[ 647 ] 
LI. 
A COMMENTAEY ON THE COLLOQUIES OF GARCIA De 
ORTA, ON THE SIMPLES, DRUGS, AND MEDICINAL 
SUBSTANCES OF INDIA. By V. BALL, C.B., LL.D., 
F.R.S., Director of the Science and Art Museum, Dublin, 
[Read January 12, 1891.] 
Part 11.^— INTRODUCTOEY. 
As already stated the division of the Colloquies into two parts is 
only a matter of present convenience, having no existeuce in the 
original. 
The contents of this Part equal, if they do not exceed, in interest 
and value those of the preceding Part. Both afford testimony of the 
vigour with which our author grappled with the myths and nostrums 
of his predecessors. 
This commentary does not profess to be exhaustive of all that 
Garcia has written ; to be so it would have had to deal with the ancient 
authors whom he criticises, and that would have involved an amount 
of labour and expenditure of time which I could not have devoted to 
[ the purpose. It will have to be undertaken, however, by whoever edits 
!the work as a whole. For the present occasion it seems to be sufficient 
ito identify, in the light of our modern knowledge, the subjects of the 
Colloquies, while at the same time drawing attention to the statements 
of Garcia which seem to be of particular value or interest. 
The merits of his volume are undoubtedly very great, and the tacit 
01 acknowledged use made of his facts by his successors a:ffords ample 
testimony of the esteem in which he has been regarded by them as the 
highest authority of the period on the subjects of which he treats. 
1 Vide antea, page 415. 
E.I.A. PEOC, SEE. III., VOL. I. 
