2 C K A P T E R I o 
to their power, it muft be fuppofed that- 
the human race derived, from the vegetable 
creation,, the chief part of their fuftenance, 
and the primary conveniences of life. Roots^, 
fruits, and herbs, muft then have confti- 
tuted the food of man. Trials, and experi- 
ence, would teach him all that choice and va-' 
riety, which his different iituations alloweda 
The fame faithful direftors would infenfibly 
inform him of the various qualities, and the 
different effeds of them on his body. As 
the fphere of his obfervations and experi- 
ence enlarged, he would derive the know-- 
ledge, and diftindlion, of fuch as v/ere of 
eafy, or of difficult digeftion. He v/ould 
difcover the flatulent kinds, and fuch as- 
correcPced flatulency : which opened, or 
which conflipated, the body ; which v/as 
moil nutritive, and probably, by fatal acci- 
cidents,- which' were poifonous* Hence the 
rudiments of medical fcience. 
This various knowledge would be handed 
down traditionally, from one generation to 
another, and with it, the names of fuch as 
were happily the firft difcoverers of new 
aliments, or medicinal properties, would- 
defcend 
