Franklin P. :\rall 153 



Society of London appointed a jSTeiirologieal Commission of seven mem- 

 bers with His as chairman. The Commission liad been established and 

 three bulletins had been, published preparatory to the first general meet- 

 ing, but His died before the meeting convened. His plan ^yill live, for 

 it has taken deep root and has the approval of leading anatomists of 

 the world.^" 



The life of His was a life of work, and his energy, industry and en- 

 durance were so great that he hardly knew the meaning of leisure. He 

 possessed the qualities of a courageous leader, but lacked the magnetism 

 that compels many admirers and followers. He was a daring and origi-- 

 nal investigator, possessing great technical ability and artistic feeling; he 

 was fearless and honorable in controversy and knew no compromise. He 

 was a great character, true to his family, true to his friends and true to 

 science.^ 



Through His, another milestone has been set for anatomy. Through 

 him the great mother science has given birth to a new science, histo- 

 genesis. His career is marked by a monument of neurological research 

 which is unique. His's life was that of the ideal scholar. During youth 

 he was strengthened through his own efforts, directed by great masters. 

 During middle age, he won many victories for anatomy, improving the 

 science in all its parts. In old age, he completed and rounded up his 

 work, leaving a great legacy to his survivors, no small part of which con- 

 sists of wise plans for future work. 



REFERENCES AND EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS. 



^ Wilhelm His was born in Basel on July 9, 1831. His father, Edward 

 His, was a son of the Swiss statesman, Peter Ochs. In 1818, when Edward 

 Ochs became engaged to be married to Anna La Roche, he assumed the name 

 of His, the maiden name of his father's mother. He did this with the consent 

 of Peter Ochs in order to remove the ridicule of his name from which he 

 had imdoubtedly suffered. After graduating from the Gymnasium, His 

 studied medicine in Basel, Bern, Berlin, Wiirzburg, Prague and Vienna, re- 

 turning to Basel to take his doctor's degree, in 1854. Later, he studied in 

 Paris, returning to Basel as " Privatdocent " in 1856. In the summer of 

 1857 he was again in Berlin and in the autumn he was appointed Professor 

 of Anatomy and Physiology in Basel. In 1872 he accepted the call to the 

 chair of anatomy at Leipzig, where he died May 1, 1904. 



A charming account of His's early life is given by him in his 

 Lebenserinnerungen (als Manuskript gedruckt), Leipzig, December, 1903. 

 See also W. Spalteholz, Zum siebzigjiiJirigen Geburtstag von Wilhelm His, 

 Miinchener Medizinischen Wochenschrift, No. 28, 1001; and Wilhelm His, 

 ibid, No. 22, lOO'f. Rudolph Fick, Wilhelm His. Anatomischer Anzeiger, Vol. 

 26, 1904- B. Rawitz, W. His, Naturicissenschaftliche Rundschau, No. 24, 1904. 



