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ministration of medicines, great care is necessary with respect to its advantages here, we become acin selecting out of a whole class of medicines, that quainted through our botanical studies with many particular one which will be exactly suitable to the of the plants used in medicine; and hence we have case in point: the science of combination depends less difficulty in the study and recollection of these. also upon this principle; and the vast difference In the second place so far as vegetable medicines between the present simple, efficient, and philo- are concerned, we see order and harmony, where sophical combinations, and the multitudinous farra- before all was chaos. We see in general that cergines of the past, is due to the same. Still greater tain families of plants possess certain properties; care is necessary in selecting a particular medicine thus the narcotics belong generally to the natural from a whole class, or in the combination of several, orders Solanes and Umbelliferæ: by seeing this so as to meet every indication, when the patient order we recollect them better; for even the exis suffering under a complication of disease. Here ceptions are remembered the better merely by also the physician has to compare his own experience being exceptions. It is on account of this pewith the indications of the present symptoms, and culiar connection with medicine, that the study of with what he has read. Frequently great care is botany should be preferred to that of any other necessary in distinguishing between different stages natural science; for it may be said that the same of a disease; for a medicine may be very suitable mental advantages might be obtained by means of in one stage and directly the reverse in another. the latter; though this seems not exactly a fact; for And regarding this point, there exists a great error it appears to me that botany excels them all in the amongst the multitude; they think that because a circumstances to which I have alluded. One reamedicine has cured a disease in one person, that it son why a country practitioner should pursue this must be suitable in all other cases, without taking science is, that he has so excellent an opportunity into consideration the state of the patient's system, of studying it: for he has its objects every day and or the stage of the disease; hence too the common every where before him. I should think that it supposition that every disease has its particular might prove a great source of pleasure to him in remedy. With regard to all these things much many a lonely ride. discrimination is absolutely necessary. And indeed But these remarks may, it appears to me, be exwe may almost say that the whole ars medendi de- tended even farther than this. There seems to pends on this very faculty. And that he is the best exist a need of something, to create in practitioners physician who possesses it in the highest degree. an interest in their profession. Most physicians a Hence, as botany peculiarly exercises the faculty short time after they leave college, forget the maof discrimination; and as all the powers of the jor part of what they have learnt there, only remind are improved and strengthened by exercise; taining a general knowledge; some indeed scarcely and since this faculty is particularly required by the ever open a medical work afterwards. They atphysician; the study of botany is therefore particu- tend to the labors of their profession only as dularly advantageous in this respect to the physician. ties; not taking any interest in them, but so far as Closely allied, and indeed almost antecedent to a they contribute pecuniary recompense. On this correct discrimination, is the habit of observation. account they lose much of the pleasure which a And as we arrive at the former by the study of love of the subject would give them; and they fail botany, so we moreover acquire the latter. For in doing much good to the science, which they the whole study is but a continuous train of obser- might otherwise do. Look upon the far-reaching vations; and not only of evident, but also of small past! see the great lights arising in succession and obscure things; and this latter kind is fre- throughout its dim vista-appearing dimmer in the quently of great importance in medicine; for many distance, but in truth as bright and glorious as those diseases have the important symptoms alike, and more near. Among all the great and wise whom are only to be distinguished by attention to the you will there find, there is scarcely one in any art small and almost imperceptible ones. If discrimi- or science, who was not deeply imbued with a love nation be necessary then in medicine, so too is the for the particular subject, for which he has been habit of observation. And hence we receive bene-distinguished. The study of botany, I think, has fit with regard to this quality also. a tendency to create this love for medicine as a

2. By the study of botany, our knowledge of science-a love, the evil consequences of whose certain branches of medicine is enlarged, facili- absence are every day and every where evident; tated, and improved. Thus in physiology, we have the advantage of whose presence is to be seen, the rudiments as it were, of the same organs in merely by looking upon the words and deeds of the animals, our view becomes more general; we have great and wise. I think that an interest in botany the whole circle, whereas before we had only a if not inherent, could be more easily acquired by a part. In Materia Medica also we derive great physician than by a member of any other profesbenefit; and I think that it may be asserted, that sion. For, first, the new light which it casts over to a thorough knowledge of this, botany forms al-much of his science would make it somewhat inmost an essential condition. In the first place, teresting; secondly, the country practitioner has

