Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

10

Introduction

Experience

and insufficiency of Linneus arrangements, though his classes may have some resemblance, his class Pentaria is an exception, in this class he places Chinchona, Strammonicum, Jalap, Ipecacuanha, and Potatoe, all which possess very different virtues. In his class Herinaria he has Rice, Pine Apple, Garlic, Squills, and Alloes. In the 13th Class Some of the most excellent plants with hellebore, Chocolate, and Gamboge, these are sufficient to prove the unnatural arrangement of Linneus. Dr Rush has divided the system into particular or minor systems and is proposed to class them as they operate on each of those. In some such method I think a division might be made of more lasting duration, but I fear the time has not yet arived for a complete arangement on this plan it would be easy to shun the objections such a system would be liable to. I reject the idea of one medicine being confined in its operation to one system alone. Opium for instance operates on several, this is evident from its carrying a more evident secretion of bile, and in the yellow fever brings back lost pain, in the viscus, it acts on the lungs increasing the secretion of