CARL LUDWIG AND CARL THIERSCH. 



339 



ades in the person of Ernst Heinrich Weber, who in 1821 became 

 professor of anatomy, and later (in 1841) also took the position of 

 professor of physiology. His 

 powerful personality has left 

 its traces not only in the 

 proceedings of our faculty, 

 but still more noticeably in 

 the sciences he represented 

 and whose scope he extended 

 in no small degree. Ernst 

 Heinrich Weber, assisted by 

 his brother Eduard, bore the 

 double burden of the two 

 important branches until 

 1865. In that year, how- 

 ever, it was decided to build 

 a new physiological insti- 

 tute, and Weber, feeling 

 that he no longer had suffi- 

 cient strength to undertake 

 the new duties that would 

 now devolve upon the pro- 

 fessor of physiology, decided 

 to keep only his original po- 

 sition of professor of anato- 

 my. Thus at Easter, in 



1865, Wunderlich being at that time dean, Carl Ludwig was made 

 professor of physiology and director of the new physiological in- 

 stitute. 



In these changes the royal government took the initiative. At 

 the request of their noble ruler, King Johann, the far-sighted leaders 

 of the ministry, Secretary of State von Falkenstein and Geheimrath 

 Dr. Hiibel, had undertaken the task of raising the University of 

 Leipsic to new importance and splendor with all the means at their 

 disposal. The physiological laboratory was planned as the first of a 

 series of new constructions, the final object of which was to be a com- 

 plete revolution of the entire system of scientific instruction. In 

 the choice of Professor Ludwig the royal government made a most 

 fortunate selection, for it secured in him a man whose judgment 

 and powers of organization made him a most able adviser in all its 

 subsequent undertakings. In von Falkenstein's time, Ludwig's in- 

 fluence extended far beyond the sphere of the medical faculty, and 

 some of the most important appointments of that time were due to 

 his suggestion. Later, when at last instruction in the natural sci- 



Carl Thiersch, Professor of Surgery, University 

 of Leipsic. Born, April 20, 1822; died, April 

 28, 1895. 



