Family Herbal - Electric Scotland

PREFACE. vii
nave given themselves any trouble about their
virtues ; when physic is becoming entirely chyrui-
cal, and a thousand lives are thrown away daily
by these medicines, which might be saved by a
better practice ;
it appeared a useful undertaking,
to separate the necessary from the frivolous know-
ledge ; and to lay
before those who are inclined
to do good to their distressed fellow-creatures, all
that it is necessary for them to know of botany for
that purpose, and that in the most familiar manner
; and to add to this, what experience has confirmed
of the many things written by others con-
their virtues. This is the intent of the fol-
cerninglowing
work.
The plants are arranged according to the English
alphabet, that the English reader may know where
one name only in
to find them : they are called by
English, and one in Latin ; and these are their
most familiar names in those languages no ; matter
what Caspar, or John Bauhine, or Linnjeus
call them, they are here set down by those names
by which every one speaks of them in English ;
and the Latin name is added, under which they will
be found in every dictionary. To this is subjoined
a general description of the plant, if it be a common
one, in a line or two ; that those who already
know it, may turn at once to the uses ; and for
such as do not, a farther and more particular
account is added. Last come the virtues, as they
are confirmed by practice : and all this is delivered
in such words as are common, and to be understood
by all.
Every thing that is superfluous is omitted, that
the useful part may remain upon the memory :
and to all this is prefixed, in a large introduction,
whatsoever can be necessary to compleat the
good intentions of the charitable in this way.