XXX 



remarkable experiments miglit be mentioned those on waves of water in 

 troughs, by means of which he fonnd that the particles near the sur- 

 face move in circular paths, while those deeper iD the liquid describe 

 ellipses, the horizontal axes of which are longer than the vertical. By 

 another series of comparative observations on water and mercury, 

 the law was established that waves move with equal rapidity on the 

 surfaces of different mediums, while the rapidity increases in both 

 cases with the depth of the liquid. These and a multitude of other 

 facts have been of the utmost value in relation to the theory now 

 accepted in explanation of the phenomena of light and sound. 



This important research was followed by other observations and 

 results published in various papers, as, for example, that entitled 

 " Ausdehnbarkeit und Elasticitat der Haare." This latter led him to 

 the discovery of the so-called tension of organic substances. In the 

 paper " Ueber einige Einrichtungen der Wirbelsaule " (" On some 

 Peculiarities in the Mechanism of the Vertebral Column ") he showed 

 how much the study of the structures of organs is aided by their being 

 observed during movements resembling those occurring in life, as well 

 as when in a state of rest. 



In 1830 appeared his edition of Hildebrandt's " Anatomie," of which 

 he wrote anew a considerable part. In that work he examined care- 

 fully into the trustworthiness of the methods usually adopted in ana- 

 tomical investigation, especially the use of the microscope, at that time 

 a very imperfect instrument. As he carefully separated theories from 

 established facts, he succeeded in arranging everything in its proper 

 place, and showed the meaning of many experiments which his prede- 

 cessors had passed over in silence. 



It was at the time of the appearance of the " Handbuch der Allge- 

 meinen Anatomie " that the political calm which had prevailed since 

 the fall of Napoleon came to an end. About this time the Saxon 

 Government took occasion to make considerable alterations in the con- 

 stitution of 'their Universities, but unluckily limited themselves to 

 changes in the administration of the funds, overlooking the necessity 

 for providing such means for the Professors as would admit of their 

 giving themselves up entirely to their calling. The excitement caused 

 by these changes in the old statutes was great, but happily only of 

 short duration, for they were set aside by the events which led to a 

 democratic constitution of the State. When the new constitution was 

 established, and the Chambers again met in order to arrange the 

 various details of the administration in accordance with the new prin- 

 ciples, the affairs of the University soon came under discussion. The 

 general feeling towards the institution was decidedly favourable, as was 

 to be expected from the liberal tendency of the time, and most fortu- 

 nately for the University, it was represented in the Upper House by 

 E. H. Weber. Kis views on University affairs were presented to the 



