Page:Frost (1827) Some account of the science of botany.pdf/10

8 to be the Science of Botany was, in fact, that of Materia Medica, as the application of herbs to the purposes of medicine are the leading features of the works ascribed to Hippocrates and others, as we now have them collected together, from which it should be inferred that what is termed "Opera Hippocratis" for example, is not only the work of various persons, but even of different periods. Besides, we well know that they had never described the character of plants, such as the ﬁgure of their corollas, calyx, or pericarp, but only ascertained and handed down to their posterity the suitable medicinal properties of vegetables; and, however much more useful this sort of knowledge might be, yet it certainly was only a branch of medicine, and can by no means be comprehended within the term Botany, which, strictly speaking, is that Science which treats of the structure, organization, and characters of plants; and Willdenow justly observes, in his introduction to his "Principles of Botany," that "that Science which teaches us to distinguish one plant from another, and leads us to a knowledge of its peculiarities, is termed Botany;" but observe, this author does not say that Science which teaches us the virtues or properties of plants.

I trust the reason given will be sufﬁcient, as well as satisfactory, for my deviation in regard to the history usually given of this Science by teachers of it, which has not been done from the love of novelty, but from a conviction of error in the practice alluded to.

The object of the Lecturer on this occasion is to endeavour, as far as his limited capacity will allow him, to present such an account of the Science of Botany as will be more acceptable to the august company he has the honour of addressing, by pointing out its beauties, utility, and advantages, than by tracing obscure deﬁnitions, or arraying before them a long list of difﬁcult technical terms. It would almost appear as if the latter plan had deprived this Science of many of her votaries, who would otherwise have experienced great pleasure in cultivating an acquaintance with her charms.

Without a systematic arrangement, no branch of knowledge can be properly acquired, or retained in any degree of order by the memory, which, in all cases, is very materially assisted by such means, so that by beginning with the most simple illustrations, and gradually ascending in the scale, we shall not only steadily accomplish the object we have in view, but be able to digest the different facts which will come within our observation, and make