218 Investigations in Plant Pathology 



'n philosophy. But before leaving Michigan he and Spalding had 

 collected and studied many parasitic species. During the first 

 semester 1889-1890 the class in plant physiology under Spalding 

 had translated Zimmermann's Pflanzenzelle and the second semes- 

 ter read Sachs's treatise on physiology. Considerable time was spent 

 also with laboratory experiments and special reports. Later, on 

 an extended leave of absence, Spalding was to return to Europe to 

 study at Leipzig and other universities and botanical institutes. 



What physiology and pathology Russell learned while in Europe 

 was more on the animal than plant side of biological investigation. 

 This was true of his friend Stiles who happened also to be in 

 Berlin. Stiles persuaded Russell to visit the famous Marine 

 Zoological Station at Naples where a research table for American 

 scientists interested in research was maintained. Russell travelled 

 in Germany and the Tyrol Mountains, stopped at Venice and 

 Rome, and, arriving at Naples, was invited by Dr. Anton Dohrn, 

 officer in charge, to stay. Russell's suggestion that he study 

 bacteria of the deep sea met with Dr. Dohrn's approval and he 

 was given laboratory quarters with two or three scientists who 

 were studying tropical diseases. Russell remained at Naples 

 seven months and, after further study at L'Institut Pasteur at 

 Paris, he had to choose whether to stay in Europe, or return to 

 the United States, to complete his work for the degree Doctor of 

 Philosophy. 



He chose America. Bacteriologists, even in Europe, were still 

 preoccupied with studying bacteria as an adjunct or " anhang " to a 

 medical course. Russell was desirous of studying the non-parasitic, 

 more normal functions, and, in this, anticipated his future leading 

 role as a milk bacteriologist and student of fermentation. Many 

 European scholars had not begun to study bacteria in the light 

 of their productive functions in foods. Only one or two, Russell 

 found, viewed them as living organisms, and neither the Naples 

 institution nor the Pasteur Institute granted degrees. At the least, 

 he believed more was to be gained by taking advantage of '" the 

 broad educational outlook that was coming to be widely recognized 

 in the work of the Johns Hopkins University," which esteemed 

 research and graduate work as of special significance. From boy- 

 hood, plant life had always fascinated Russell. But how to study 

 plants and yet take work in Welch's laboratory seemed to present 