so excellent an opportunity; he meets daily with [ever we might perhaps in some cases substitute so many plants that, if he once acquired the rudi- with advantage native vegetable medicines. I will ments of the science, they would prove a continual here give a list of the plants considered officinal by attraction; and thirdly, what would lead him to the United States Pharmacopeia, which I have study this in preference to all other branches of found growing within three or four miles of Wilmedicine would be its being voluntary; for we do liamsburg. I have no room here for particularizing not in general relish the performance of that which their properties, nor for the same reason, shall I is even in a measure compulsory. An interest make a set comparison of them with foreign ones: being taken in botany, by its connection with other Hepatica americana, Ranunculus bulbosus; Delbranches, this would tend to make them more interesting than before; for I need scarcely mention that when we become attached to any subject, we are interested in a greater or less degree in every thing connected with it.

rita, viridis Monarda punctata; Phytolacca decandra; Podophyllum pellatum; Prunus virginiana; Quercus alba, tinctoria; Rhus glabrum, toxicodendron; Rubus trivialis, villosus; Convolvulus panduratus; Rumex acetosella; Sabbatia angularis; Sam

phinium consolida; Aletris farinosa; Althæ officinalis; Apocynum cannabinum; Aralia spinosa ; Arctium lappa; Arum triphydilum; Asarum canadense; Asclepias tuberosa, incarnata; Dancus carota; Cassia marylandica ; Castanea pumila; Che3. Our medicines by means of the study of botany nopodium anthelminticum; Chimaphila umbellata ; may be procured in a purer state. This is evident Cimicifuga racemosa; Cornus florida, sericea; Anso far as concerns those medicinal plants which themis cotula, Diospyros virginiana; Symplocarpus are natives of this country; inasmuch as we be- foetidus; Erigeron heterophyllum, canadense; Eucome acquainted with them by means of the science patorum perfoliatum; Anethum foeniculum (natuof botany, and can therefore gather them ourselves, ralized); Gentiana catesbaei; Gillenia tripfoliata; instead of procuring them from the apothecary Hedeoma pulegioides; Henchera americana; Iris where they would be liable to adulteration. This versicolor; Juglans cinerea; Junniperus virginiana; would certainly be advantageous then, with respect | Lactuca elongata; Liriodendron tulipifera; Lobeto those medicines found in this country, which are lia inflata; Lycopus virginicus; (Lythrum salicaria, in general use, such as Serpentaria, Stramonium, Dublin); Magnolia glauca, tripetala, Mentha pipe&c. But moreover might we not often substitute with advantage our own medicines for foreign ones of the same class and similar properties? Is it not better to have a medicine of a slightly inferior quality pure, than to have one of a superior quality in a doubtful state? Besides, age deteriorates most bucus canadensis; Sanguinaria canadensis; Laumedicines in a greater or less degree; and this may be somewhat the case with many more than we are aware of; for on account of getting them from the apothecary, few have been frequently tried both when old and when lately gathered, and thus there has not been a correct comparison of their relative virtues in their two states; here also therefore, there would be an advantage gained with respect to native medicines, whether used expressly for their peculiar properties or as substitutes. But many imported from foreign parts, which have others in this country closely resembling them in property, are probably only considered superior to the latter on account of long standing abroad and at home, and their merely coming from a distance; ours have not been sufficiently tried. This circumstance is therefore added to that of their being more pure, to lead us to a further use of them.

rus sassafras; Aristolochia serpentaria; Statice caroliniana; Datura stramonium; Leontodon taraxacum; Triosteum perfoliatum; Verbascum thapsus; Leptandra virginica; Spartium scoparium;— this though put down in the books as an exotic, to all appearance grows wild in this district.

I say nothing of those employed by some practitioners, but not considered officinal nor in general use; nor of those which have been once in esteem but which are now rejected. Many of these may, it is probable, experience the fluctuations which have occurred to sarsaparilla. The same remark too will perhaps apply to many of those, which I have before made, viz: that they have not been sufficiently tried nor duly estimated, because of their being so easy to obtain, and their not coming from a distance. Moreover there are many perhaps not yet medicinally tested at all; which, judgBut perhaps it may be said that there are not a ing by various circumstances, might, in all probasufficient number in any one neighborhood to in- bility, prove on trial efficacious medicines: to enuduce the physician to adopt the above plan. I do merate these however I have here neither the space not pretend to say that he can get all, but he can nor opportunity. But from the above catalogue get very many vegetable medicines in each class; and the subsequent remarks, I think that it may be so many at least as shall supply the place of those safely asserted, that a physician may procure many foreign vegetable medicines that are liable to inef- of his medicines from the woods and fields around ficiency by reason of adulteration or some other him; for one locality is, in some measure, a speciThe mineral medicines need no interfer-men of all; if not the identical ones, there is in ence, as they are more apt in general to be general an equal number of medicinal plants in efficient and free from impurity; even here how-' each neighborhood.

cause.

