Quotes:Du Bois-Reymond, Emil

Zirkoff, Boris

Du Bois-Reymond, Emil (1818-1896). See Vol. VIII, pp. 435-36, for biographical data.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 3, p. 503

Du Bois-Reymond, Emil. German physiologist, b. at Berlin, Nov. 7, 1818; d. at Berlin, Dec. 26, 1896. His father was from Neuchâtel, his mother was of Huguenot descent, and he spoke of himself as “being of pure Celtic blood.” Studied geology at Bonn, then anatomy and physiology at Berlin under Johannes Müller. His graduation thesis on “Electric Fishes” was the beginning of long series of investigations on animal electricity, the results of which were published in his Untersuchungen über tierische Elektrizität (2 vols., 1848, etc.). This classical work develops the view that a living tissue, such as muscle, might be regarded as composed of electric molecules or molecules with certain electric properties, etc. In 1858, at the death of J. Müller, succeeded him in the chair of physiology at Berlin; taught for three years at Royal Institute, 436 London, under Faraday. In 1867, became perpetual secretary to the Academy of Sciences of Berlin. Considered to have been the creator of experimental physiology. Other works: Gesammelte Abhandlungen zur allgemeinen Muskel-und Nervenphysik, 1875-77, 2 vols. —Über die Grenzen der Naturerkenntnis, 1872; 8th ed., 1898.—Vorlesungen über die Physik des organischen Stoffwechsels, 1900.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 8, pp. 435-436