2 Btgelow on the Medical Botany of Ohio. [Nov. 



is necessary that every member of the Profession in Ohio, 

 should co-operate in the collection and diffusion of facts, in 

 this branch of medical progress. And I hereby cordially in- 

 vite every member of the Profession, to participate in the du- 

 ties of the commissions ■ t*Ke* field open for investigation, 

 being go fertile .and extensive, J propose, that those who prefer, 

 c JiLffi^ e their reports; 'directly to the Society. Those who do 

 not, but are willing to perform some service in the Profession, 

 may address me at Lancaster; by the 10th of April, 1850, 

 any communications, facts, or suggestions upon this interest- 

 ing subject, and their clahnsjto^notoriety, shall be honorably 

 and faithfully observed. If any member should obtain facts in 

 relation to the medicinal qualities of plants, the natural order 

 and botanical namesbf which,he is notfamiliar with, on his for- 

 warding me by mail, or otherwise, a dried specimen, Iwillaf- 

 fB^drhim . all'the .i'h'fbrmatjio'A^fe'f^^yhich I am capable. Rare 

 pMtits, alsb, without reference to their medicinal qualities, not 

 enumerated in the Catalogues 'heretofore mentioned, tending to 

 elucidate the Botany of the 'Western States, will be most 

 tfiknkf ally received, and the favor reciprocated. 



There are^ s% many-" ^our'cfes'b'f;. fallacy surrounding this 

 branch of our profession, ;t,hat whoever attempts to embody a 

 system in accordance with the true;principles of science, will 

 rii%'e|; wit i difficulties on. .every hand; the same that are en- 

 colimerbd on all other subjects, not demonstrable with math- 

 ematical certainty. Adverting to a few of them in this con- 

 nl'etibrt, will nofrbe altogether out Of place. Some of these 

 difficulties areinherentin the'subject, and will probably never 

 be^nolly obviated. Others can, 1 in a measure, be guarded 

 a|fatnst, by a rigid a^dhesioh, to the inductive philosophy. I 

 bWtieve, many tithesVmedieines c 6f the vegetable kingdom ac- 

 quire the re nutation, of j^ qualities, from ad- 

 ventitious circumstances; iind we ougiit to be satisfied, only, 

 with the observed effects of them, under repeated, and every 

 variety bf circumstances .that -c&n be obtained. 



The time ;for gathering, and; the rbaphep of preparing plants 

 ftft medicinal purposes, are: important; and should be carefully 

 OD^erved: I do notion ow'the;best.ti.mc for gathering all plants, 

 yet .general* ruIesHviil guide usj in scfme degree, though not 

 Without exceptiOnsV With 'many j*tants,.it is absolutely nec- 

 essary to' gather tftenr: every year.^Others will retain their ac- 

 tivity a number of years; but, as a general rule they should 

 Collected every year. - ,\ i __j - 



D Prof. Wqob,'ih 4n^>"p^kc/or?/ delivered to his class in 18-10, 

 observed that SuqEP,F,' 50' years ago,' advanced the opinion, 

 " tfha¥^el^ing h^n tneir^a^lve're^bdrc'es/the^Americans might 