Another reason why we should use our native from the study of botany we have it in our power medicines on account of their superior purity, is the to produce. Every one who makes medicine a following:-a physician on leaving college and profession, who though he takes no interest in it commencing his profession in the country, in the as a science, yet who nevertheless thinks more or general run of his practice, uses very few com- less each day about it, must necessarily feel interparatively of the long catalogue of medicines in- ested in its progress and improvement: and I imacluded in the Pharmacopeia; very few of the large gine there are few who would shrink from lending number whose qualities and efficacy he has been assistance to that improvement, if in so doing, there taught at college: the diseases are generally very was derived as much or more pleasure than labor. uniform, and they are in general thus suitably In the first place, if they meet with any plant treated. But still some cases occur in his prac-possessing medical virtues, either by their own obtice, requiring other medicines,—as for instance servation or experiments, or from those of others, some rare disease, or sometimes in the same dis- they will not only be enabled by a knowledge of ease, when the system of the patient by long use botany to discover its name, but also to speak of it has become accustomed to the action of all the in intelligible terms to the medical world. The medicines which he possesses, included in the class same plant has so many different names in different by which the disease is treated. Will it not be parts of the country, e. g. those appropriated to better in such instances for him to use a native the Sanguinaria canadensis; and the same name is medicine, which he is sure of getting pure, than to so often given to many entirely different plants, e. take one to whose use he has not been accustomed, g. Snakeroot, that merely mentioning it by name and of whose efficacy and purity he is therefore no will, in most cases, convey no sort of information. judge! But moreover, though the diseases may be I have observed too in conversation particularly, uniform and not very difficult of treatment, yet is and also in writing, how imperfect an idea of a it not a familiar fact, that every disease often as-plant could be conveyed by description in ordinary sumes certain phases and types, for which one terms; indeed this is the reason that modern botamedicine of a class is better adapted than another? nists have found it so difficult—so almost utterly Now, though a physician may not choose to bur- impossible to identify most of the plants described then himself with foreign medicines not absolutely in the classics: in conversing with ladies this is necessary; yet when he could easily get them from often the case; on such occasions flowers being the woods around in a state of purity, and at the par- frequently the subjects of conversation, they will ticular time in which they were needed, then certainly attempt to describe some plant to you, and in genethere would be a greater inducement to an extension ral your idea of the plant will be about as clear of the catalogue of medicines which he employs. after their description as it was before. The fact Finally, the following extracts from Dr. Lind- that the same name has been applied to many plants ley's Medical Botany, will serve as an additional differing from each other in all the most important argument in favor of the use of native medicines, characteristics, has proceeded from a similar ignoand a further investigation of their properties: rance in the multitude of the true principles upon "The heat of a country, its humidity, particular which the division into genera and species is based; localities, food, and the social habits of a people, from a resemblance perhaps in the shape of the will predispose them to varieties of disease, for leaf, the color and shape of the corolla, the odor which the drugs of Europe offer no efficient remedy, of the plant, or some other unimportant trait, they and will render that which is relied upon in one have regarded plants having no affinity whatever, country unworthy of dependence in another. Speak- as species of the same genus. It appears then ing of Ipecacuanha, Dr. Von Martius, who so care- that to make known a plant in this manner with fully examined practically the Materia Medica of such certainty that it may be easily identified by Brazil, asserts "nullum est dubium quin Emetica others, is generally almost impossible. But a perin terris zonæ fervida subjectis effectus producent, son who has studied botany can, in two or three multo majis salutares quam in regionibus frigidioribus." This last observation seems to indicate, that if emetic plants be so much more common in hot than cold countries, it is because there is a much greater necessity for them. The late Mr. Burnet If we consider the fact, that a number of the and many other persons, have asserted that, "every discoveries in Materia Medica have been made by country spontaneously furnishes remedies for the empirics, and moreover that a physician frequently maladies which the people of the soil are naturally meets with nostrums in his practice, we must see subject to, and that the foreign drugs imported to that he might do much good by testing the efficacy the markets of Europe would soon be superseded of these. In making the investigation, and giving to a great extent if the properties of European the result fully to the medical world, some knowplants were carefully examined." ledge of botany is almost absolutely necessary; (I 4. The good to medical science generally, which speak in relation to vegetable medicines.) I have

lines, make known a plant and its virtues to the whole medical world; by giving its scientific name and the characteristics by which it can easily be distinguished and recognized.

