314 THE HISTORY OF BIOLOGY 



Out of these are formed more complex organs, such as nerves, bones, liga- 

 ments, cartilages, muscular mass; and finally there are formed of these com- 

 ponents in various proportions the higher organs — ■ namely, intestines, 

 sensory organs, and musculature. Here we undoubtedly catch a glimpse of 

 the idea of tissue, which Bichat afterwards developed, independently of Reil 

 and more universally and radically than the latter. There is no doubt, how- 

 ever, that Reil also helped the succeeding generation, in Germany especially, 

 to define the terms on which anatomical science has since developed. 



2.. Humboldt 



In this connexion there is also worthy of mention a scientist who, like 

 those described in the foregoing, belongs both to the history of natural phi- 

 losophy and to that of exact natural science, but whose fame far outshone the 

 rest and who is universally looked upon as one of the greatest personalities 

 in the whole range of science: Alexander von Humboldt. He was born at 

 Berlin in 1769 of a distinguished and wealthy family; his father was chamber- 

 lain at the court, his mother came from a French family, who had gone into 

 exile for their Protestant faith. Having studied at the University of Gottingen 

 and at the mining academy at Freiberg, he entered the service of the Prussian 

 Mining Department and worked there for some years, until an ample in- 

 heritance placed him in a position of being able to devote himself to natural 

 science without having to earn his living. After preliminary studies and 

 travelling in Europe, he equipped at his own expense in the year 1799 a 

 journey of exploration to South America, which region he traversed in 

 various directions and explored so thoroughly that he was called the second 

 discoverer of America. After five years out there he returned home with rich 

 collections, which it took many years to work up. For this purpose he spent 

 a long time in Paris and there published an extensive account of his expedi- 

 tion, which made him world-famous. He spent all his fortune on the journey 

 and its description, but the King of Prussia indemnified him by presenting 

 him with a well-paid post as chamberlain; he rejected offers of university ap- 

 pointments. In 1817 he settled in Berlin and there spent the rest of his days, 

 except for a short expedition to Russia and Siberia. In close contact with the 

 royal family, yet retaining the liberal ideas of his youth, respected as one 

 of the great men of science and highly esteemed for his lovable person- 

 ality, he lived to a great age, working incessantly at different branches of 

 science, though certainly towards the end with diminished energies. He died 

 in 1859. 



Humboldt was an unusually highly gifted personality, artistically as 

 well as scientifically, and he has exercised an extraordinarily varied influence 



