842 CHARLES SEDGWICK MINOT. 



He went to Europe in 1873, working first at Leipzig with Ludwig 

 in physiology, then at Paris with Ranvier in histology, and at Wlirz- 

 burg with Semper in zoology. His was not the common fleeting visit 

 to these laboratories, but in each his stay was sufficiently long for him 

 to become acquainted not only with the laboratory work and methods, 

 but with the ideals which directed it. While at Leipzig under Lud- 

 wig's direction, he studied the production of CO2 in the active and 

 resting muscle. He returned to America in 1876 and conducted an 

 extensive series of experiments on tetanus, which was published in 

 1878, and in the same year received from Harvard University the 

 degree of Doctor of Science. 



In 1880 he received his first academic appointment, that of Lecturer 

 on Embryology in the Harvard Medical School, and Instructor in 

 Oral Pathology and Surgery in the Dental School. At that time it 

 was unusual anywhere that instruction in a medical subject should be 

 given by a person who had never taken the degree of Doctor of Medi- 

 cine, and the appointment of Minot was a distinct break in the 

 academic tradition. The appointment was due to the far-sighted 

 intelligence of Mr. Eliot, who recognized the ability of Minot and de- 

 sired for the Medical School the influence which a man trained in the 

 traditions of pure science would exert on both the faculty and the stu- 

 dents. The appointment was not welcomed in the faculty, and for a 

 long time Minot undoubtedly suffered from his supposed deficiencies. 

 The idea that a man teaching in a medical school should have some 

 knowledge of disease and be able to give an added interest to the subject 

 he teaches by pointing out the practical application of what is taught is 

 not altogether a faulty one, for medicine, certainl}^ for the majority 

 of those entering into it is an art, but like all other arts founded on 

 science. In 1883 he was advanced to the position of Instructor in 

 Histology and Embryology, and this subject was given a satisfactory 

 place in the curriculum, though it was a number of years before labo- 

 ratory instruction in this subject was made obligatory and a definite 

 part of the course. In the year 1887 he was advanced to the position 

 of Assistant Professor. After the usual term of five years he was made 

 Professor of Histology and Embryology, and when the James Still- 

 man Professorship of Comparative xVnatomy was founded he was 

 transferred to that positioji. Upon the death of Doctor Dwight, 

 in 1911, the subjects of Anatomy and Histology were placed together, 

 and in 1912 he was made Director of the combined laboratories. 



As a member of the faculty Minot was always outspoken, clear 

 and logical. He never sought to obtain any end by suavity or the 