needs trial, before we can ascertain with certainty its virtues. But it is often said that we possess a sufficient number of medicines in each class, if we

no doubt that in this country at the present time, | hot is poisonous, whilst that of another may be there are various native medicines used with suc-eaten with impunity. Different parts too of the cess by old women and such like practitioners, same plant in some cases possess different properwhich on account of their efficacy might be advan- ties: thus the fruit of the Podophyllum peltatum is tageously introduced into regular practice, and "esculent, the leaves poisonous, and the root highly which would be, were it not for the want of botani- medicinal." But even where the general law holds cal knowledge and investigation among country good, still there is use in investigation, because practitioners. This supposition is borne out by although the same quality may appertain to two the remarks before quoted from Dr. Lindley; to plants, yet they may have that quality combined the effect, that every country has native medicines with others which differ. Every plant therefore adapted to the proper treatment of its diseases. And not only might they do good to medicine, thus directly, but they might also do it indirectly, by meeting pretenders on their own grounds: they knew how to use them, and when. As to this, it might examine scientifically any medicine which may be partly true; but in the first place, there are they used ; and if it were good, might use it them- no bounds to the variations of disease, and each selves and recommend it to the profession; if ineffi- one may require a different specimen from a whole cient, they might be able to give good reasons for class. Secondly, it is not generally for the possesrejecting it. By means of their botanical know- sion of one property only that a medicine is useful ledge they could oftentimes do this without any and valuable, it is most usually for the combination previous experiments. The absence of this plan of several; and we certainly have not enough of has been one cause of the success of that singular these, and could not have too many: for if we look humbug Thomsonianism. at the subject in an arithmetical point of view, the But without the knowledge and study of botany, variation in the exact medical qualities is innumewe would not only be prevented by ignorance from rable, and each variation may have a peculiar use. conferring these benefits upon our profession; but Thirdly, neither could we have too many of those the want of interest about them would probably medicines possessing anomalous properties, such cause us to pay little attention to such things. for instance as those of nux-vomica; and we know Moreover from the very want of this knowledge, a not but that some of our native plants may furnish physician would be deterred from approaching any medicines possessing such qualities. But moreover thing appertaining to the science. For instance, and lastly, the most efficient of our medicines, those in judging whether a plant was an efficient medi- which offer almost the only conclusive proofs of cine or not, he would have no a priori circum- the utility of the science of medicine, are not those stance to guide him; and although not exactly which possess any particular, definite medical profeeling it to be presumption, yet from feeling that perty, but they are those that act in a manner he was rather ignorant of the subject, he would which we do not understand, and which we thereshrink from approaching it. And indeed the gene-fore entitle alterative; as for instance, sulphur in ral apathy on this subject is owing to this con- the mineral, and cinchona in the vegetable world. sciousness of ignorance, together with the want of Not only may this efficiency be found in one genus interest and example; and on account of the want of an order, and not in another; but even in one of the necessary botanical knowledge, the igno- species, and not in others; as for example, Sarsarance of the particular plants which would proba- parilla-the roots of some species of Smilax posbly prove medicinal. sessing the virtues of this medicine, and others not.

Secondly, the vast field for discovery which is open to us in the United States, offers a further inducement to the study and investigation of this science. It is indeed a general rule, that the individual genera of each natural order of plants possess similar medicinal properties: thus the Magnoliacea are in general, tonics. And this fact will in most cases serve as a guide to the botanist in his medical investigations, where others would have none at all. But to this general rule there are a number of exceptions. Thus the same natural order, Artocarpeæ, contains the nutritious Cow-tree and Bread-fruit, and the poisonous Upas and Ficus toxicaria. The different species of Lobelia differ much in their properties. Even in varieties of the same species this difference is occasionally found thus the root of one variety of the Jatrophad mani

What may we not expect then, from a further investigation of the five thousand species now included in the botanical catalogue of the United States; of the many yet to be described? G. Williamsburg, Va.

