146 Wilhelm His 



mittee for the study of the brain by the International Association of 

 Academies, of which more presently. 



In 1872^ the chair of anatomy at Leipsic became vacant and through 

 the efforts of Ludwig, His was secured. Professor Ludwig told me that 

 it was by no means the unanimous will of the faculty to call His, for in 

 general he was not well known, nor was he considered a good teacher. 

 But Ludwig knew his man for he had found in His the strongest oppo- 

 nent of his notions regarding lymph radicles ; furthermore, he was fully 

 able to appreciate the author of the great academic program on " Haute 

 und Hohlen.-'^ ' For over thirty years Ludwig and His were colleagues, 

 consulting each other almost daily, an ideal relation for great scientists. 



The work of His had branched in many directions at Basel, but it 

 grew with increased vigor at Leipsic, for here he had all the material 

 aid he could desire. Photographer, modeller, mechanic, technician, 

 artist and others were at his command. A new laboratory, which proved 

 to be a model, was built according to his ideas. Each of these factors 

 was to play a part in the campaign he was conducting and it was soon 

 "seen how his hands were thus extended. 



Through the better technical assistance. His increased his productivity, 

 for his plan was broad enough to use it to the greatest advantage. The 

 members of his staff, however, were never subject to his orders in their 

 scientific investigations, nor did he ever use " research assistants " for 

 his ethical standard would not permit such employment of scientists. 

 That a great man can increase his productivity enormously without the 

 questionable use of young colleagues is shown by example in the life of 

 His. Furthermore, his plan of organizing research is one of the best 

 from both the ethical and the scientific standpoint. 



The microtome which His had invented in Basel was now perfected 

 and better serial sections were made of embryos of different classes of 

 vertebrates than ever before. The great monograph upon the chick had 

 just been published and smaller but equally important papers appeared 

 upon fishes; these were soon to be followed in 1880 by the first part of the 

 monumental work upon human embryology. 



Throughout his embryological work His was constantly interested in 

 the broader problems and he was among the first to view development 

 from a mechanical standpoint. His views and general plans were 

 brought together in 1874 in the classic, " TJnsere Korperform " dedi- 

 cated to his new colleague, Ludwig, appropriately for in it the subject 

 of development is presented from a physiological standpoint. These 

 views were immediately antagonized to the utmost; when arguments 

 failed, his opponents resorted to ridicule, but, in general, His held his 



