Henri MILNE-EDWARDS (1800-1885), zoologist. - Lot 39

Lot 39
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Henri MILNE-EDWARDS (1800-1885), zoologist. - Lot 39
Henri MILNE-EDWARDS (1800-1885), zoologist. Autograph letter signed to a "learned colleague" [of the Académie des sciences], 4 pp. in-8, embossed letterhead with his cipher. Paris, May 26, 1870. About the work of Austrian anatomist Josef Hyrtl (1810-1894, founder of the Museum of Comparative Anatomy, Vienna) and the prize awarded to him by the Académie des Sciences. "I would find it very difficult to reverse the Academy's decision in favor of Mr. Hyrtl, and the new award seems justifiable. In fact, the Physiology Prize awarded to this scientist in 1861, for the whole of his research in comparative anatomy, was essentially aimed at those of his works which were most directly linked to physiology, and the rapporteur, while briefly quoting the memoir on the morphology of the genito-urinary organs of fishes, mainly points out 1° M. Hyrtl's observations on the angiogenesis of fishes. Hyrtl on comparative angiology, on the absence of blood vessels in the heart walls of certain vertebrates, etc., and on the admirable networks [...]. To avoid any criticism on this subject, it would be sufficient, it seems to me, to introduce a few explanatory words into the report. I would add that all decisions taken by the secret committee soon become public knowledge, that foreigners have more than once been told of the prize awarded to Mr. Hyrtl, and that in all probability this scientist is not unaware of what has been done in his favor". His advice is therefore to leave things as they are. "Like you, I hold Mr. Pellegrin's work in high esteem, and it would go without saying that both of us would do everything in our power to have the 1870 Godart Prize awarded to this skilful anatomist [...]".
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