250 
OBITUARY. 
OBITUARY. 
- vr. - 
IN MEMORIUM 
OF 
ANDREAS CHRISTIAN GERLACH. 
Late Director of the Royal Veterinary Institute, Berlin, Prussia. 
Born in 1811, in Saarstadt, in the ITorz Mountains. Died at Berlin, August 29, 
1877, aged 66 years. 
By a Student. 
“ And I hear the voice of coming generations, saying, ‘ Well done, good and faithful 
one, you were indeed our Standard Bearer of Truth ' ” 
* 
It is not my purpose to write even a notice of the life of our late 
Director ; for that task others of his countrymen are far better fitted, 
and it will undoubtedly be done. For me comes the more difficult task, 
to describe the friend, and still not overdo the work of judging the man. 
It is of Gerlach as director, as scientist, as man, I would say a few 
words, because* I believe they may be of benefit to many a student now 
working his way upwards. 
A few words of his life will, however, be a fitting introduction. 
Born in 1811, we find him graduating from the Berlin school in 1833 as 
a Veterinarian. He took up the profession from his intense love of ani¬ 
mals, a passion which only ceased with his life, and which his dumb 
friends often returned to the best of their ability. From 1833 to 1844 
he practiced privately in and around Hallustadt, in Saxony, being in the 
last year appointed as Official Veterinarian of that district. In 1847 we 
find him as assistant, and then as teacher, at the Berlin School. In 1859 
he received the honorable appointment as Director of the Royal School 
at Hanover, and between this time and 1870 were made the greater part 
of his original researches, which have gained acceptation not only in 
veterinary but human medicine. Gerlach was the first to deny the 
abiogenesis of glanders, and the truth of his assertions are being daily 
more confirmed. To him is also owing the excitement and investigation 
into the infectious nature of the disease called tuberculosis, in cows ; 
and to the obstinacy with which he defended his views is owing much 
of the opposition he received from many members of his profession. As 
the case now looks, Gerlach’s position becomes each year more strongly 
