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the certificates, I have inclosed a very flattering letter from Dr. Woodville, 
author of Medical Botany. It in a great measure proves, that if the practi¬ 
cability of preparing this inestimable medicine in this kingdom can be esta¬ 
blished, the Opium itself possesses every quality that can be desired. 
I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, 
Thomas Jones. 
Sir, X called yesterday morning to examine the Opium collected by you 
from the capsules of the White Poppy; and I have no doubt, from its taste, 
smell, colour, and purity, but that it is more powerful and efficacious than 
the lest foreign Opium imported into this country. 
The late Dr. Alston, when Professor of Botany and the Materia Medica 
in the University of Edinburgh, informed the public, more than sixty years 
ago (see Med. Essays, Yol.Y), that the milky juice, drawn by him from the 
heads of the White Poppy, soon acquired the consistence of Opium, when 
its taste, smell, faculties, &c. were the same as those of that drug. 
In the year 1791 I convinced myself of the truth of his assertion, by re¬ 
peating his experiments, which I noticed the .following year in my Medical 
Botany. Soon after this time I appropriated a part of the garden at the 
Small-pox Hospital for the growth of the Papaver Somniferum, from the 
green capsules of which were collected between two and three ounces of 
Opium, which was found to be more efficacious than that of the exotic, as 
appeared upon trials of it made by several of my medical friends. But the 
great trouble and length of time required for the collection of the juice, in¬ 
duced me at that time to think, that the manufacture of this valuable medi¬ 
cine in England, did not hold forth any prospect of commercial advantage. 
However, since I have seen the great quantity of it collected under your di¬ 
rection, I sincerely hope that the above opinion will prove to be unfounded, 
and congratulate you on your success. 
Your obedient servant, 
W. Woodville. 
To the Society for the Encouragement of Arts , Manufactures, and 
Commerce . 
I William Duncan, of Philpot-lane, in the city of London, chemist 
and druggist, do hereby certify, that I have examined twenty-one pounds 
