1063PROFESSOR VIRCHOW’S EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY.

PROFESSOR VIRCHOW’S EIGHTIETHBIRTHDAY.

PROFESSOR VrRCHOW was born on Oct. 13th, 1821, at ISchievelbein, a village in Pomerania. In 1891 his seventieth

birthday was celebrated with much enthusiasm in Berlin,and now that he has reached the advanced age of 80 years in

the enjoyment of great mental vigour and an amount ofbodily energy unusual at his time of life, the anniversaryhas been attended by manifestations which in their

spontaneity and warmth leave no doubt as to the placewhich he holds in the hearts of his countrymen.Oct. 13th, 1901, was a Sunday. The celebrations beganon the previous day with a reception in the new Patho-

logical Institute in Berlin, where the company includedthe Minister of Education, Herr Studt ; the Chief of the

Imperial Chancellery, representing Count von Billow ; Baror.von Richthofen, the Foreign Secretary ; Count Posadowsky,the Secretary of State for the Interior ; Herr Moller, thePrussian Minister of Commerce; Herr von Thielen, theMinister of Communications ; Dr. von Leuthold, the GeneralStaff Surgeon of the Army ; Herr Kirschner, the ChiefBurgomaster of Berlin ; Dr. Langerhans, the President of theBerlin Municipal Council ; and very many representa-tives of German and foreign medical science. TheMinister of Education, Dr. STUDT, said that the name

of Virchow would be for ever associated with the Patho-

logical Institute, but in order that future generationsmight possess a likeness of its founder he, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, presented the institute with a marblebust of him. Professor VmcHow expressed his thanks incordial terms, and then proceeded to deliver an address onthe Development of Pathology and the special objects of theinstitution in which they were assembled. In conclusion,he claimed for pathology a place among the biologicalsciences. Various micro-organisms were then shown undermicroscopes and as lantern slides by Professor Koch andothers. At 6 P.M. Professor Virchow was entertained at abanquet held in one of the halls of the buildings where thePrussian Diet meets. The company included his wife andseveral other members of his family, eminent Germanand foreign men of science, and representatives of theGovernment. Count POSADOWSKY, the Imperial HomeSecretary, proposed the health of the German Emperor.Dr. KOERTE proposed the health of Professor Virchow,and Dr. ALTHOFF of the Ministry of Education presentedhim with his portrait showing him at the age of seven

years as well as with one of his school certificates. Thechief event of the celebration commenced at 8 P. M. in the

buildings used by the Prussian Chamber of Deputies andwas not concluded till long after midnight. This was the

presentation of addresses by German and foreign delegations.Professor WALDEYER, who presided and delivered an

eloquent address, said that a sum of 50,000 marks (E2500)had been collected for the purposes of the " Virchow Fund

"

for the promotion of scientific research. Dr. STUDT, thePrussian Minister of Education, then read a letter fromthe German Emperor to Professor Virchow, warmly con-

gratulating him on the anniversary of his birthday,and eulogising the great services which he had renderednot only to the scientific side of medicine but to its

practical application for the benefit of mankind. In

conclusion, the Emperor wrote that in recognition of his

distinguished labours he had that day conferred on

him the Grand Gold Medal for Science and now sent itto him. The Imperial Chancellor, Count von Biilow,also sent a letter of congratulation. The address of the

municipality of Berlin was presented by the Chairmanof the Municipal Council, Dr. LANGERHANS, who announcedthat the city had contributed 100,000 marks (£5000) tothe "Virchow Fund." The foreign delegates includedrepresentatives of medical science from Great Britain,France, Russia, Italy, Austria, and other countries. GreatBritain was represented by Lord Lister, who wore thePrussian Order Pour le Mérite ; Sir Felix Semon (RoyalCollege of Physicians of London) ; Mr. Howard Marsh(Royal College of Surgeons of England) ; Dr. RoseBradford (Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society andPathological Society of London) ; Mr. Watson Cheyne(Pathological Society of London) ; Professor Robert Muir

(University of Glasgow) ; and Dr. Graham Brown (RoyalCollege of Physicians of Edinburgh).Lord LISTgH, who spoke in English, and was welcomed

with hearty applause, said :-Revered master, I am hero as a delegate of the Royal Society of

