practice some rather strong, but accepted, theories which became known as the Thomsonian System. Samuel Thomson gave much to the practice of treatment through Herbalogy. Present-day medicine is indebted to him for the introduction of Lobelia, Golden seal, and others, herbs which for centuries were used by the North American Indians. Students and practitioners may not agree completely, but it is one of the products of North America that you cannot bypass.
This book may be a decisive factor in your way of thinking as you learn from his followers. The total title is rather lengthy,“ Guide to Health” being the exposition of the principle of the Thomsonian system and its mode of application in the cure of every form of disease. First published in 1845 with the third edition appearing in 1846. Latest on hand to the author is a reprint from 1965. Because the book was unobtainable for so many years the reprint was done at the request of the public.
CULBRETH, DAVID M. R., PH. G., M. D., A Manual of Materia Medica and Pharmacology. VII & 627 pp. and 32 pp. of Index not marked. Publisher: Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, U. S. A. Seventh edition, thoroughly revised, 1927.
Pharmacopoeia comprising the organic drugs which are or have been recognized by the United States Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary together with important allied species. Especially designed for doctors, druggists, pharmacists and physicians. Contains 497 illustrations. Difficult to get, but very informative and useful to all concerned with medical practice. Rather technical for the beginner, but excellent for reference. Many Indian Materia Medica included as accepted in official Pharmacopoeia. Beautiful illustrations, now fading laborious gravures. Culpeper’ s Complete Herbal. Size 7½ × 5 in., XII & 430 pp., illustrations in colour, Index of Diseases and Herbs that cure, Petit type, very compact pages. Publisher: W. Foulsham and Co., London( England), New York( U. S. A.), Toronto( Canada), Sydney( Australia) and Cape Town( South Africa).
There are descriptions of 398 herbs, which includes plants of North America as they were adopted in Anglo-American medical practice. Full title,“ Culpeper’ s Complete Herbal”, consisting of comprehensive descriptions of nearly all herbs with their medical properties and directions for compounding the medicines extracted from them. The history of the popular herbs as medicine are not so many that mankind has forgotten them in centuries and millenniums.
Nicholas Culpeper( 1616 – 54) lived only 38 years, but left to us a name and practice which has lasted for over 300 years. Many original manuscripts on astrology and herbalism are treasures mankind has enjoyed and profited by from his short but impressive works. What Culpeper’ s popularity represents in terms of dollars no one can estimate today. Due to public demand the book is in libraries, and its sales in leading department stores tops that of many of the so-called best sellers. It has a steady, unseasonable, unprompted demand.
DANA, W. S., MRS. Illustrated by MARION SATTERLEE, How to Know the Wild Flowers. Size 8½ × 5½ in., XLI & 418 pp., Illustrations in black and white graphics. Publisher: Dover Publications, Inc., New York, N. Y., U. S. A. 1962.
This book was written by Mrs. William Starr Dana and dedicated to the same person. First published in 1895, it was later revised by Clarence J. Hylander. One of the best illustrated books as a guide to the names, haunts and habits of our common wild flowers. The botanical descriptions that are useful for students working in the field, and it contains excellent graphical drawings. Easily available, as it is published in both London, England, and the U. S. A. Today( 1973) it is seventyeight years old, comparatively young for a herbal book as most are of service and going strong after 300 – 400 years of use.
DASTUR, J. F., F. N. I. Medical Plants of India and Pakistan. Size 7½ × 5 in. Publisher: Taraporevala Sons and Co., Bombay, India. 1962.