4 Bigelow on the Medical Botany of Ohio. [Nov. 



The same care must be observed in drying leaves, in order to 

 preserve their natural color. The time, in general, to collect 

 leaves, is after the flowers have expanded, and before the seeds 

 ripen. I believe however our Cassias should not be gathered 

 until the fruit ripens. It is important to remark that the leaves 

 of biennials should not be collected until their second season 

 of growth, while the roots are only fit for use their first. 



The best season for the collection of barks, is when they can 

 be most easily separated from the wood. In all cases, they 

 should be procured before the flowers are produced, or after 

 the re-productive process is terminated, as at this time, all other 

 portions of its structure are deprived of their usual proportion 

 of proper juices to be directed to the elaboration of the organs 

 necessary for the re-productive functions. Those that have 

 attained their full powers, are best. The very young, or very 

 old, should be rejected. 



When woody stems are to be collected, the proper season is 

 winter, as at this time the wood furnishes a greater quantity 

 of extract. If they are herbaceous, they should be gathered 

 after the leaves are fully formed, and before the flowers are 

 expanded. 



Roots of perennial plants, should be collected late in the 

 Autumn, in Winter, or early in the Spring. Biennials should 

 be collected in the Autumn of their first year, on the disap- 

 pearance of the leaves. And the roots of annuals, in the Au- 

 tumn, before the decay of the stems. Much of the activity of 

 plants depend upon an observance of these simple rules ; yet 

 they are, by no means absolute, requiring variation, some- 

 times, in accordance with the peculiar plants, and in others 

 with the parts required for use. Cultivation, dryness, or wet- 

 ness of the particular season and locality, have much influ- 

 ence upon the virtues of many species, all of which should be 

 specially noted in making up their exact history. 



When it is remembered, with what difficulty the physician 

 is embarrassed, in adjusting the doses of old and well estab- 

 lished medicines, to the various pathological conditions of his 

 patients, it will not be a matter of surprise, that, in the exact 

 establishment of the effects and properties of new and untried 

 ones, our difficulties should be greatly enhanced. In the for- 

 mer, we have the experience and observations of the most en- 

 lightened minds for ages, upon the subject to serve us as guides; 

 while in the latter we have to grope our way in utter darkness 

 — like a way-faring man, cutting his path through a perfect 

 wilderness. I have little doubt, but that many articles, which 

 are at present laid by, from a loss of the reputation they once 

 held, induced by the want of a proper appreciation of the 