London, oi’ which you are an honoured member, and on behalf ofwhich I have to present to you a loyal address. I have been also.requested to hand you addresses from six other societies which greatlyregret that it has been impossible for them to send special clelegates.They are as follows: (1) the Anthropological Section of theBritish Association for the Advancement of Science; (2) theUniversity of London; (3) the University of Edinburgh : (4) theFaculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; (5) the Medical and’Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh ; (6) the Itoyal Academy of Medicineof Ireland. All these bodies join in the recognition of your giganticintellectual powers, in gratitude for the great benefits that you haveconferred upon humanity, and in admiration of your personal’character, your absolute uprightness, the courage which has enabledyou always to advocate what you believed to be the cause of truth,liberty, and justice, and the genial nature which has won for you thelove of all who know you. The astonishing vigour which you displayedin the address to which we listened to-day justices the hope that, whenmany of us your juniors shall have been removed from this scene oflabour, it may be granted to you to celebrate your ninetieth birthdaynot only in health and honour but in continued activity in the service-of mankind.

Sir FELIX SEMOX, who spoke in German, said :—

There are two reasons why I have been selected, dear master, taconvey to you the sincere congratulations of the Royal College ofPhysicians of London. In the first place, the authorities thought itmight be agreeable to you if the good wishes of the College wereexpressed 1)’v an old pupil who when he sat at your feet 30 years agoas a young German student did not suppose that he would one dayhave the honour of representing the venerable College in whose namehe now speaks. In the second place, the College selected a native of £

Germany as its spokesman from a desire to give prominence to thefraternal feeling which has so long existed between German andBritish scientific men and to express thereby their cordial recognitionof tlie beneficial influence which you have exercised upon science in.Great Britain no less than in Germany.His Excellency Dr. GUIDO BACCELLI. Minister of Agri-

culture in the Government of Italy, spoke in Latin asfollows :-

Qtio(I reipublicae medicae per orl)(,in bene vertat, et faustum Ger-maniae felixque sit, tibi, Rodulphe Virchowi hodie, Berolini in novis-simo propemoclum Scientiarum omnium Capitolio, supremi tribuunturhonores. Immortali igitur lauro, fronte tua redimita, neque splen-d idior humanae justitiae. neque jucundior nobis fulsit unquam dies-Quapropter in tanto doctissimorum virorum tibi plaudentium atque-gratulantium Senatu, et ego plaullens atque gratulans, quae per teItalia sentit, promere jubeor.Primnm tibi Victorii Emanuelis tertii, amatissimi Regis nostri,

nomine loquor. qui fortibus et bonis natus praestanti juventute florens-omnigenae virtutis fulgore, undecumque niteat, trahitur suapte natura.Deinde Ministrorum Regis Consilii nomine in quo praesertim et quimedicinam politicam hodie feliciter tuetur; et qui studiis Italici&ingcnio singulari praeest, volunt singulariter memorari.At supereminens omnes, Joseph Zanardellius, libertatis in lege

assertor invictus, Consilii Praesul, tibi gloriosissimo affert sua vota per’me. Et bene est: tu enim cunctis mirificam intulisti laetitiam,octagesimum annum natus. studiis laboribusque nunquam fractus.Quam vero doetrinam disciplinamque Anatomes pathologicae Joannes.

Baptista Morgagnius, felici ausu, primus in Italia instituit ac tradidit,tu singulari sapientia in Germania tua perfecisti, eoque egisti ut.

Magistrorum Magister jure voceris. Hoc Itali picturae traditumvoluere et ego hexametrum supra tabulam scripsi :

" Ut quos corda fovent, praesentes lumina spectent."Io, igitur, triurnphe, Rodulphe Virchowi; Nestoreos vive per annos,

incolumis florens, terque quaterque beatus. Vive, patriae tuae decuset lumen ; vive, humani generis praesidium, vive nationum omniuilladmiratio, vive Italiae amor, vive immortalis !

TRANSLATION.For the prosperity of the Republic of Medicine throughout the world

and for the best interests of Germany the highest honours are vouch-safed to thee, Rudolf Virchow, to-day in Berlin, where Science, inwell-nigh all her branches, holds her latest seat. No day has evershone with purer lustre for the cause of humanity, or with livelierpleasure for ourselves than this, which sees thy brow enwreathed withundying laurel. So amid the plaudits and congratulations of this

august concourse of the learned, I too join in applause and congratula-tions, conveying, on the mandate of Italy, the sentiments sheentertains towards thee.

