230 Alexander Petriinkevitch, Ph.D., 



another in Nishnij Novgorod and succumbed finally to a slow 

 affection of the brain. He described the formation of the river 

 valleys in European Russia in 1878, and in the next year gave 

 expression to the then novel idea of the influence of the geo- 

 graphical factor in the formation of soils. In 1883 in his stand- 

 ard work on Russian black earth he explained its origin through 

 the decomposition of the herbaceous plants of the steppe under 

 the influence of climatic factors which exist even at present. He 

 published many investigations on soils which he regarded as 

 things different from minerals and rocks and the study of which 

 he raised to the level of a separate science. His private life, full 

 of privations, sufferings, disappointments and struggle, is one of 

 the saddest chapters in the history of Russian men of science and 

 will be forever an example of achievement through nothing but 

 talent and indomitable will. 



Turning our attention to biological sciences in the broader sense 

 of the word, I should like to touch only briefly on physiology and 

 adjoining fields of knowledge, for this science is so intricately 

 connected with other aspects of human life that it should find 

 special consideration in connection with medicine. Four names 

 command our admiration, Setchenoff, Tarkhanoff, Pavloff, and 

 Bekhtereff, each with a group of followers many of whom are 

 known throughout the world. 



Ivan Mikhailovitch Setchenoff, born in 1829, received his first 

 education as officer in a military academy, but left service to study 

 medicine at the University of Moscow from which he graduated 

 in 1856. He occupied the chair of physiology at first at the 

 IVIedico-Surgical Academy, then at the Novorossiisk University, 

 then at the University of St. Petersburg and finally at the Uni- 

 versity of Moscow, where he served until he was retired, con- 

 tinuing in the capacity of private-dozent and emeritus at the same 

 time. He was a man of broad knowledge and deep thought, 

 commanding the respect and admiration of the widest circles. 

 He published investigations about the gases in the blood, about 

 alcoholic intoxication, cerebrospinal reflexes, about centers inhib- 

 iting reflexes, about the innervation of the heart, and so on. 

 Especially well known in Russia are his "Physiology of Vegeta- 

 tive Processes," "Reflexes of the Brain," "Psychological Stud- 

 ies." and "Elements of Thought." I remember his speech at 

 the meeting of physicians and naturalists in Moscow more than 



