INTRODUCTION. 
XXXV 
than the natives of any other country on the face of the earth. 
The vegetable Materia Medica of the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, 
Jews, Babylonians, Persians, Chinese and Arabs does not 
display such an extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and 
drugs as does any of the authoritative medical works of the 
Hindus. The knowledge of herbs possessed by the aborigines 
of America, Australia or Africa, is also not very great. Regard- 
ing the medicinal agents of the American Indians, Mr. B. F. 
Stacey says : — 
“ From a thorough investigation I am convinced that the 
list is Dot lengthy, and that there is but little to be learned from 
their school of practice or repertoire of medicinal agents.”* 
Mr. J. N. Rose, in his “ Notes on Useful Plants of Mexico.” 
says : — 
“ The country people and Indians seem to have but little 
knowledge of medicine, generally using teas made of bitter and 
strong-smelling herbs.” 
Mr. J- H. Maiden writes in his “ Useful native plants of 
Australia. ” (Pp. 140-147) : — 
“ In fairness to ourselves we must confess ourselves very 
little indebted to the Australian aboriginal for information as 
to the medical (or in fact any other) properties of our plants. 
The poor aboriginal chiefly takes interest in the vegetation as 
supplying him with his scanty food, or as affording him fibre 
useful in securing fish and other animal substance. As far as 
we know, the Materia Medica of the blacks is of a very meagre 
description, yet the acquisition of even such little knowledge 
as they are supposed to possess has been slow and difficult, in- 
asmuch as persons who have lived in a state of nature with 
them have not been distinguished for either their medical or 
botanical knowledge.” 
He has very truly observed : — 
“ With the native Materia Medica of India, for instance, the 
case is very different. While some remedies are evidently used 
fancifully, and others for every disease to which the human 
* Tbe Ph. J. of May, 80, 1874, p. 958. 
