INTRODUCTION. 
15 
vegetable tribes, lias not only provided a source of refined en- 
joyment in the contemplation of their beautiful forms and co- 
lours ; in their fragrance, by which, in their peculiar language, 
they seem to hold secret communion with our minds ; he has 
not only given them for our food and clothing, but with kind, 
parental care, has, in them, provided powers to counteract and 
remove the diseases to which mankind are subject. For many 
ages plants were the only medicines known, or used ; but mod- 
ern discoveries in Chemistry, by forming compounds of previ- 
ously existing elements, have in some degree, superseded their 
use.* Although the science of medicine has received much ad- 
ditional light from Chemistry, it may perhaps in modern days 
have occupied the attention of medical men too exclusively ; in- 
ducing them to toil in their laboratories, in order to form those 
combinations which nature had executed much more perfectly, 
in the plants which they pass unheeded. It is said by an em- 
inent physician, that in the catalogues of the most useful medi- 
cines, the productions of the animal and mineral kingdoms, bear 
but a small proportion to the vegetable. It is perhaps no un- 
common idea, with the generality of people, that herbs are all 
somewhat alike in their properties, and that it is not very im- 
portant what species they use in particular cases, since, if they 
do no good, they will do no hurt. This is an error from which 
much evil lias resulted ; health and life have been sacrificed 
through its influence. 
When our forefathers came to this country, they found the 
natives in possession of much medical knowledge of plants. Hav- 
ing no remedies prepared by scientific skill, the Indians were 
led, by necessity, to the use of those which nature offered them; 
and, by experience and observation, they had arrived at many 
valuable conclusions as to the qualities of plants. Their mode 
of life leading them to penetrate the shades of the forest, to 
climb the mountain precipices, naturally associated them much 
with the vegetable world. The Indian woman, the patient shar- 
er in these excursions, urged by a mother’s affection, was led to 
look for such plants as she might use for the diseases of her 
children. Each new and curious plant, though not viewed by 
her as a botanist would now behold it, doubtless was regarded 
with scrutinizing attention; the colour, the taste, the smell, 
were carefully remarked as indications of its properties. Hut 
the discoveries and observations of the Indians have perished 
with themselves ; having no system for the classification or de- 
scription of plants, nor any written language by which such a 
system might have been conveyed to others, no vestige but un- 
Expericnce of the Indians with respect to plants, lost from their ig-.'io 
ranee of Botany. 
