i6 c H A p T f: R 27* 
ing to all fuch as willi to extend their en- 
quiries beyond the mere nomenclature, and 
quality of each fubftance ; and which could 
other wife be acquired only from laborious 
refearches. 
Although the reader will not find the 
author giving implicit belief to the mani- 
fold, and vaunted powers, attributed to num- 
berlefs fimples, tjirough almoft all preced- 
ing wTiters ; but on the contrai-y, will meet 
with judicious doubts, obfervations, and 
experiments, yet. Dr. Alston's Materia 
Medica muft be confidered, on the whole, 
as exhibiting rather the ftate of it, as it 
has been, than as ii is, in the works of 
Lewis, Bergius, Murray, and Cul- 
LEN. It is but of late that philofophers 
and phyficians have exercifed that degree 
of fcepticifm on the power of tmedicines, 
which muft ever influence the mind, when 
experiments alone form the foundation of 
medical pradice. 
Were it within my plan to extend my 
obfervations, I fhould, with grateful plea- 
fure, expatiate on the improved ftate of 
botany 
