CHAPTER 12 



THE STUDY OF THE EMBRYONIC MEMBRANES OF MAMMALS: 

 THE INVESTIGATIONS OF LUDWIG HEINRICH BOJANUS 



Wolff frequently mentioned but did not give a comprehen- 

 sive description of the embryonic membranes and organs. Later 

 authors tried to explain the nature and reciprocal situation 

 of the mammalian embryonic membrane and embryonic organs — 

 Meckel, Cuvier, Dutrochet, Oken, Emmert, and others. The 

 most significant attempts were undoubtedly, however, those 

 investigations accomplished at the beginning of the nineteenth 

 century in Russia, at Vilna University by Professor of 

 Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy Ludwig Bo j anus. 1 



Ludwig Bojanus (1776 - 1827), born in Elzas, accepted in 

 1806 an offer to occupy the department in Vilna, where he 

 spent the last twenty years and more of his life. Bojanus was 

 a brilliant, talented lecturer and investigator. Besides his 

 work in veterinary science, Bojanus published a number of 

 reports on the comparative anatomy of molluscs, annulated 

 (annelida) and flat worms, fish, reptiles, 2 and mammals, and 

 also investigations of vertebrate embryology. In his special 



1. Biographical data concerning Bojanus is contained in Raikov, 

 RUSSIAN BIOLOGISTS AND EVOLUTIONISTS BEFORE DARWIN 



U952) , which gives the most complete bibliography of his 

 works . 



2. From the anatomical work of Bojanus. His work "Anatomy of the 

 European Tortoise" (ANATOME TESTUDINIS EUROPAEA, Vilnae, 

 1819 - 1821) is especially significant. The more detailed 

 descriptions of the structure of EMYS ORBICULARIS are fur- 

 nished with wonderful drawings by the author. This work 

 received the enthusiastic opinion of Cuvier and Oken. 



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