60 HERMANN VON HELMHOLTZ 



been lost. In the next place he sketched out the plan of the 

 epoch-making researches by which he opened fresh paths in 

 the physiology and pathology of nerve and muscle, and created 

 new methods of investigation. But he had scarcely embarked 

 on this work when his life took another and decisive turn, 

 which made it possible for him to follow his great aims 

 undisturbed. 



Briicke had been called to the University of Vienna, and 

 the Medical Faculty of Konigsberg had nominated du Bois- 

 Reymond, Helmholtz, and Ludwig as candidates for the vacant 

 post (April i, 1849). Du Bois was not inclined to leave Berlin 

 until he had completed his work on Animal Electricity, and 

 Ludwig, though senior, was passed over on political grounds, 

 so that on May 19, 1849, Helmholtz was by order of the 

 Cabinet appointed Extraordinary Professor of Physiology at 

 Konigsberg, with a salary of 120. He was commanded to 

 go at once to Konigsberg to commence his lectures on physio- 

 logy in the summer term, while the Academy of Arts was 

 desired by the Minister to release Helmholtz from his post 

 as teacher of anatomy, in which he was succeeded by du 

 Bois-Reymond. 



