C 55 )

PART IL

Of the Dißributions, Virtues, and Prepa-rations o/ Simples, l. Vegetable.2. Animal. 3. Mineral.

The Introduction.Of the 'Difiribution of Simples.

HAVING paffed thro" whatwas thought neceffary tocftabliih a true and rationalIPharmacf, it feems moll proper,in the next place, to take a generalSurvey of the Materials which comeunder the Management of this Pro-feffion, as they are the Productionsof Nature, before their Propertiescome to be alter'd by Preparationand Compofition. But as the Num-ber of thefe is prodigioufly multi-ply'd thro the injudicious Luxuri-ancy of lome Writers, they havinghad fomewhat to lay of the medi-cinal Virtues of manythoufandS/w-*ples, which have never been broughtinto Ufe i and as the Space intendedfor this Part, will not admit of iucha Length: We (hall here, in the beftMethod we can, and much betterfitted to Practice, than any one otherhitherto contriv'd, endeavour to fetin view fcch Simples only, as have,by reafon of long Tryal, obtain'd aPlace in the Compofitions of the beftDifpenfatorks, and are, nqw found

in the Prefcriptions of greateft Noteand Efteem.

To this purpofe they arc diftribu-ted under diftinft Heads, accordingto the general Denominations theyhave obtain'd in Medicine, either ofCephalics, Diaphoretics, Cathartics,&c. which muft be of much moreEafe to the Reader, than turning toalmoft fo many different Places bythe Directions of an Index, when hewould colleéf. or take a Survey of allthe Materials of the lame Efficacies.But the principal advantage of thisMethod, isitsSuiublenefsto exhibitthe intended Explications of theirVirtues, in anfwermg a Prcicriber'sIntention, bccaule of the generalDenomination affix'd at the-Head ofeach Dtvifion, which leaves no wantof a Repetition under the particularSimples; which has hitherto neverbeen done by any Eifpenfatory-Writer.

The whole Materia Medica is cer-tainly reducible under the three Dittinc\ions of Alteratives, Evacuants,E 4 and