Rudolph Virchow (1821-1902) was a leading figure in the medical, political and intellectual life of Germany in the second half of the nineteenth century. His most famous work was "Cellular Pathology" – which described the primary role of the functioning of the cells in the lesions of diseases. Virchow wrote many books and more than 2,000 articles – mainly in the fields of medicine and anthropology. He edited several journals, including ‘Virchow’s Archive’ and was a member of numerous professional societies. Nevertheless, only a small proportion of Virchow’s writing is available in English translation. Furthermore, the translated material reveals little of the man himself and his relations to others.
This book is a compilation of Virchow's memorial addresses on nineteen of his teachers –especially Johannes Müller and Johann Lukas Schönlein – colleagues and students as well as one concerning Morgagni. There is an introduction to the man and his times, and copious editors' notes to explain allusions and events mentioned in the text with which some modern readers may be unfamiliar. There is also an extensive bibliography incorporating German sources, with English translations of all titles. The book gives a fascinating multi-dimensional view of scientists and their lives in nineteenth century Germany.