READ BEFORE THE PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL SOCIETY, ON THE

TWENTY-FIRST OF FEBRUARY, 1798.

BY BENJAMIN SMITH BARTON, M. D.

ONE OF THE HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY,

AND

PROFESSOR OF MATERIA MEDICA, NATURAL HISTORY, AND BOTANY, IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

66

Sunt Simplicia desumpta e triplici Naturæ Regno: e Lapideo, Vege"tabili & Animali; heic VEGETABILIA tantum depromsi, quæ maximam "constituunt Materia Medicæ partem, alio tempori reservans cetera." LINNÆUS.

FIDEM NON ABSTULIT ERROR.

PHILADELPHIA:

PRINTED, FOR THE AUTHOR,

BY WAY & GROFF, No. 27, ARCH-STREET.

COPY-RIGHT secureD ACCORDING TO LAW.

ΤΟ

JAMES EDWARD SMITH, M. D. F. R. S.

PRESIDENT OF THE LINNÆAN SOCIETY,

MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ACADEMIES OF TURIN, UPSAL, AND LISBON;

AND

MEMBER of the AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, &c.

I

DEAR SIR,

CANNOT expect to add any thing to your reputation, by dedicating to you the following pages. I mean not, by this act, to choose a patron who shall veil my faults, or screen me from the censure of the public critic. The actions of men, particularly perhaps of young men, are sometimes disinterested. It is with pleasure I declare to the public, how much I admire your exertions for the extension of that amiable science which both of us cultivate: you with the happiest success; I with an humble ardour.

THE age in which we live is the age of natural science. The mind of LINNAEUS has effected more than the combined intellects of all the naturalists of any preceding century. Natural history, however, is still an infant science. This is particularly the

case with respect to America. Even the nomenclature of our productions is extremely imperfect. We are still less acquainted with the properties of our productions. I view this blank in the history of science, with pain. This pain, however, is daily diminished: for something is daily added to the stock of our knowledge.

I AM far from insinuating, that what I offer you is important in its kind. I am fully sensible of the imperfections of this Essay. I could wish it were more worthy of your attention. If I succeed in convincing you, that there are some lovers and cultivators of botany in the United-States, one of my objects in writing this dedication will be accomplished.

ACCEPT of my sincere wishes for your happiness, and believe me to be, with great respect,

Dear Sir,

Your friend and humble servant, &c.

Philadelphia,

BENJAMIN SMITH BARTON.

March 12th, 1798.

PREFACE.

I

HOPE the following pages will be received as an earnest of my desire to extend our knowledge of the medical properties of the indigenous vegetables of the United-States. I do not expect to acquire any reputation by the publication. Perhaps, in making this assertion, I shall not be doubted, when I confess that in every thing which I have hitherto published, I have had reputation in view. If I have not acquired it, I have borne the disappointment with tranquil indifference.

THE readers of these Collections (for every thing that is written and published solicits some readers), will form different opinions about my medical faith. Some of them will think I have too much; and others that I have not enough. I certainly do not repose implicit confidence in the half of what is said concerning the powers of medicines. Accordingly, I have not given a place in these pages to many of our vegetables which have been praised as specifics for the cure of diseases; in particular, as specifics against the bites of venomous serpents. But, on the other hand, it will be asked, whether I mean