 flora are of foremost interest to the medical profession I have 

 not hesitated to publish the book in its present form as an enter- 

 ing wedge, leaving to those better fitted the great work of classi- 

 fying the flora of these islands in accordance with modern botan- 

 ical science. 



Dr. Tavera has faithfully described the Malay and Hindu 

 therapeutics of the present day, enriching his description by ob- 

 servations founded on a long practice in Paris and in his own 

 native Luzon. From this potpourri of scientific therapeutics 

 and ignorant, superstitious drugging the interested physician 

 will elicit not a few useful data concerning the treatment of 

 disease in the tropics, and at the same, time gain a more inti- 

 mate knowledge of both the people and plants of our new Asiatic 

 possessions. 



I take this occasion to gratefully acknowledge my obliga- 

 tions to Mr. A. P. Tonielli, stenographer and translator of the 

 Supreme Court of the Philippines, for typewriting the manu- 

 script of this translation. 



Jerome B. Thomas, Jr. 



Manila, P. I. 