I speak first in the name of our well-beloved King Victor Emmanuelthe Third who, sprung from brave and honourable ancestors, with thedew of his youth yet upon him, and radiant with the lustre of everymanly virtue, is drawn to thee by his own august nature. Next in thename of His Majesty’s Ministers, among whom, in particular, theMinister who happily presides over State Medicine, and his colleaguewho with rare skill superintends Italian Education, desire to beindividually commended to thee.But, above all, His Excellency Joseph Zanardelli, the indomitable

I vindicator of " Liberty within the Law," the Prime Minister of Italy,

conveys to thee his cordial good wishes through me. Appropriatelyso; for in thy eightieth year, with strength unimpaired by studiousresearch and by energetic action, thou inspirest us all with equalwonder and delight.In truth the theory and practice of pathological anatomy, first in

Italy imparted and diffused with happy initiative by John BaptistMorgagni, has by thee, in thy native Germany, been carried to suchrare perfection that thou hast justly earned the title of Master ofMasters. This achievement Italy desires to commemorate by thepainter’s art and I, on the picture, have ventured to inscribe thehexameter-" that the eye may behold him as present whom the heartcherishes."

.

1064 NEW PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

So then, " Io Triumphe ! " Rudolf Virchow. Live, through the yearsof a Nestor, in health and energy, thrice, aye four times, happy. Live,as thy country’s ornament and light ; live, as a safeguard of humanity ;live in the admiration of all nationalities ; live in the imperishable loveof Italy IThe following telegram, also in Latin, has been sent to

Professor Virchow by the president and vice-president of theFederal Council of the Medico-Chirurgical Orders of Italy:-

Prof. Rodolfo Virchow, Berlino.Durante, Bastianelli, Sciamanna, Spaziani, Topai. Praesides foede-

rati consilii italicorum medicorum ordinum, plaudentes, tibi, patho-logorum principi, salutem dicunt, eo temporis momento, quoomnes orbis terrarum medicinao cultores suam quisque admirationemverbis effingunt-voti expetentes ut altiora tua studia magis magisqueefficax artis medicse officium sint redclituraDabant Roma a. d. IV Idus Octobres A. P. Chr. n. MDCCCCI.12. X. 901.

[TRANSLATION.] ]To Professor Virchow, Berlin.

Durante, Bastianelli, Sciamanna, Spaziani, Topai, presidents and

vice-presidents of the Federal Council of the medico-chirurgical ordersof Italy, salute and applaud thee, prince of pathologists, on this daywhen all the votaries of the healing art throughout the eivilised globeconvey to thee in words their admiration of thee collectively andindividually, in the hope and desire that thy researches, prosecutedwith ever greater profundity, may render the function of medicine yetmore and more effective.Rome, Oct. 12th, MDCCCCI.

On the evening of Sunday, Oct. 13th, Professor Virchowwas present at a birthday dinner in the Palace Hotel, LordLister and Sir Felix Semon being among the guests. In the

Schellingstrasse, where his residence is, the houses were illu-minated in his honour.

THE NEW PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORIESAT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

ON Oct. 12th, an appropriate date, being the birthdaycelebration of Professor Virchow, the new pathological labora-tories of the University of Oxford were opened. Among thosepresent were the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Mr. D. B.Monro, Provost of Oriel (who presided), Sir William Church,Bart. (President of the Royal College of Physicians of London).Sir J. Burdon Sanderson, Bart. (Regius Professor of Medicine),the Warden of All Souls’, the Dean of Christ Church, theRector of Lincoln, the Master of Pembroke, the Provostof Queen’s, the Principal of Brasenose, the President of

Magdalen, the Warden of Keble, Dr. G. Sims Woodhead(professor of pathology in the University of Cambridge),Mr. W. Bruce Clarke, Dr. F. H. Champneys, Dr. J. F.

Payne, Professor Arthur Thomson, Professor E. B. Poulton,Professor W. Odling, Professor W. Esson, Professor J.McFadyean (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons), Dr. H. D.Rolleston (St. George’s Hospital), Mr. Horatio Symonds. Dr.James Ritchie (reader in pathology), the Senior and JuniorProctors, Professor Wright, Professor E. J. McWeeney(Dublin), Dr. H, P. Hawkins (St. Thomas’s Hospital), Dr.J. W. Washbourn, Dr. W. Bulloch and Dr. G. Scborstein(London Hospital), Dr. M. S. Pembrey (Guy’s Hospital),Dr. Ogle, Dr. S. West, Dr. Theodore Williams, ProfessorR. F. C. Leith (Birmingham), Professor Sheridan Delepine(Manchester), Dr. J. Neil, Mr. A. J. Freeborn, Mr. W.W. Fisher, Mr. P. F. Willert, and others.The buildings stand in the museum grounds and a full

account of them, together with plans, appeared in THELANCET of June 23rd, 1900, p. 1823. The architect wasMr. J. A. Souttar of Bisliopsgate-street, London, E.C.The VICE-CHANCELLOR, having referred to the growth of

natural science study in the University and to the goodwork done by the late Regius Professor of Medicine and thelate Professor Rolleston, called upon Dr. J. Ritchie, the readerin pathology, to give some account of the work.

