Von Haller
Haller, Victor Albrecht von.
ACHIEVEMENT(S): Established experimental anatomy. Pioneer of neurology.
DATE/PLACE OF BIRTH: 16thOctober 1708, in Bern, Switzerland.
DATE/PLACE/AGE AT DEATH: 12thDecember 1777, in Bern, Switzerland. Aged 78.
DISCIPLINE: Anatomist.
FIELD: Anatomy, physiology and botany.
LANGUAGE: German.
PARENTS: Niklaus Emanuel Haller and Anna Maria Engel.
SIBLINGS: Four.
SPOUSE: First: Marianne Wyss, died 1736. Second: Elizabeth Bucher, died 1741. Third: Amalia Teichmeyer.
CHILDREN: Eight survived to adulthood.
EDUCATION: University of Leiden.
MAJOR WORK: ‘Elementa Physiologicae Corporis Humani’ (1747).
LIFE AND TIMES: At Leyden, Haller studied anatomy and surgery under the great Dutch physician, Boerhaave* and graduated as a Doctor of Medicine at the age of only eighteen. He then left for an academic tour of London, Oxford, Paris and Strasbourg, ending up in Basel, Switzerland, in 1728.
In Basel, he studied advanced mathematics, before taking a trip into the Alps that began his extensive research into botany and his collection of Swiss flora. He returned to Basel to lecture on anatomy before returning to Bern, in 1729, to practice medicine and increase his herb collection.
In 1736, he started work as professor of anatomy, surgery and medicine at the new University of Göttingen, staying for seventeen years and establishing an influential school of medicine.
During this time, he and his students completed extensive work in the fields of anatomy and physiology, including analysis of the form and function of many human and animal organs. On a physiological level, Haller made great progress in the dynamic principles of the science, particularly on the contractibility of muscle and the sensibility of nerves. Haller supported all of his theories with experimental evidence and helped establish anatomy as an experimental science.
Haller was also the pioneer of neurology. In his work, he showed that all muscle fibre contracted upon stimulation and proved that the muscles of the vital organs needed continual stimulation, even when the animal organs were in a state of rest.
Haller analyzed the circulatory system and the action of the heart. He was also the first to provide an adequate explanation of the respiratory system, particularly in connection with the circulatory system, but he wasn’t able to conclude his experiments because the chemistry of the day was inadequate.
The same problem applied to his analysis of the digestive system, but Haller was still the first person to produce an accurate picture and account of the function of the diaphragm, even though his analysis of the intercostal muscles was flawed.
From his extensive research, Haller published the first textbook on physiology, ‘Elementa Physiologicae Corporis Humani’, in 1747. This is often regarded as the beginning of modern physiology.
Haller also produced an encyclopedic work on Swiss flora, drawing on his earlier experiences, which led him to devise a new system of nomenclature. He had rejected theories on constancy of species and would only accept a plant species after seeing a large number of examples, but he had difficulty working within families of species. Although they didn’t work together, Haller discussed the problems of plant classification with Linnaeus* but, despite his respect for Linnaeus’s opinion, dismissed his view of the sexual system of classification and continued to explore other methods.
His herbarium, with contributions by numerous correspondents, is preserved in the Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, where it still contributes to research.
In 1752, while still at Göttingen, Haller was elected to the Cantonal council of Bern and, after returning there to try to move into politics, he was given the job of mayor in 1753. He later became director of the Bern salt works, living at Roche from 1758 to 1764. Even though his time was taken up with political work in education, sanitation and orphan welfare, Haller was able to continue his scientific research and he even found time to write literature and poetry.
During the last few years of his life, he published extensive references for botany (1771-72), surgery (1774-75), anatomy (1774-77) and medicine (1776-88). Haller experienced headaches and later suffered from gout and complaints connected with his internal organs. He also suffered from insomnia, possibly as a result of drinking tea with opium, to which he became addicted.
ASSESSMENT: Haller’s work did much to establish the scientific study of anatomy, neurology and physiology in their modern forms. He was vastly influential in his day, through his scientific writings, teaching and poetry. It is generally agreed that he had an important influence on German poetry.
EXTRA CONNECTIONS: His work related to that of Mesmer*, Descartes*, Saussure* and
Petrus van Musschenbroek*.
He wrote a review of Auenbrugger’s* work
He corresponded with Blumenbach*, and Spallanzani*.
He helped Koenig* get a job
His theories were disputed by Magendie*
ONELINER: Albrecht von Haller, first physiologist
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
DSB