1842.] Manual of Chemistry. 299 



and also enable him to prepare economically and independently of the 

 manufacture in Europe, those chemical preparations which are found so 

 valuable in European medical science. It will enable him to correct 

 and to apprehend the absurdity of many incongruous preparations now 

 ignorantly made use of by Native practitioners, and understand the 

 effects of many which are very mischievous. 



A knowledge of Chemistry will enable him to ascertain the quality 

 and properties of the juice of plants, and the decoction of leaves and 

 bark of trees, many of which have been found very valuable in Native 

 practice, and which afford to the skilful chemist a cheap and econo- 

 mical substitute for the more costly chemical preparations employed 

 by Europeans. 



It will enable him to prescribe antidotes for the frequent attempts at 

 murder, perpetrated but too often with impunity by poison, among the 

 Native community, upon the slightest personal pique, or feeling of 

 revenge or resentment ; but which will receive a severe check from a 

 certainty of detection and conviction, if persons competent to examine 

 into the circumstances were at hand. 



To the European amateur, extensive opportunities for the useful and 

 gratifying practices of Chemistry present themselves, with investigations 

 of the mineral resources of the country. In the investigations of 

 the properties and composition of the juices of numerous plants 

 and trees indigenous to this country, but which in Europe cannot 

 be obtained, except in a state of partial decomposition ; and the oriental 

 chemist has thus laid open to him a vast field of research, in the pursuit 

 of which he may find the highest gratification, and engross to himself 

 opportunities, which the perhaps more generally skilful chemist of Europe 

 may envy in vain. 



If his ambition lead him to seek a higher field, and measure his skill 

 against that of European proficients, there are numerous chemical com- 

 pounds which have been as yet but imperfectly examined, and upon 

 which his analytical researches may be most usefully employed ; while 

 the extensive leisure which many of the officers in the employ of the 

 Government possess, the cheapness of fuel and labour, may enable any 

 one, if he is diligent and enterprising, to seize upon some of those 

 honors which distinguished scientific knowledge has ever received in all 



countries. 



2 R 



