THE LOCAL PLANT DOCTOR. 

 By Prof. H. H. Whetzel, Ithaca, New York. 



Delivered before the Society, with stereopticon illustrations, January 



21. 1911. 



The John Lewis Russell Lecture. 



The study of human diseases began in the misty days of pre- 

 historic times. Even among savage tribes the "medicine man" 

 has been an important and powerful member of the community. 

 The study and treatment of animal diseases (Veterinary medicine) 

 is by no means a modern science, but the study of diseases in plants 

 has been developed almost entirely within the last 60 years. 

 Human ills have called forth the development of one of our most 

 important and powerful professions. This great army of trained 

 physicians and surgeons, constantly recruited from our medical 

 colleges, work night and day to relieve our aches and pains and 

 stay the spread of contagious diseases. The humblest citizen has 

 at his call the immediate services of a general practitioner or expert 

 specialist. The farmer or stockman no longer depends upon his 

 own limited knowledge for the treatment of his sick animals. 

 Even that voluminous "horse doctor book" which used to occupy 

 so prominent a place along with the family Bible on the center 

 table of his father's home, has been carried to the garret. He has 

 learned that it is more profitable to depend upon the skill of the 

 professional Veterinarian at the village, than to try to treat diseases 

 and apply remedies, the nature and effects of which he too little 

 understands. 



The rise and development of Plant Pathology has come relatively 

 late in the history of the race. In fact, Plant Pathology as a dis- 

 tinct profession can scarcely be said to have more than just appeared 

 in our economic system. So far as I know, only two institutions 

 in this country at present maintain distinct teaching departments 



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