INTRODUCTION. 
lix 
to the subject. They were not slow in recognising the import- 
ance of the study of indigenous drugs. There were other 
laborers also in the field. Dr. Waring, who edited the Indian 
Pharmacopoeia so creditably, was one of the most painstaking 
and careful observers of the properties and uses of indigenous 
drugs. His attention was drawn to the subject when serving 
out in Burma. The stock of his European medicines having 
been exhausted, he was in great perplexity and hardly knew 
what to do. In such a crisis, he turned to the medicinal plants 
of the country. His extensive knowledge of Botany stood him 
in good stead greatly. He found indigenous drugs to answer 
his purposes as satisfactorily as the costly imported medicines 
of Europe. The series of papers under the title, “ Notes on 
some of the principal Indigenous Tonics, Anthelmintics, &c., of 
India,” published in the early volumes of the “Indian Annals 
of Medical Science,” now defunct, shows the careful and pains- 
taking manner in which he had studied the subject. 
The use of the Pharmacopoeia as a text book in the colleges 
and schools of this country, has also been productive of some 
good. The Pharmacopoeia Committee was not wrong in impart- 
ing an educational character to their publication. The native 
remedies having been rendered familiar during the period of 
studentship, have been often made use of by Indian Medical 
Graduates. 
Mention should also be made of the establishment of the Forest 
Department and the School of Forestry in this country as helping 
in increasing our knowledge of indigenous drugs. The forest 
officers have brought to light several plants used medicinally 
by the natives of this country. The late Dr. Stewart in his Pun- 
jab Plants, mentioned a large number of medicinal plants used 
by the rustics and villagers of the Pan jab. Mr. Gamble and other 
forest officers have also noticed the medicinal plants of other 
parts of India. The increase in our knowledge of the proper- 
ties and uses of the indigenous drugs by these means has not 
been inconsiderable. 
The Calcutta International Exhibition of 1883-84 has done 
much towards the study of indigenous drugs. Credit is due to 
