Wilhelm Waldeyer as an object - Anatomists as body donors

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Anthropology
• History of Science

Background:

• Wilhelm von Waldeyer-Hartz, a Berlin anatomist, donated his skull, brain, and hands to his institute.
• Only his skull remains in the current collection.
• This study examines the skull and the historical context of Waldeyer-Hartz's donation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the surviving skull of Wilhelm von Waldeyer-Hartz.
• To explore the historical context of his scientific donation.
• To understand the tradition of scientists donating their bodies and brains for research.

Main Methods:

• Physical-anthropological examination of the donated skull.
• Historical research into Waldeyer-Hartz's life and donation practices.

Main Results:

• Waldeyer-Hartz's primary intention was the donation of his brain for scientific investigation.
• His brain was never investigated or preserved, likely due to stroke damage and poor fixation.
• The skull exhibits typical features of an elderly European male, including a "trigeminus bridge" variation.

Conclusions:

• Waldeyer-Hartz's donation reflects a historical trend of seeking correlations between brain morphology and individual traits in prominent scientists.
• Anatomists' reservations about dissecting colleagues and donating their own bodies persist.
• The study highlights the complexities and ethical considerations surrounding posthumous scientific donations.