the late Professor liudolpht. 235 



part in this investigation as to examine the hypothesis of sen- 

 sible atmospheres of the nerves ; and the grounds on which 

 he controverted the proofs deduced from galvanic experiments 

 on animals, hold still good at the present day. After it was 

 perceived that galvanism is only a stimulant for the powers 

 of the parts of the animal body, and after the application of 

 this stimulant on the animal fibres had afforded the physiolo- 

 gists all that could then be obtained, it was discovered that too 

 much had been expected for the science of physiology from 

 that discovery, and that medical men, instead of employing 

 this means, under new and productive points of view, for fur- 

 ther investigations, became alienated from it. What was now 

 easier for many than to give themselves up to the deceptions 

 of a physiological mysticism or magic, which always made the 

 so called animal-magnetic power more full of pretension and 

 more infectious, and which interpreted the difficulties of phy- 

 siology in a more convenient and simple manner. How me- 

 lancholy is the picture of those strivings, — how depressing in 

 contrast to the hopes of that period in which the work on the 

 excited fibres of the nerves and muscles made its appearance, 

 and shewed the method in which advances were to be made. 

 A prevalent arrogant and often superficial manner of philoso- 

 phizing on natural objects could offer to those who really re- 

 flected in the face of this giddiness, but little that was consola- 

 tory. Even in Berlin, the focus of the most esteemed scientific 

 exertions, credulous individuals were not awanting. There it 

 was that Rudolphi checked the diffusion of such opinions by 

 his vigorous opposition, and great gratitude is due to him for 

 turning back medical men from the field of medical supersti- 

 tion. Other examples might be adduced of the services ren- 

 dered by Rudolphi's candid expression of opinion against false 

 directions of investigation. We still enjoy the beneficial re- 

 sults — they are similar to those of the operation of the yearly 

 reports by the great Swedish chemist on the more exact pro- 

 secution of the sciences. 



Rudolphi gave an abstract of his physiological doctrines in 

 his Elements of Physiology (Grundriss der Physiologic), of 

 which the first volume appeared in 1821, the 1st part of the 

 second volume in 1823, and the 2d part in 1828. The last 



