xliv 
INTRODUCTION. 
foreign drugs imported into the markets of Europe would soon be superseded 
to a great extent, if the properties of European plants were carefully 
examined. It is contended, in illustration of this opinion, that Salicine, 
obtained from our native Willows is equal in energy to Quinine, and that it is 
formed by Providence in low marshy places exactly where remittent and 
intermittent fevers are experienced most frequently, and with the greatest 
severity ***** *** 
“ Such a subject of investigation is by no means unimportant when it is 
considered * * * that exotic drugs are not only costly, but 
often so much adulterated as to be unfit for use * * * * 
“ It by no means follows that plants are inert because medical men have 
reported unfavourably of their action. The most powerful species have had 
their energy destroyed by unskilful preparation, or by not knowing at what 
season to collect them. ****** 
the very nature of the climate of tropical countries generally causes the 
properties of plants to be more concentrated and completely elaborated than 
in Northern latitude.” 
II. 
So far the indigenous drugs have not been carefully and sys- 
tematically studied. The Executive Committee oE the Calcutta 
International Exhibition for 1883-84, reported that “it 
must he admitted that our ignorance of the properties and 
uses of indigenous drugs is scarcely pardonable. It seems 
highly desirable ; that the whole subject should be gone 
into with greater care than has yet been done, both with the view 
of weeding out the worthless from the good, and of preparing 
the way for a number of the better class native drugs taking 
the place of some of the more expensive and imported medicines 
of Europe. It seems remarkable that so large an amount of 
aconite should be collected in Nepal and exported to Europe, 
in order to be re-imported into India before it can find its way to 
the poor people who crowd around our dispensaries. Illustrations 
of a similar nature can be multiplied indefinitely. Atropa 
Belladonna, the deadly nightshade, for example, is a common 
weed on the Himalayas from Simla to Kashmir, yet every ounce 
of the drug used in India is imported from Europe, the Indian 
plant having apparently been entirely overlooked.”® 
* Official Report of the Calcotta International Exhibition, 1S83-84, Vol. I, 
.pp. 816-817. 