Dr. RITCHIE said it was natural to think of the time when the University voted the money for the building of a depart-ment of pathology, and in carrying out the work the

University had the advantage of the experience and adviceof two of its members, than whom there could not be greaterexperts in the details of such work. One was the RegiusProfessor of Medicine who not only looked upon the schemefrom the standpoint of his official position, but all along hehad given to it the advantage of the vast stores of experiencethat he possessed as to what ought to be provided in such adepartment. The other gentleman to whom the Universityowed much in this connexion was Professor Arthur Thomson.In the actual building fabric they had two things to keep inview, two objects for which such a building ought to

be made available. The first was to meet the require-ments of those preparing for graduation in medicine.The University of Oxford had by recent regulationsmade the subject of pathology one of very great importancein the second Bachelor of Medicine examination, which wassuch as was required in very few examining institutions inthis country. Therefore, the first thing they had to think ofwas the proper provision and accommodation for teaching’the subject, and so they had that lecture-room and otherrooms which were necessary for students to obtain thatpractical acquaintance with the details of the science of

pathology on biological lines which they ought to have.The greater part of the necessary studies along these lines wasof a microscopical nature, and therefore they had to providerooms where the students could become practicallyacquainted with the subject. They had had to make

provision also for students obtaining an adequate knowledgeof the bacteriological department. One matter which theyhad to consider very seriously was that the standard for

graduating in medicine in the University was very high, andthey had had to face the question of the possibility of manymen coming back here to work after having graduated.Here, therefore, was provided a complete chemical labora-tory where researches could be carried on ; they hadtried to meet the actual requirements of every branch ofresearch or to arrange matters so that any requirementscould be very easily met in the future. They had also hadto make provision for the accumulation of specimens thecustody of which the University had made over to this

department. Upon this point he should like to refer to theintimate connexion which had been made between the Rad-cliffe Infirmary and this department, and they hoped thatthe work would be for the benefit of the inmates of theRadcliffe Infirmary, as a great part of it would be in the

way of confirming the diagnosis of the medical staff. Dr.Ritchie concluded by referring to the admirable manner inwhich the architect had designed the building and to themunificence of Dr. E. R. Frazer, of Balliol College, who hadgiven C5000 towards the expenses.

Sir W. S. CHURCH, Bart., President of the Royal Collegeof Physicians of London, next delivered an address. Hetraced the teaching of modern medicine in Oxford from thetime that Sir Henry Acland brought the museum into

being and made a graceful reference to the occasion onwhich they were met, being also the day on which the

eightieth birthday of the Nestor of Pathology, ProfessorVirchow, was being celebrated. Pathology and physiologywere interdependent. The days of opposition to the studyof the natural sciences in the University had, happily, longsince passed away, and they were more nearly approachingthe ideal the originators of the museum had before them.But yet much remained to be added before the Universitywas fully equipped for, to use the words of Mr. Ruskin, ’’ thereverent and earnest study of nature and of man, to the gloryof God, to the better teaching of the future, to the benefit ofour country, and to the good of all mankind."

Professor G. SIMS WOODHEAD, Professor of Pathology atCambridge University, after announcing that a telegram ofheartiest greetings had been sent from the meeting to Pro-fessor Virchow, congratulated the University on her newLaboratory.The REGIUS PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, in moving a vote of

thanks to the Vice-Chancellor, said it was a fact of happyaugury that he was the grandson of that Professor AlexanderMonro who founded both the Edinburgh Infirmary and theEdinburgh Medical School.

NOTIFICATION OF DEATH TO THECORONER.

WE have received a voluminous correspondence whichwas evoked by the preliminaries of the inquest on the lateRight Hon. W. W. B. Beach, M.P. It will be recollectedthat this gentleman, who had attained a great age, wasthrown out of a hansom cab in Parliament-street on

August 2nd and died at 8.45 P.M. on August 3rd in West’minster Hospital, to which he was admitted immediatelyafter the accident. Here it is well to point out thatAugust 3rd was a Saturday and August 5th was a

Bank Holiday. On the evening of August 3rd the

1 THE LANCET, July 7th, 1900, p. 39.