A contribution to South African materia medica : chiefly from plants in use among the natives / by Andrew Smith.

  • Smith, Andrew, 1797-1872.
Date:
[1895]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A contribution to South African materia medica : chiefly from plants in use among the natives / by Andrew Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    A Contribution to South Africa Materia Medica, By ANDREW SMITH of St. CYRUS, M.A. Press Notices of previous Edition. It is with very great pleasure that we have perused the above work. It is not too much to say that we have never seen a book written by a non-professional man that was so valuable a contribution to medical science The chapter on snake poison antidotes is exceptionally good. Two species of Leonotis, Teucrium Africamim, JHelianthus comoms, Slepharis Capensis, Crahbea cirsioides, and several others are classed as remedies under this heading. . . We must however resist the temptation to quote further from this most interesting book, which is a veritable fact heap.—South Afri- can Medical Journal. At Lovedale at any rate the importance of medical science as a handmaid to religion receives due recognition. We have long looked for information such as is here presented in manual and very handy form, as to the possible value of the contributions which South Africa can make towards the provision of medicinal drugs . . . The chapters on cobra and viper poisons, remedies for snake-bite, plants as re- me lies for stomach an 1 liver disorders, (and for those) arising from blood-poisoning, will be found of more than technical and professional interest ; while the advice contained in the chapters on lung-sickness, gall-sickness, horse-sickness, and all the ills that cattle-flesh is heir to, will, especially as it is couched in language clear and telling, prove worthy of study by stock farmers. Some able Appendices on consumption among civil- lized Natives, fruits in relation to climate, redwater, pasture and graminivora, bring a very valuable and interesting contribution to one of the most important branches of scientific investigation. It is in the production of literature such as this that Lovedale will prove an important factor in urging forward the welfare of South Africa generally. —East London Dispatch. This is a work worthy of all attention in scientific circles, while to the general reader, if he have any knowledge of country house remedies, it will be pleasant to check his his knowledge by what is here set down, as the names of all the South African medi- cal plants known to the author are given in Dutch as well as Kaffir, and the botanical name is also given for scientific identification .... The book is beautifully printed and the matter care :ully arranged.—The Argus. The Lovedale Institution, at which this valuable work is \ ublished, has done most important work for the benefit of the Natives of South A frit a, for which all classes must lie thankful. Missionaries not only elevate and improve those for whom they leave home and the higher civilization, but they make their \-xn\ ils ca] able of advancing the well-being of those Europeans who settle among them, or employ their necessary services The work is exceedingly interesting even to a read- er without botanical or medical knowledge. The names of plants are given scientif- ically, and in both Dutch and Kaffir. Many most valuable antidotes to poisons may thus be easily identified by any intelligent and observant person.—Church Neirsfor South Africa. That the labour expended in its compilation is evidenced on every page. That a perusal o~ its interesting contents will convince even the most casual obser- ver, that our South African veld and bush abound in priceless medicinal plants.— Grocoft's Mail. It adds a fresh interest to one's walks abroad, to be able to recognise very many, if not most, of the plants here named, as growing in our immediate vicinity. Mr. Smith's description of them is quite sufficient for the botanical student. The general reader cannot expect to identify a specimen from the description given ; but should a plant be inquire 1 for under its Native name, and a wrong plant substituted for it, the general reader if careful will usually be able to detect the imposition. We express our high opinion of the work, and recommend all interested to procure it for themselves.—Bed- ford Enterprise.