From the sepiariae we only employ the jasmine and the olive; and, from their virtues, if any, those of the other genera will be sufficiently obvious. The syringa is of this order.

The 45th order, the Umbellatae, is a natural one; and the medicinal plants arranged under it are distinguished by some acrimony, which at times rises to aroma, as in the carui and coriander; at others, betrays the nauseous smell and taste of the fetid gums; and in some is united to the deleterious smell and powers of the cicuta, which is an umbellated plant.

The hederaceae contain the ivy, the vine, and the gensing, plants united by no medical, and no very striking botanical analogy. The stellatae form a more natural group; yet, in a medical view, not strikingly such. It contains the spigelia, an anthelmintic; the serpentum lignum, a warm sudorific; the madder, the galium, matrisylva, and mungos (ophiorriza mingos). The coffee very nearly resembles the plants of this order.

The aggregatae contain the scabiosa officinalis; another species, morsus diaboli; and the viscum, which are astringents; with the valerian, of very different qualities. This order was established by Vaillant.

The compositae is a very miscellaneous order, and, in reality, consists of several sufficiently natural associations. Its distinguishing mark is a single calyx, common to several florets, generally monopetalous. The groups into which this order is divided, are the capilatae, semiflosculosae, discoideae, oppositifoliae, and nucamentacae. The capitatae are distinguished by a bitterness, with occasionally a warm acrimony. It contains the bardana, the carduus, different species of centaury, the onopordum, the cinara, and the carthamus, with some similar plants. It is not easy to fix the limits between the capitatae and semiflosculosae: the scolymus unites them, for it has the habit of a carduus; yet all the florets are ligulated. In the same way the perdicium, a new genus, unites the inula of the group discoideae with the hieracium, which is one of the semiflosculosae. This second group contains the ole-raceae which possess some acrimony, as the cichoreum, the endive, the taraxacum, the lettuce, the scorzonera, and the tragapogon. The greater number are lactescent, but none poisonous except the lactuca virosa, which, however, by cultivation becomes mild and esculent.

The Discoideae are styled by some authors radiate: many of these are slightly bitter, but the bitter is of the narcotic kind; and in several it is in so great a degree, particularly in the arnica and doronicum, as to require the greatest caution. One group which has no title, the following, the oppositifoliae and the nucamentaceae, do not greatly differ in the qualities enumerated; and we may mention, as examples, the artemisia, the tansy, the camomile flowers, the inula, the achillaea, and the arnica. Some are milder, as the colt's foot, the xan-thium, the matricaria, &c; but they all show some acrimony in different parts, and many seem to have an expectorant power.

The amentaceae are the trees distinguished by a particular calyx, styled amentum. If distinguished by any medical quality, it is astringency. The willow, the chesnut, the oak, the hazel nut, all show astringent powers; and there are a few other genera somewhat similar, though less distinguished in this respect. The pistacia affords the Cyprian turpentine, which, with the usual stimulus, seems to unite a tonic power. The mastich, used to preserve the teeth and gums, belongs to the genus pistacia of this order.

The coniferae we have partly noticed in the numerous species of pines under the article Abies. The genera pinus, cupressus, and juniperus, afford the principal medicinal articles under this truly natural order.

The coadunatae scarcely offer any medicinal plant, unless the ilicium anisatum, which affords the anisum stellatum, already noticed, be considered as referable to this order.

The scarridiae afford little room for remark, "as the plants referred to it scarcely agree in medical virtues. We find the parietaria, the contrayerva, the fig, the nettle, the mulberry, the elm, the hemp, and the hop, of different and almost of opposite powers.

The filices, musci, algae, and fungi, only remain. These are truly natural orders; but of the plants, considered medicinally, we can say little. The ferns are in general slightly astringent. The polipodium, filix foe-mina, and mas. are of this kind; and general experience, long before the time of Madame Noufler, has established the utility of the last in the destruction of the taenia. They are all mucilaginous; and the capillary plants, species of the asplenium and adiantum, are also accounted expectorant.

Of the mosses we know little. The lycopodium clavatum is employed externally; the 1. selago is peculiarly acrid and violent in its operation. The adianthum aureum is the politrichum commune of the botanist, and a capillary plant, consequently used as an expectorant.

The algae afford the lichen, many species of which are employed. These are in general bitter, mucilaginous, and supposed to be pectoral; but we shall speak at length of the species most used under the title of lichen islandicus. The muscus cumatilis (lichen aph-thosus) is peculiarly acrid and purgative. Prom the latter quality it has been considered as an anthelmintic. Infused in milk, it is given in Sweden to children in the aphthae. The other algae agree in no common property, if we except the ashes of the fuci, which, containing the natron and sea salt, are used with success in scrofula. Of the general properties of the fungi we have already spoken. Of their medical powers experience no longer permits us to speak, as they have been long disused.

We have followed this long discussion with anxious care, for the reasons already assigned. From a fair enquiry, we think it will appear that natural associations of medicinal plants in general possess similar virtues; and the principle is confirmed by the circumstance, that the less strictly natural orders, in a botanical view, contain plants most dissimilar in a medical. The conclusion, then, rigorously follows, that by cultivating natural orders we greatly improve our knowledge of the medicinal power of plants. It is this reflection that has led us in appearance so far from our path; and, after having rejected the general botanical -details, has induced us to engage at some length in the present disquisition. In fact, it was not in our power to examine medical botany in its most extensive range; we have, therefore, chosen the parts which seemed to admit of the most useful application. We have chosen it, too, though fully convinced of the labour it required, since no prototype existed; and, though the natural orders are now generally pointed out, the subject has not been properly followed in detail.