[The experimental physiologist Carl Ludwig (1816-1895): Scientific genius - modest, selfless, unswerving!]

Abstract

Carl Ludwig was, besides Johannes Müller, one of the most prolific natural scientists of the 19th century. Carl Ludwig believed that the function of organs can be ascribed to the laws of physics and chemistry and that only through repeatable physiological experiments can hypotheses be verified. Ludwig has laid the technological foundations for experimental physiology. The "kymographion", (waves-recorder), the "stromuhr" and the blood gas pump are some of his developments that underline this fact. Together with his students he performed fundamental experiments to gain better understanding of renal physiology and pulmonary physiology, cardiovascular circulatory and innervation, as well as glandular secretion and the lymphatic system. For decades, Ludwig's two-volume textbook on the human physiology was standard work in scientific and experimental physiology. Many young scientists from all over the world ventured to Leipzig to be taught experimental physiology by Ludwig.