THE SCIENTIFIC WORK OF GEORGE SIMON OHM.* 
By EUGENE LOMMEL. 
Translated by WILLIAM HALLOCK. 
One hundred years ago, on the 16th of March, 1789, George Simon 
Ohm was born at Erlangen. His father was a lock-smith, an unusual 
man, who trained both his sons in mathematics as well as his trade. 
These gifted young men were endowed by him with that thirst for 
knowledge which led him to devote his riper years to mathematical 
studies. The younger brother, Martin Ohm, became distinguished as 
a mathematician, and died as professor of mathematics at the military 
school at Berlin. George Simon Ohm climbed to the lofty position of 
those rare men whose names shine with everlasting glory in the history 
of science, which they have enriched with their wonderful discoveries. 
Only a few of his contemporaries could fully appreciate the unpre- 
tentious scientist, or estimate the wide application of his law of the gal- 
vanic current, with the discovery of which his scientific career com- 
menced.. In the beginning of the century Volta had discovered his 
‘‘pile,” that most marvellous structure that the keenness of the human 
mind ever devised. From that moment numerous physicists had been 
ceaselessly active, investigating in every way the wonderful and mani- 
fold effects of the electric current which that pile produced. 
The decomposition of water had been discovered in 1800 by Nichot- 
son and Carlisle. Twenty years later the deflection of the magnetic 
needle was observed by Oersted. Thermo-electricity was discovered in 
1821 by Seebeck; electro-dynamic phenomena, in 1823, by Ampére. In 
1821 Schweigger and Poggendorff invented the galvaniscope (“ multi- 
plicator”), which first rendered possible the accurate measurement of 
the effects of the current. The multitude of observations became more 
numerous in proportion as more varied means of investigation became 
available. Nevertheless they were not able to lift the mysterious veil 
which shrouded the workings of the galvanic current. On the con- 
trary, they seemed rather to increase the Babel of conflicting theories. 
We are filled with strange sensations, glancing to-day through the 
articles of that time upon the galvanic current. We see the most 
experienced investigators doubtfully groping in darkness where to-day, 
*An address delivered at the public meeting of the Royal Bavarian Academy of 
Sciences of Munich, March 28, 1889. 
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