TO MISS A. M. A

OF RICHMOND.
The hand that prints these accents here
Was never clasped in thine,

Nor has thy heart, with hope or fear,
E'er trembled back to mine.
And yet from childhood's early years
Some being like to thee,-
Unseen amid my doubts and fears,
Hath sweetly smil'd on me.

And oft in dreams I've twined the wreath
Above her eye of flame,

Then listened if some bird might breathe
The music of her name.

And oft have vainly sought to trace
Amid the fair and young,
The living type of her sweet face

On Fancy's mirror flung.

But in its unresembled form

The shadow dwelt with me,
Till unperceived, life-like, and warm,
It softly fell on thee.

Then into substance passed the shade
With charms still more divine,
As on thy face its features played
And lost themselves in thine.

ries. In the last two ways an immense number of duplicates have been introduced, which are of no use whatever they are stowed in lumber-rooms. At the same time, many of these duplicates are of old books-not of the popular kind which has caused new editions to be printed; and their scarcity and value is such that enormous prices are paid for them to such dealers as may accidentally obtain them. Now Mons. Vattemére proposes that complete catalogues of all these duplicates shall be printed, or rather, that each library, in its regular catalogue, shall state the number of copies it has of each work. These catalogues shall be sent to the principal libraries in the world. By this means, every one will be able to see what every other has to spare, and what it needs in return; and a reference to its own catalogue will show how far an exchange will be mutually beneficial. After which, the inter

Monsieur Alexandre Vattemere's System of change of a few letters, and the transportation of a

Exchanges.

few boxes of books, will render each one more complete, without taking from any what is of much pecuniary value; for old books cannot be sold for much to the dealers, although they will extort large sums for them, when they find libraries in want of them.

The expedient of exchanging what we possess, but do not want, for what we want, but do not possess, is one of the earliest and most universal; and the one most frequently resorted to where the usual medium of exchange, money, is not easily procured. But this method of supplying our mutual There is another and very peculiar benefit arising wants, practised in the casual manner in vogue from this system, which has been felt in many among those whose slender means compel them to cases. Manuscript works, of which immense numit, is obviously different from a system of exchan-bers exist that have not been printed, and will not ges, as the organized body-organized to some ex-be printed, but which are of the highest valuetent-of merchants, who transact the world's com-historical records, not well enough written to be mercial business, is different from so many trudging read with pleasure, but authentic, and sometimes pedlers. The reduction of a rude practice, the the only materials from which the history of their offspring of savage instinct, to a regular system, is times can be gleaned. These precious documents a step in civilization; and this step, so far as it re- are dispersed ;-one volume is in the Vatican, lates to the exchange of literary and scientific spe- another in Munich, another in some convent in cimens, is ascribed principally to the judgment, Spain; some of them in garrets or cellars. No zeal, and manly perseverance of Mons. Vattemére. booksellers will buy them; nobody will decypher The vulgar practice, (known in our country by their contents, unless he has a political intrigue to the term swapping,) too inconvenient for men whose unravel, a history to write, or something to do time is of value, has not much prevailed between which cannot be done without them; and as these the literary and scientific institutions of Europe: literary workmen do not live in every obscure rebut the duplicates, when not suffered to remain as gion, no call whatever is made for some of these useless lumber, have been sold to traders, and by works; they moulder in the dark; and with them them hawked about where they were most likely perish the records of many interesting events, and to be sold for profit. The great loss attending this many important discoveries in science,—for it is alproceeding; the tendency of it to disperse and de- most certain that some knowledge in the arts has stroy some of the rarest works, or leave them in been lost, or buried in obscurity, not, we hope, bethe obscurity of book-stalls; these and other con-yond the power of systematic research to bring siderations prompted Mons. Vattemére to make the again into use. exertions which have already been eminently bene- "You Americans," says Mons. Vattemére,“ want ficial, and insured for his name an honorable place much that we can spare; and you can furnish us among those of the benefactors of mankind. with much that will cost you nothing, but which To illustrate the operation and uses of this sys- will be invaluable to us. We want all your State tem, I shall first consider it in reference to libraries. papers, your bills proposed in Congress, and in the The public libraries, belonging to the universities, State Legislatures-all that you order to be printed; governments, cities and towns of Europe, have nothing of it should be omitted; though it be stale been gradually accumulated, partly by the purchase to you, it is new to us; and without it our politiof books from the shops, the purchase of private cians cannot legislate intelligently, because they libraries, and partly by the bequest of private libra- cannot adopt their measures to the condition of a

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