710 HERMANN VON HELMHOLTZ. 



is evident that tlie passion was controlled by a strong- vein of common 

 sense. Neitlier at tliat time, nor for many years afterwards, was a liv- 

 ing to be made out of pliysics. The only influential meiuber of the 

 family was a military surgeon. It was therefore decided that the young 

 man should adopt the profession of his relative, and devote to his 

 favorite science such time as he might be able to spare from more 

 urgent duties. 



It was not long before the characteiistic bent of his mind displayed 

 itself. He was the pui)il of Johannes Miillei-, from Avhose laboratory 

 came many of the most distinguished German physiologists of tlielast 

 generation. The first two papers which Helmholtz published were on 

 fermentation and muscular action, respectively, but the first effort 

 which attracted general attraction was an essay on the Conservation 

 of Force, published in 1847, when he was 20 years of age. 



It is unnecessary to repeat the oft-told tale of how the pioneers of the 

 great generalization, now called the conservation of energy, were for 

 a time ignored. German physicists turned away from Mayer. Eng- 

 land would not hear, or listened in unintelligent silence to Joule. But 

 the year 1847 was an epoch in the history of science. Joule himself, 

 for the first time, claimed the full extent of the territory he had con- 

 quered. '-On the 28th of April, 1847," says his biographer, "Joule 

 gave a popular lecture in Manchester, at St. Anne's Church reading 

 room,-' and chose this opportunity to deliver "the first full and clear 

 exposition of the universal conservation of that principle now called 

 energy." 



The local press would at first have nothing to do with the address, 

 "One paper refused to give even notice of it." "The Manchester 

 Guardian would, as a favor, print extracts to be selected by them- 

 selves." Finally the Manchester Courier, aftin- long debate, promised 

 to insert the whole as a special favor, not to Joule, but to his brother. 



Of course no l)lame can attach to the newspaper men for failing to 

 recognize the importance of views that were rejected by many of the 

 best known scientific authorities, but the theories which in April were 

 hawked from one provincial editor to another, found in June, when the 

 British Association met at Oxford, an advocate who compelled atten- 

 tion. Joule has told the story himself. All the circumstances were 

 depressing. An earlier paper, read some years before, had. attracted 

 little notice. The chairman, perhaps on this account, suggested that 

 the author should be brief. No discussion was invited. In a moment 

 the meeting would have i^assed to other business, and the enunciation 

 of his views would once more have faded "if a young man had not 

 risen in the section and, by his intelligent observations, created a lively 

 interest in the new theory. The young man was William Thomson." 

 The result was that the paper created a great sensation, and from that 

 moment the tide of opinion turned. 



What Thomson did in June, in Oxford, Helmholtz did scarcely a 



