644 EUDOLPH VIRCHOW, 1821-1902. 



development, perhaps recalling his own experiences, for Virchow's 

 own thoughts had grown up in Goethe's school. 



It fell to Virchow also to deliver a memorial address for the other 

 master, who, next to Midler, had exerted the greatest influence upon 

 him. This was for Johann Lukas Shonlein, and was delivered at the 

 Berlin University in 1865." In ]K)th these addresses we find many 

 things indicative of Virchow's own course of growth, but still more 

 numerous are the interesting historical references. Particularly valu- 

 able are notes on the development of medicine as a science in the first 

 half of the nineteenth century. While yet a student Virchow had 

 aided in this, and before the end of his student da3^s he engaged 

 actively in research along these lines. On October 21, 1848, the 

 degree of doctor was conferred upon him by Johannes MiiUer (then 

 dean of the faculty of medicine) for his work on the inflammation of 

 the cornea (De rheumate pra?sertim cornea^). Kudolph Virchow 

 remained for a long time assistant at the charity hospital, but on 

 March 20, 1846, he passed the state examination, with the added com- 

 mendatory words "very good" and "as operative surgeon." The 

 time preceding this, however, had been a very important period of 

 his life, for he had l)egun his career as a student of nature. More 

 and more he occupied himself with the scientific treatment of the 

 anatomic m-aterial of the hospital, assisting the demonstrator of 

 anatomy, RoV)ert Froriep, who, with just respect for his ability, 

 shared man}" operations with him. At the solicitation of this dis- 

 criminating friend, the general physician, Grimm, appointed Virchow 

 to the position of assistant at the dissecting laboratory of the hospital 

 in the year 1844. His gratitude to Froriep is suitably expressed in 

 the preface of a volume of collected works'^ dedicated to his master 

 and friend, and doing honor to l)oth master and pupil. Almost ten 

 years after he himself had ]>ecome in his turn demonstrator of anatomy 

 at the hospital, this volume, in which his scattered and often diflicultl}^ 

 accessil)le papers are ))rought together, was dedicated by Virchow to 

 the man who had guided his first steps in the line of scientific in<|uiry. 



On Ma}' 11, 1846, not two months after passing the state examina- 

 tion, Virchow became acting demonstrator of anatomy at the hospital 

 in the place of Fi'oriep, who had retired, although the definitive 

 appointment was made conditional on his separation from the military 

 connection. The impression had been current that Virchow's depar- 

 ture from the Pepiniere was not voluntar}', but in consequence of dif- 

 ferences there; l)ut, In I'eality, the case was exactly the reverse. His 

 departure was accompanied by the cabinet order of April 6, 1847, 

 which expressed in a most gracious way the appreciation of his scien- 

 tific labors and released him from some years further military service 



«GetliiflitnisrtMlo auf .lohanu Lukas Sclu'nik'iii. Berlin, 1865. 

 ^Collected writings on the science of medicine. Frankfurt a. ni., 185*3. 



