INTRODUCTORY LECTURE. 
313 
and better digested accounts of our native medicines than 
had yet appeared in any one work. This soon divided with 
Dr. Coxe's book the patronage of the country, circulating 
more especially in the Eastern States, though it also pene- 
trated into a few shops and libraries in the more southern sec- 
tions. 
In the year 1817, a new era in the history of our science 
in America commenced with the publication of Dr. Chapman's 
work on Therapeutics and Materia Medica. Hitherto we had 
done little more than add to the products of the European 
press our peculiar knowledge in relation to indigenous medi- 
cines. Dr. Chapman took a bolder flight; and by the publi- 
cation of a systematic and original treatise, containing elabo- 
rate doctrine, interesting practical views, and highly important 
therapeutical facts of a general character, placed us at once 
upon a footing with English authorship in this department of 
medicine. If his work be considered rather in reference to 
the physiological effects or practical application of medicines, 
than to their history as objects of physical science or pharma- 
ceutical management, though, as they who have attended my 
lectures well know, I cannot coincide in all the opinions 
which it advocates, I can with sincerity say that I know of 
nothing superior or equal to it among the treatises on Materia 
Medica in the English language existing at the time when it 
was written. The work of Dr. Chapman was followed in 1822 
by the Materia Medica of Dr. Bigelow, and in 1825, by the 
Materia Medica and Therapeutics of Dr. Eberle. The former 
was intended as a sequel to the Pharmacopoeia of the United 
States, of which it may be considered as an explanatory com- 
mentary, without claiming to rank as a finished treatise upon 
the science. The latter is an elaborate work, prepared with 
great industry and research, and containing much very valua- 
ble information. I should not be doing justice to the student 
without recommending to him, especially in the intervals of 
his winter labors, the diligent perusal of Dr. Chapman's and 
Dr. Eberle's treatises. 
VOL. vi. — no. iv. 40 
