THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF BOTANY TO MEDICINE. 187 
long after the establishment of schools for the tuition and preparation 
of candidates for medical licence, it continued to be considered as a 
mere adjunct of the latter class, materia medica. As such it was 
confined in this country, at least, to the notice of the plants of the 
pharmacopoeia; and as regarded his progress in a science now so 
complex, the student of medicine, thus tutored, resembled the preacher 
who could read but only in his own book. He might have learned to 
know the drowsy poppy of the garden, perhaps even to trace its 
relation with the gaudier crimson tenants of the corn-field challenger, 
the drastic hellebore, the foxglove, night-shade, and conium of his 
native land ; but was rarely capable of extending his lore to the more 
distant affinities which characterise the vegetation of a different clime ; 
and therefore ill-calculated to avail himself of their valuable, or to 
avoid their baneful, properties: still less to add, by observation and 
experiment, to the most useful department of that science, to a 
knowledge of which he would, probably, pretend. 
Among the several causes which have led to a more extended 
application of botany to the purposes of medicine, the establishment of 
the Medico Botanical Society may certainly lay considerable claim to 
public notice. During its career, the attention of a large portion of 
the junior members and aspirants of the profession has been directed by 
it to the importance of a subject which, but for their attendance upon 
its meetings, would, probably, have remained a matter of indifference 
to them. I say of indifference—because the extensive facilities afforded 
to the mere mechanical practitioner, and of such there are unfortunately 
still too many, by the vast commercial machinery of this ever active 
and enterprising nation, has rendered him, in a great measure, 
independent of his own resources. He gives an order to his druggist, 
depending upon the latter for the correctness of its execution; and as 
to any thing farther, why—as an unworthy disciple of Esculapius 
not long since replied to a friend of mine, who ventured to hint that 
too violent medicine had been administered to an infant—“ There is a 
book called the pharmacopceia, in which the art of compounding 
medicines for every disorder, and even the proportionate doses for 
every age, are duly set down, I always consult that book before 
I prescribe, and therefore. Madam, cannot be under a mistake.” 
So that, really, with a good druggist, named bottles and jars, and 
Thompson’s Dispensatory upon his counter, such a man may do 
a good stroke of business, as the mercantile phrase has it, with very 
little judgment, but a great deal of satisfaction—to himself. For the 
sake of their patients, I fear very few such attend here; for they would 
learn, at least, that drugs will vary very greatly in quality—that the 
