ON

THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS,

AS INTRODUCTORY TO

A KNOWLEDGE OF BOTANY.

When we consider the infinite number of vegetables thatcover and adorn the face of the earth, to every one ofwhich is assigned by Providence its particular use in thececonomy of nature, we must acknowledge that an acquaint-ance therewith must be highly beneficial to every one, behe either destined to till the land or manufacture the pro-duce thereof. To the diffusion of this science the farmer andgrazier are indebted for the great improvement in all ourvarious crops and breeds of cattle within the present age.A knowledge of botany to the Physician is highly essentialas a branch of his profession; and it ought to be kept in viewthat, although the Materia Medica of the present day doesnot contain that stock of indigenous vegetables vtfrich wereformerly prescribed, yet some of the wisest of our forefathersw-ere of opinion that "the plants of every country and climateafforded medicine sufficient for the maladies thereof: andeven now, some of the most active and powerful drugs arepreparations from our common plants. Neither can he beheld excused for his want of a scientific knowledge of suchas are poisonous, for this is a duty the public has a just rightto demand of him. When wc consider the laborious dutiesof the student in medicine, who is compelled for hours tobreathe " the putrid air of the dissectirg-rocro, or fcltale

VOL I. B