Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand Von Helmholtz Book

Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz - PREFACE - THIS work is a record of the achievements in scientific discovery and invention of one of the greatest minds of the nineteenth century. Helmholtz was one whose private life was known only to a few, and he would have instinctively recoiled from biographical revelations of a purely personal character. At the same time, I have endeavoured to give the reader some idea of the man-calm, placid, reserved, thoughtful-whose love of truth, yearning spirit of inquiry, and great intellectual powers give him a place in the front ranks of the interpreters of Nature. A life full of intellectual activity, creative, ever productive, could not contain much in the way of trivial incident. I have also tried, by following a historical method, to trace the history of any branch of inquiry up to the point when it came under the survey of Helmholtz, and then I have given an account of the contributions made by himself. Few are able to tread in the footsteps of Helmholtz, even although these are carefully pointed out by a competent guide but this volume may at all events give an outline of the paths along which he trod. The proofs have been read by Mr J. L. Galbraith, of the Library of the University of Glasgow, to whom I owe my thanks and I have gratefully to acknowledge much valu able assistance and friendly criticism from Dr Cargill G. Knott, Lecturer on Mathematical Physics in the University of Edinburgh. The characteristic portrait was most kindly lent by Lord Kelvin. It was taken by Mr Henderson, a student of physics at that time, and it represents Helmholtz at his lecture table on July 7, 1894, a few days before his final illness. JOHN G. MKENDRICK. - I899 - CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. CHILDHOO AN D D EARLY L IFE . I IV. HELMHOL I T N Z B ERLIN-FERMENTATION A N I M A H L E AT . 25 VII. HELMHOL IN T K Z O NIGSBERG-TH O E P H THALMOSCOPE . 7 VIII. HELMHOL IN T Z K NIGSBERG M - T E H - E CHANISM OF ACCOMMODATION-FIRST VISIT TO ENGLAN . D . 88 xv xvi CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE IX. HELMHOL I T N Z K NIGSBE - R A G N IMAL ELECTRICIT . Y . 1 0 4 XI. HELMHOLTZ IN BONN AND HEIDELBERG - SENSATIONS O F TONE . . 129 XII. HELMHOL IN T Z B ONN AND HEIDELBERC - SENSATIONS O F TONE CO NTINU . E D1 45 XIV. HELMHOL IN T Z B ERLIN-PHYSICA R L E - SEARCHES . 183 XV. HELMHOL I T N Z B ERLIN-PHYSICA R L E - SEARCHES CONTINUED . . 201 XVJI. THEP HILOSOPHICPAOLS ITIO O N F HELM HOLTZ . . 250 XVIII. HELMHOL ON T ZA ESTHET . ICS . 268 XIX. HELMHOL AS T A Z LECTURER 273Read More