22 UTILITY OP THB (JLECT. I, 



but the resemblances which characterize the va- 

 rious members of the same family, and which are 

 perfectly obvious and striking to the Botanist, are 

 overlooked and cannot be perceived by an ordinary 

 observer. The advantages of a knowledge of Bo- 

 tany, also, and of the habits of plants, to the phy- 

 sician, are equally evident in the assistance they 

 afford in the cultivation of a branch of the profes- 

 sion, which has lately been much and properly at- 

 tended to; I refer to medical topography ; a subject 

 important to all, but absolutely requisite to the 

 military medical practitioner. Suppose, for ex- 

 ample, that an army is about to encamp in an 

 enemy's country, and in a situation where circum- 

 stances may require that it should remain for a 

 considerable time. The season of the year, and 

 the kind of weather prevailing at the moment, 

 may render it difficult for the medical staff to pro- 

 nounce whether the place be healthy or otherwise; 

 ^nd the information afforded by experience is too 

 }ate to prevent the impending evil, should it prove 

 unhealthy. But the very plants which cover the 

 soil clothe with a prophetic character the Botanical 

 physician, and enable him to anticipate the danger 

 which it is requisite to avoid. Yet how little has 

 this branch of study been attended to in the edu- 

 cation of professional men; who, before they pre- 

 sume to commence the performance of the duties 

 expected of them, ought at least to be acquainted 



