GAEL GEGENBAUR. 789 



resented a compeniliuin of his life's researches, the Comparative 

 Anatomy of the Vertebrates as Compared with the Invertebrates. 

 Of this oTeat work, which' 'Gegenbaur had the i)leasure of seeing 

 completed in the closing years of his life, the first volume appeared 

 in 1808. and the second in 1901, oidy two years before his death. 



But Gegenbaur was n()t only a successful naturalist; he was also, 

 until the time of his death, an ardent teacher of huuian anatomy, 

 and was very popular with his pupils. This a Horded him oppor- 

 tunity also to communicate the fruits of his scientific endeavors for 

 the advancement of anatomical study. There was such a demand 

 for his text-book of human anatomy that, published in 1883, it had 

 already reached its sixth edition in 18i)(). Convinced of the high 

 didactic value of the genetic method, he endeavored with its assist- 

 ance to add to the interest of the study of the human l)ody and make 

 many of its relationshii)s l)etter understood. Tie desired, as set forth 

 by him in the fourth edition. " through its ap|)!ication to anatomical 

 study to illuminate it." " Teaching means unfolding," as he tersely 

 adds. 



Although Gegenbaur did not possess the l)rilliant style of a Ilyrtl, 

 and although his descriptions were often tedious and sometimes 

 difficult to comprehend, his text-book, on account of the substantial 

 nature of its contents, innnediately obtained a wide circulation 

 among students, as is best attested by the rapidly api)earing succes- 

 sive editions. 



The biography of so distinguished a personality as Gegenbaur is 

 always of interest to his contemporaries and to posterity, and there 

 will doubtless be a number of biogi-aphical notices relating vvm- 

 cipally to his scientific accomplishments. Gegenbaur himself has 

 given us, however, a small pamphlet with the title '' Erlebtes und 

 Erstrebtes **' (Life and Strife), a concise autobiography, the prepara- 

 tion of which gives evidence of api)roaching feel)leness and retire- 

 ment from active service of the great savant, who no longer possessed 

 his accustomed vigor. 



Carl Gegenbaur was born in Wiirzburg, on August 21, 18-20. and 

 was the son of an official of good position. In consequence of vari- 

 ous assignments of his father, he spent the earlier years of his youth 

 in Weissenburg in Middle Franconia,^ and later in Arnstein in the 

 Rhon Mountains. Here in rural surroundings was develoj^ed the 

 foundation for his deep interest in nature, which was always a 

 prominent characteristic. 



Gegenbaur secured his preparatory training in Wiitzburg. where 

 he graduated in 1845. In his l)iography he characterizes classic 

 literature as "the true fi-ieiid " of his life's career, since lie was tlien. 

 as always, a decided opponent of the movement for reform bv the 

 curtailinc: of. classical -tu(bes. 



