HELMHOLTZ IN BERLIN 



at this early stage of his career, as a highly-trained 

 physicist interested in physiological pursuits. 



It is interesting to observe, that while physiology is 

 largely indebted to physics, the latter science owes not 

 a little to physiology, inasmuch as the consideration of 

 physiological phenomena has, on several notable occa- 

 sions, led the physicist into a new and fruitful line of re- 

 search. The beginning of modern electrical science 

 will for ever be traced back to the well-known observa- 

 tions of Galvani on the twitching of frogs' legs near 

 an electrical machine, to his speculations on the exist- 

 ence of an animal electricity, and to the celebrated 

 controversy that arose between Galvani and Volta, a 

 controversy in which many of the most learned 

 physicists and physiologists of the day took part. In 

 like manner, the discussion of questions as to the 

 nature of animal heat contributed not a little to the 

 doctrine of the conservation of energy. Helmholtz 

 took a foremost part in this movement, and there 

 can be no doubt he was led into it, in the first 

 instance, by physiological considerations. 



The physical properties of dead matter are, as a 

 rule, more easily observed and registered than the 

 physiological properties of living matter, and they lend 

 themselves more readily to mathematical investigation. 

 Hence physical science is much farther advanced than 

 physiological science. The physicist is surer of his 

 ground. The physiologist has to deal with the 

 mysterious condition we call vitality. It is therefore 

 31 



