TO THE BOTANICAL READER

PREFACE.

A decorative woodcut border with intricate floral and foliate scrolls spans the top of the page. Below the headings, the text begins with a large historiated drop-cap initial 'C', depicting a seated figure in a garden or landscape pointing toward a small tree. The text is printed in a mix of Roman and Italic typefaces, with most of the narrative in italics and proper names or citations in Roman type.

When forty-five years ago I was reading the writings of my teacher Galen Galen of Pergamon (129–c. 216 AD) was the most influential physician of antiquity; his works remained the standard medical curriculum for over 1,500 years., by a singular fate I happened upon this passage of his, which is found in Book 2 of "On the Composition of Medicines according to Kind": "Whoever (he says) wishes to have an abundance of aids from every source, let him be experienced in all the matter of Plants, Animals, and Metals, as well as other earthly bodies which we use for the practice of Medicine, so that from these he may recognize both the genuine and the counterfeit. Then, let him exercise himself in the Commentary which I have published on the 'Power of Simple Medicines.' For unless one comes equipped in this manner to the protections of the present work, he will indeed know the method of healing in words, but he will perform no work worthy of the art itself." Moved by this sentiment, beyond the other necessary parts of Medicine, I turned my mind and zeal toward Botany, which supplies medical aids: and with such zeal and diligence as was possible, I have to this day consulted not only the botanical writers as if they were silent teachers, by reading and re-reading them: but I have also attentively heard in person various living teachers throughout Germany, France, and Italy by traveling for several years through different Universities, studiously inquiring about the names and powers of Plants, and what was most important, I spared no labor, no trouble, and no expense in inspecting Plants in their native habitats: since, as Galen holds in the place cited, young men of good character, in order to learn the matter of medicines, ought to inspect them themselves, not once or twice, but frequently: because the knowledge of perceptible things is perfected by diligent inspection. I was also incited by the example of Dioscorides Pedanius Dioscorides (c. 40–90 AD), author of "De Materia Medica," the primary Greek encyclopedia of herbal medicine., who from early youth, drawn by a constant desire for knowing the material, traveled through very many regions. Hence Galen, as can be seen in Book 1 of "On Antidotes," sailed to Cyprus for certain metallic substances: from where he brought back Cadmia, pompholyx, dyphryges, and many other things for the use of the Pergamenes, especially a huge supply of copper-ore, as is more fully contained in the 3rd commentary on the book "On the Regimen of Health." He went to Palestine for the sake of Balsam: he sailed a second time to the island of Lemnos (as is held in Book 9 of "Simples") to inspect the origins of the Sealed Earth or Lemnian earth. Indeed, I have also dried and preserved the plants themselves, collected with what talent and wit I could (so that at present I have in my possession over four thousand Herbs, besides fruits, seeds, woods, and aromatics), and compared them with the Authors. Not content with these, but for a truer and more certain knowledge, I asked many Students of Medicine traveling to France and Italy to send back collected plants of every kind, even the most common (indeed the very Grasses and Clovers), which was generously done by them; you will find their names noted in a special Catalog (since they are now Doctors) after the Preface. Furthermore, I have not ceased, nor do I yet cease, to solicit various famous Men here and there by letter—both Doctors and Apothecaries—in Germany, France, Italy, England, the Low Countries, Denmark, and Crete in Greece, to either send plants or express their opinion on them, and indeed for the public good. This has been generously done by many, in whose name I give immense thanks, and I most dutifully ask that they continue to do so, as I intend to make honorable mention of them in my writings. It is a gracious thing (as Pliny wisely says in his letter to Vespasian) and full of noble modesty, to acknowledge those through whom we have profited. And since for over thirty years I have presided over both Anatomical and Botanical studies, and have left nothing untried of those things I thought would be useful to Students, I have led them to inspect and learn about Herbs not only twice, according to the statutes of our Medical School, but in every spring, summer, and autumn month, several times to the plains, mountains, and marshes: for (as Dioscorides holds) he who intends to attain skill in these things must be present when they first sprout from the soil, when they are mature, and when they are aging: for he who has only stood by a budding herb cannot recognize it when full-grown; nor will he who has only inspected the adult plant know it when it is newly breaking forth. Therefore, he who more often betakes himself to view the herbs and their birthplaces will most greatly achieve knowledge of them. Furthermore, on our excursions, I dictated various names from authors to the Students for their notebooks: indeed, even afterwards at home, I showed them in the Authors themselves and in our Dry Garden Hortus siccus: a collection of dried plant specimens, now commonly called a herbarium. (which still happens for those who ask): and in my lectures on Dioscorides and on the Plants used in apothecaries' shops, held during the summer time, I dictated them for the pen. Not content with these, twenty-six years ago I presented the first part of the Phytopinax original: "Phytopinacis" — referring to the author's work "Phytopinax" (1596), an index of plants., in which about two thousand five hundred plants are arranged methodically according to genera and species, with primary consideration given to external form, along with one or two Synonyms: one hundred and sixty plants, not previously described, with some fi-