Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1892

RUDOLF LUDWIG KARL VIRCHOW (1821-1902) Die Cellularpathologie in ihrer Begründung auf physiologische und pathologische Gewebelehre. A. Hirschwald 1858 xvi, 440 pp., illus. 22.2 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 1890

The importance of this work can scarcely be overstated; it is not only the cornerstone but the very foundation of cellular pathology and "one of the most important books in the history of medicine" (Garrison-Morton 2299). Virchow's theory that the seat of disease as well as any developed tissue could be traced back to the cell prompted his dictum "Omnis cellula e cellula" ("Every cell from a cell") to be added to Harvey's "Omne vivum ex ovo" ("Every living thing from an egg") and Pasteur's "Omne vivum e vivo" ("Every living thing from a living thing"). Although after later research the concept had to be somewhat modified, cellular pathology is a term which belongs to Virchow alone.

Cited references: Garrison-Morton 2299; Osler 1624; Waller 9996

Gift of John Martin, M.D.