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Show Conservation of Medical Plants. The rapid destruction of tho forests of tho United States, especially in tho Eastern East-ern portions, with tho consequent interference inter-ference with tho wator supply, change in climate, etc., has for some years boon a matter of serious concern to tho thoughtful thought-ful cltlzon. A recent urtlcle by Dr. Henry Kraemer emphasizes an aspect of this question that Is of particular interest to 'tho modlcal profession. This writer statos that if the present rato of gathering of natlvo herbs and drugs continues for ten yoars It 1b probable that our principal modlclnol plants will bo wollnlgli exterminated, exter-minated, unliiiJB meosuroB arts taken cither to consorve or cultivate them, Inqulrlou indicate, that some of our well known plants aro alroady nuarly oxtormlnated, Among theso are npigolla, ecrpentarla, oqnqgu and cynrlpedlum, The possibility of improving plants by soloctlon and cultivation, cul-tivation, as has been dono with cocoa and cinchona, is an Incontlvo to tholr study, out of groator Importance Is a knowledge of tho peculiar roquiromuuts of each. In ordor that thoy may bft cultivated, If thin Phould bo noocssary to lnuuro thoir por-potuity, por-potuity, Tno following clarification la Kjvcmt Cultlvafixl medlolnal plantH In tho United Statos, 1C0; wild Indigenous or nnu-trolUcd, nnu-trolUcd, 178! foreign plantn that might bo cultivated, 75. This shows that approxi mately three-fourths of all medicinal plants are growing wild or In cultivation In this country, and that of tho remaining remain-ing one-fourth probably one-half could bo grown here. The article in question Is very pertinent and timely, and should be brought to tho attention of not only physicians phy-sicians but also nurserymen and the laity, who primarily must tako the matter mat-ter In hand American Medicine. |