A History of Science — Volume 5Williams, Henry Smith
History
A History of Science — Volume 5
Williams, Henry Smith
Science -- History
Constantly the lecturer turned to the blackboard to illustrate with
colored, crayons such points of his discourse as the actual specimens in
circulation might leave obscure. Everything must be made plain to every
hearer or he would not be satisfied. One can but contrast such teaching
as this with the lectures of the average German professor, who seems not
to concern himself in the least as to whether anything is understood by
any one. But Virchow had the spirit of the true teacher. He had the air
of loving his task, old story as it was to him. Most of his auditors
were mere students, yet he appealed to them as earnestly as if they
were associates and equals. He seemed to try to put himself on their
level--to make his thought near to them. Physically he was near to them
as he talked, the platform on which he stood being but a few inches
in height, and such physical nearness conduces to a familiarity of
discourse that is best fitted for placing lecturer and hearers _en
rapport_. All in all, appealing as it does almost equally to ear and
eye, it is a type of what a lecturer should be. Not a student there but
went away with an added fund of information, which is far more than can
be said of most of the lectures in a German university.
Needless to say, there are other departments to the Institute of
Pathology. There are collections of beautifully preserved specimens for
examination; rooms for practical experimentation in all phases of the
subject, the chemical side included; but these are not very different
from the similar departments of similar institutions everywhere. What
was unique and characteristic about this institution was the personality
of the director. Now he is gone, but his influence will not soon be
forgotten. The pupils of a great teacher are sure to carry forward the
work somewhat in the spirit of the master for at least a generation.
THE BERLIN INSTITUTE OP HYGIENE
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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