79(3 CARL GEGENBAUR. 



At llic age of ID Gegenbaur entered upon the study of medicine 

 and natural science at the University of Wiirzburg, somewhat 

 against tlie Avishes of his parents, thougli with the idea already con- 

 ceived of later becoming a naturalist. It was fortunate for him 

 that just at the time that he took up his studies, Wiirzburg had its 

 most l)rilliant era in medical science. K()lliker and Virchow, two 

 world-renowned men of science, were there, in their jDrime, as were 

 also such excellent assistants as Leydig and Heinrich Miiller. 



After attaining the doctor's degree (April 15, 1851), for which 

 he competed with Kiilliker, and after com])leting his medical studies, 

 Gegenbaur could not make up his mind to enter upon the practice 

 of medicine, although he had served for a few semesters as assist- 

 ant to his friend Friedreich on the resident staff of the Julius hos- 

 pital. It was his ardent desire to become a naturalist and to enter 

 upon a university career. Before he installed himself as private 

 instructor, liowever, he experienced what he himself terms in his 

 autobiography, a " period of wandering j'ears." lie journeyed 

 through North Germany, where in Berlin he made the acquaintance 

 of Johannes Miiller. He pursued hurriedly for some Aveeks a study 

 of the marine animals of* Helgoland, and then embarked on an 

 important scientific journey to Italy and Sicily, in Avhich he was 

 encouraged hy K<")11iker, who himself Avas undertaking Avith Heinrich 

 Miiller certain zoological investigations in Messina. After SAvitzer- 

 land and Italy had been traA'ersed, Gegenbaur arriA'ed Avith his 

 friends in Messina, and occupied the fall and Avinter months in a 

 zoological study of jNIessina's Avonderful sea fauna. A journey 

 through Sicily, folloAved by prolonged stays in Naples, Kome, and 

 northern Italy, brought the " Avandering years " to a close. Avhich 

 period, according to his OAvn statement, constitutes an im])ortant 

 e])och in the life of the great savant. 



I In 1854 Gegenbaur Avas installed in AViirzbui-g as private in- 

 structor of the medical faculty, and taught for three sessions the 

 subject of zoology. 



Fi'om here he Avas called as early as 1856 as extraordinary pro- 

 fessor to Jena, as successor to Oscar Schmidt, and as soon thereafter 

 the famous anatomist Iluschke dietl, he succeeded to the latter's 

 position as regular professor of human anatomy in the medical 

 faculty, Avhich position he occupied until his call to Heidelberg in 



•1873. " Jena," Gegenbaur states in his autobiography, " Avas for 

 me in every respect a high school, in Avhich I receiA-ed knoAvledge 

 in many directions, and eA'erything Avhich I have later accomplished 

 liad there its origin and gives me reason for lasting thanks. I regard 

 it as most fortunate for me to have remained for so long a time in 

 Jena in my youth, the influence of which stay is indelibly impressed 

 upon me." 



