Gustaf Retzius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gustaf Retzius
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Gustaf Retzius
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| Born | 17 October 1842 |
| Died | 21 July 1919 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Alma mater | Uppsala University Lund University |
| Known for | Cajal–Retzius cell Nervous system Area postrema |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | histology, neurology |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | G.Retz. |
Magnus Gustaf Retzius (born October 17, 1842 – died July 21, 1919) was a Swedish doctor and scientist. He spent much of his life studying how our bodies are built. He focused especially on the tiny parts of our sense organs and the nervous system. This field of study is called histology.
Contents
A Scientist's Life and Work
Gustaf Retzius was born in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, Anders Retzius, was also a famous anatomist. Gustaf followed in his family's footsteps.
Education and Early Career
Gustaf started studying at Uppsala University in 1860. He earned his first medical degree there in 1866. Later, he moved to the Karolinska Institute. He received another medical degree in 1869. In 1871, he finished his PhD at Lund University.
Retzius worked with a pathologist named Axel Key. They worked together for a long time. They published many scientific papers. They also wrote a popular science book together.
Becoming a Professor
In 1877, Gustaf Retzius became a special professor of histology. This was at the Karolinska Institute. He became a full professor of anatomy in 1889. However, he resigned in 1890. This was due to disagreements with other people at the institute.
Gustaf was married to Anna Hierta-Retzius. Her father founded a newspaper called Aftonbladet. Because of his wife's family wealth, Gustaf could continue his research. He did not need a regular job. He even worked as an editor for Aftonbladet for a few years. He was also a journalist.
Exciting Journeys Around the World
Gustaf Retzius loved to travel. He went on two big trips outside Europe. His wife Anna always joined him. On these trips, he wanted to buy old items. He looked for collections for a new museum. This museum was planned for Stockholm.
Visiting Ancient Egypt (1889–1890)
In the winter of 1889–1890, the couple visited Egypt. Retzius wrote articles about his trip. These articles were published in Aftonbladet. Later, they became a book. It was called Sketches and Essays: Pictures from the Nile Country.
They traveled up the Nile River for two weeks. They went from Cairo to Aswan. In Aswan, Retzius bought many things. He found them in the local markets. Sellers soon learned he was a good customer. They brought items directly to his boat.
Retzius was also looking for skulls. He used them for his studies of people. He bought 30 "mummies" from rock graves near Aswan. He also got six skulls from a battle site. On their way back, they visited Karnak and Luxor. In Luxor, he bought 125 more skulls. He got help from a local consul.
Back in Cairo, Retzius met Henry Morton Stanley. Stanley was a famous explorer. Retzius bought more collections there. Many of these items are now in museums. You can see them at the Medelhavsmuseet and the Museum of Ethnography, Sweden in Stockholm.
Exploring North America (1893)
In June 1893, the Retzius couple traveled to North America. They stayed for six months. Their main goal was to buy collections. These were for the future ethnographic museum. They also visited other scientists.
Retzius wrote articles about this trip too. They were called "Pictures from North America." He visited Yale University first. He met the paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh. Then he visited many other universities.
They went to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This was a big world's fair. They saw exhibits about different cultures. They also saw indigenous people performing. There, they met famous scientists like Franz Boas.
After the fair, they visited many cities. This included Santa Fe, New Mexico. They visited an "Indian settlement" nearby. In Santa Fe, Retzius bought more items. He found them at a shop called Jake Gold's Old Curiosity Shop.
They spent a few weeks on the northwest coast. This was in British Columbia. They visited Victoria, British Columbia. They also traveled to Vancouver Island. In Bella Bella, British Columbia, they met Filip Jacobsen. He helped them visit many places. They bought more ethnographic collections.
Gustaf and Anna were upset by how some traders acted. These traders tricked indigenous people. They made them give up old items that were not for sale. The Retzius couple also criticized missionaries. Gustaf did not get as many skulls on this trip. But he did get four special "longhead" skulls. The trip home included stops in Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.. Many items from this journey are now at the Ethnographic Museum.
Important Scientific Discoveries
Gustaf Retzius published over 300 scientific papers. These covered many topics. They included anatomy, embryology, zoology, and botany. He even had cells named after him. These are called Retzius cells. They are found in the nervous system of leeches.
While at the Karolinska Institute, he made key discoveries. He described the muscles of the eardrum. He also studied the bones of the middle ear. He looked closely at the Eustachian tube.
His book Das Menschenhirn (The Human Brain) was published in 1896. It had two volumes. This book was very important. It described the detailed anatomy of the human brain. It was one of the most important books on the brain in the 1800s.
He also studied ancient Swedish and Finnish skulls. His father, Anders Retzius, had also studied skulls.
Involvement with the Swedish Academy
Retzius was active in politics and society. He and his wife started a foundation. It is called the Hierta-Retzius foundation. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences now manages it. Retzius became a member of this Academy in 1879.
The foundation has two funds. One supports biological research. The other helps important scientific or social projects.
In 1901, Retzius became a member of the Swedish Academy. This is a very important group in Sweden. He helped choose the winners of the Nobel Prizes. He helped with the Physics, Chemistry, and Literature prizes.
He could not directly choose the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This was because he had resigned from his anatomy job. But he did nominate people for that prize. From 1901 to 1906, he always nominated Santiago Ramón y Cajal.
In 1906, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was being decided. Retzius strongly supported Santiago Ramón y Cajal. He wanted Cajal to win alone. But another scientist, Camillo Golgi, was also considered. In the end, Cajal and Golgi shared the prize. This was the first time this prize was shared.
Retzius himself was nominated for a Nobel Prize 23 times. This happened in 11 different years. He was nominated by Cajal before 1906. After 1906, he was even nominated by Golgi!
Later Years and Legacy
Gustaf Retzius passed away in 1919 in Stockholm. His wife survived him. His place in the Swedish Academy was taken by Adolf Noreen that same year.
