60 Von SCHRENK: TEACHING OF VEGETABLE PATHOLOGY 
studied without physiology as a basis. I can leave this part by 
simply referring to the absurdity of a medical student studying 
human pathology without understanding the circulation of the 
blood. Next in importance comes a knowledge of chemistry, and 
preferably at least a year of organic chemistry, and a knowledge of 
physics. Physiological problems are becoming more and more 
physico-chemical problems, and a thorough understanding of these 
sciences is absolutely essential. A good reading knowledge of 
modern languages, an understanding of the morphology of higher 
plants, and if possible of fungi and bacteria, together with an ability 
to grow fungi and bacteria may complete the list. This prepara- 
tion would mean that a course in pathology could not be begun 
until the senior year or thereafter. 
Coming now to the main subject as to what we are to teach, if ; 
would simply offer a few broad suggestions. It really does not 
make much difference as to how the subject is divided, so long 1 
as some of the fundamental conceptions of disease are included. | 
The amount of work which one will be able to accomplish will dg | 
pend upon the individual. I believe firmly that we ought to tra | 
a student so that he can think and work for himself, and that this | 
should be kept uppermost at all times. It is impossible in the - 
course of a year to study all diseases of plants, and granting that a7 
this is true, we must select certain fundamental facts to impre% | 
upon the student, allowing him to work out many others for him-— i 
self later on. Such fundamental facts are the cause of disease, the _ q 
symptoms of disease, the way in which diseases spread, the PT 
vention of disease, and the nature of disease. In his treatise on the 7 
Diseases of Plants recently issued, Professor Marshall Ward has 4! __ : 
cussed the topics just mentioned in a suggestive manner, and ing a 
way not presented before. | 
Taking it for granted that the student is familiar with the nF 
mal physiological behavior of a cell and cell-groups, one may ae 
gin the study of disease by noting the change in single cells of - 
cell-groups under abnormal conditions, and the reactions which 
are induced by these conditions. The study of wounds offers mA 
very fruitful field for the beginner, for we find in a wound one 
of changes which cells undergo when diseased. The irritable ais 
ture of the cell which enables it to form a protection against ' 
