386 GENERAL BIOLOGY 



THE MOST NOTABLE MEN AND WRITINGS IN BIOLOGY 



The progress of biology has been owing to the efforts of men of very 

 human qualities, yet each with some special distinguishing feature of 

 eminence. Certain of their publications are the mile-stones of the way. 

 It may be worth while, therefore, in a brief recapitulation to name the 

 books of widest general influence in the progress of biology. Only those 

 publications will be mentioned that have formed the starting point of 

 some new movement, or have laid the foundation of some new theory. 



Beginning with the revival of learning, the books of Vesalius, "De 

 Corpora Human! Fabrica" (1543), and Harvey, "De motu Cordis et 

 Sanguinis" (1628), laid the foundations of scientific method in biology. 



The pioneer researches of Malpighi on the minute anatomy of plants 

 and animals, and on the development of the chick, best represent the 

 progress of investigation between Harvey and Linnaeus. The three con- 

 tributions referred to are those on the "Anatomy of Plants" (Anatome 

 Plantarum), (1675-1679) ; on the "Anatomy of the Silkworm" (De Bom- 

 byce, 1669) ; and on the "Development of the Chick" (De Formatione 

 Pulli in Ovo and De Ovo Incubato, both in 1672). 



We then pass to the "Systema Naturae" (twelve editions, 1735- 

 1768) of Linnaeus, a work that had such wide influence in stimulating 

 activity in systematic botany and zoology. 



Wolff's "Theoria Generationis," 1759, and his "De Formatione In- 

 testinorum," 1764, especially the latter, were pieces of observation mark- 

 ing the highest level of investigation of development prior to that of 

 Pander and von Baer. 



Cuvier, in "Le Regne Animal," 1816, applied the principles of com- 

 parative anatomy to the entire animal kingdom. 



The publication in 1800 of Bichat' s "Traite des Membranes" created 

 a new department of anatomy called histology. 



Lamarck's book, "La Philosophic Zoologique," 1809, must have a 

 place among the great works of biology. Its influence was delayed for 

 more than fifty years after its publication. 



The monumental work of von Baer "On Development" (Ueber 

 Entwicklungsgeschichte der Thiere), 1828, is an almost ideal combina- 

 tion of observation and conclusion in embryology. 



The "Mikroscopische Untersuchungen," 1839, of Schwann marks 

 the foundation of the cell-theory. 



The "Handbook" of Johannes Miiller (Handbuch der Physiologic 

 des Menschen), 1846, remains unsurpassed as to its plan and its execu- 

 tion. 



Max Schultze in his treatise, "Ueber Muskelkoerperchen und das 

 was man eine Zelle zu nennen habe," 1861, established one of the most 

 important conceptions with which biology has been enriched, viz : the 

 protoplasm doctrine. 



