468 TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



of the officers of, The St. Louis Medical Society and The West- 

 ern Academy. For many years, also, he was President of the 

 German Medical Society of St. Louis. His barometrical obser- 

 vations, and his botanical and mineralogical collections in the 

 South-west, together with his ''Memoir," must be considered as 

 valuable contributions to Science. In later years an extensive 

 medical practice absorbed almost his entire time, but did not 

 altogether interfere with his scientific work, and he contributed 

 largely to the proceedings of this association. His meteorologi- 

 cal observations, begun in the interest of his friend, Dr. En- 

 gelmann, during the latter's absence in Europe in 1S58, he 

 continued until his eyesight began to fail. In 1S61 he took up 

 the study of atmospheric electricity with his wonted enthusiasm 

 and perseverance, in the belief that this would prove the most 

 important factor in meteorological science. Equipped with the 

 best instruments obtainable at the time, he continued his tedious 

 investigations until he became convinced that they would lead to 

 only negative results — a fact now generally acknowledged. He 

 found that daily variations existed as well as numerous sudden 

 changes, local in character and without positive significance- — a 

 result that has not been materially altered by the improved in- 

 struments of the day. 



With advancing age Dr. Wislizenus withdrew more and more 

 from contact with his fellow-men, and during liis last years he 

 led a most secluded life at the home of his son, being closely 

 confined to the house by increasing infirmity and the loss of his 

 eyesight ; he was now seen but rarely at the meetings of the 

 Academy, and from the practice of medicine he was forced to 

 retire altogether. After a lingering aud extremely trying illness 

 Dr. Wislizenus died on the 226. September, 1S89, in the 80th 

 year of his age, and in accordance with his long expressed wish 

 he was laid to rest on a projecting spur of the forest-clad hills 

 of his country home. 



