CAKL GEGENBAUR. 789 



rosentod a coinpoiuliiini of his life's rosoarclics. the Coiiiparativo 

 AnatoiHV of tho Vortohratos as Compared with (he Iiivcrtchi-alcs. 

 Of this 'xreal work. -Aliich Go<>(Mil)aur had I he ph'asiii-c of s('('iii<; 

 completed in the closiiio- years of his life, the first voliiinc appeared 

 in 1898, anil the second in 1001, oidy two years i)efore his death. 



Bnt (Jeji-enbaur was not only a successfnl natnralist; he was also. 

 until the time of his death, an ardent teacher of hnni;in anatomy, 

 and was very popular with his pupils. This all'orded him oppoi-- 

 tunity also to connnunicate 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 ISDC. Convinced of the hiofh 

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

 ance to add to the interest of the study of the human body and make 

 many of its relationships better understood, lie desired, as set forth 

 by him in the fourth edition, "' through its application to anatomical 

 stud}' to illuminate it." '' Teaching means unfolding," as he tersely 

 adds. 



Although (jegenbaur did not possess the brilliant 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, immediately obtained a wide circulation 

 among students, as is best attested by the rai)idly appearing succes- 

 sive editions. 



The biography of so distinguished a personality as (iregenbaur is 

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

 will doubtless be a number of biographical notices relating prin- 

 cipally to his scientific accomplishments, (iegenbaur himself has 

 given us, however, a small pamphlet with the title " Erlebtes un<i 

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

 tion of which gives evidence of approaching feebleness and retire- 

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

 his accustomed vigor. 



Carl Gegenbaur Avas born in Wiirzburg, on August 21, 1821), and 

 Avas 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 Avas developed the 

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

 prominent characteristic. 



Gegenbaur secured his preparatory training in AViii/,l»urg. where 

 he graduated in 1845. In his biography he characterizes classic 

 literature as "the true friend" of his life's career, since he was then, 

 as ahvays, a decided op[)onent of the movement for reform by the 

 curtailing of classical studies. 



