INTRODUCTION. 
eS) 
AN OW that the earth is, so to speak, flooded with medical 
= books, it is almost needful to make an apology for 
adding another to the long list. But there are 
several reasons why we feel it incumbent upon us to 
produce the ‘‘ Family Herb Doctor”: (1) Most medical 
works are written for the profession in such language as 
ordinary people cannot understand. (2) That the remedies 
recommended are, as they have been termed, ‘‘ edge tools,” 
requiring a skilful hand to use with safety. (3) Their price 
is beyond the means of many to procure. (4) They are 
most of them out of date with this progressive age; and, 
lastly, all are, as far as we know, unacquainted with some 
of the valuable herbs found in Australia and New Zealand. 
These reasons, we think, are sufficient to warrant us in offer- 
ing to the public of New Zealand and Australia the valuable 
information which will be found in the succeeding pages. 
The illustrations of the plants, as well as the entire work of 
the book, are local, and show that we are advancing in our 
self-reliant progressive industry. It will be our aim to give 
our readers in plain, simple words the benefit of our experience 
and knowledge gathered during the last twenty years we have 
been in the study and practice of herbal medicine. Although 
it is not our intention to discuss theology in our pages, yet as 
we believe that human happiness and even health are largely 
dependent on the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of 
wisdom, we shall write in such a way as we trust will prove 
our conviction that Christians ought to do all things for the 
glory of God and the good of their fellow-beings. 
We do not propose to follow the questionable example of 
many herbal book writers, who deal largely in abuse of the 
