Flora Medica

PREFACE.writers upon classification can agree respecting the exactsequence in which the natural orders of plants shouldfollow each other. By some the plan of Jussieu is adopted,by others that of De Candolle, and by many the systems ofEndlicher, of the author of this work, of Von Martius, ofSchultz, or even of Reichenbach may be preferred. Thiscan only be accounted for upon the supposition that thesystems of all these authors are equally false. To enablethe reader of this book to suit his own convenience in thearrangement of the matter, the work is so printed that thedifferent natural orders may be cut asunder and re-arrangedat the pleasure of the possessor ;some space has necessarilybeen sacrificed to this object, but it ishoped that a correspondingdegree of convenience will attend it. Thescheme is, however, only a matter of experiment, and willbe abandoned hereafter if it should appear not to be ofgeneral advantage. As the work leaves the publisher'shands the sequence of matter corresponds with that of theauthor's Natural System of Botany, because it will probablybe that preferred by the majority of readers in thiscountry.only remains to notice the sources from which theinformation contained in this work has been procured. Asall the Pharmacological works of most repute have beenoccasionally more or less consulted, it may appear almostinvidious to name any one in particular from which suchinformation has been gleaned more than from others.It is,however, an act of the merest justice to say, that thevaluable work of Guibourt, the excellent lectures on MateriaMedica by Mr. Pereira, published in the MedicalGazette, and Dr. Royle's various writings have furnishedthe author with the most valuable part of his informationupon doubtful points.LONDON, June 14. 1838.