742 HENRY PICKERING BOWDITCH. 



attention of Ludwig to the young American's abilities. The contriving 

 of the Bowditch clock was another product of the Leipzig experience. 

 In the Harvard laboratory the invention of a new form of induction 

 apparatus, with the secondary coil turning at various angles to the 

 primary, and the devising of a new form of plethysmograph to register 

 changes in the volume of organs, testify to his ingenuity. 



That apparatus is a means to an end, however, he never forgot, and 

 for many years he was engaged in researches of striking range and 

 originality. Besides his investigations of the peculiar functions of 

 cardiac muscle, he demonstrated the indefatigability of nerves, made 

 interesting observations on the knee-jerk and conditions affecting it, per- 

 formed experiments which showed the force of ciliary motion, studied 

 the effects of different rates and intensities of stimulation on the action 

 of vaso-motor nerves, conducted an exhaustive examination of the rate 

 of growth of school-children, and collaborated with workers in still other 

 fields of physiological science. 



In the teaching of physiology Dr. Bowditch's instruction was marked 

 by wide learning, clear discussion of controverted questions, cautious 

 inference when convincing demonstration was not forthcoming, and 

 orderly exposition. His lectures were unusually well illustrated, by 

 methods which made lasting impressions. The sending of students to 

 original sources for material for physiological theses was a notable con- 

 tribution to educational procedure. The conferences at which the 

 theses were read and the weekly quizzes were delightfully informal and 

 conversational. For thirty-five years Dr. Bowditch continued his help- 

 ful relations to students of the Harvard Medical School. In 1876 he 

 was made Professor of Physiology ; and in 1903, when the George Hig- 

 ginson Professorship of Physiology was established, he was appointed 

 first occupant of the chair. 



Further service to physiology he performed by assisting to found the 

 American Physiological Society, of which he was the second president. 

 The character of the Society as an association of active investigators is 

 largely the result of his initiative. His example and his frank appre- 

 ciation of original work as it was newly reported at meetings of the 

 Society were an important source of encouragement to young men be- 

 ginning physiological investigation. The American Journal of Physiol- 

 ogy also received his support from the time it was first suggested. Both 

 the American Physiological Society and its journal have been of incal- 

 culable value in stimulating physiological and biochemical research in 

 this country. 



Dr. Bowditch's relations to medicine were not, however, confined to 

 the advancement of physiology alone, taken even in the wide sense in 



