34 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Eostock. In 1858, after visiting Vienna, he returned to Frank- 

 fort, and began private practice as a physician, working at 

 histology in his spare time : amongst his contributions to this 

 subject ma)' be mentioned his discovery of the minute structure 

 of the heart-muscles. In 1859 he joined the Medical staff of 

 the Army and went to Italy, then visited Paris, and — for two 

 months only — studied Zoology under Leuckart at Giessen, 

 working at the subject day and night. On returning to Frank- 

 fort, he soon tired of his practice, and in 1861 accepted the 

 position of private physician to the Archduke Stephan of Austria, 

 at Schaumburg Castle on the Lahn. Here he remained two 

 years, spending his leisure time in zoological research. In 1863 

 he came to Freiburg-iui-Breisgau as a Privat-Docent, and in 

 1866 was elected Professor Extraordinarius in that University, 

 and some years afterwards Professor Ordinarius. This chair he 

 held until his retirement in 1912, in spite of calls to other 

 Universities. 



In 1867, Weismann married Mary, the eldest daughter of 

 Adolf Gruber of Genoa. The second daughter later became the 

 wife of Robert Wiedersheim, and the eldest living son, August, 

 took up Zoology as a profession : these both still hold Professor- 

 ships in Preiburg. The various members of the large family 

 regularly assembled during the summer vncation at their father's 

 beautiful estate on the Lake of Constance, where AVeismann 

 made his studies on the microscopic fauna of the lake. 



Weismann's family consists of four daughters and one son, 

 who was only four years old when his mother died. The death 

 of Weismann's gentle and refined wife was a great blow to him, 

 and he devoted himself more and more to his work and to the 

 care and education of his little son, who, at an early age, showed 

 a marked gift for music. In consequence of this and of the fact 

 that the boy's health needed care, his father decided not to let 

 him continue his ordinary course at the Gymnasium after his 

 14th year. Julius Weismann is now well in the foreground 

 amongst the younger composers : his music was a constant source 

 of joy to his father. Both Weismann and his wife were 

 extremely musical, and in the earlier days he played the piano a 

 great deal. His memory was wonderful, and he was able to keep 

 up his playing of Bach's works until his 80th year, although his 

 fingers almost refused to do their worli and his sight nearly 

 failed him. 



In 1864, as a result of overstrain with microscopic and other 

 work, Weismann's eyes began to suffer, and the hypersemia and 

 great sensitiveness of the retina became more and more serious as 

 time went on, acting as a continual break on his energies, causing 

 him much physical and mental pain, and nearly resulting in the 

 abandonment of his career. This trying period would have been 

 insupportable had it not been for the true companionship and 

 loving care and sympathy of his wife, who encouraged and helped 

 him in everything. In order to try the effect of a long rest he 



