Hermann Welcker

Hermann Welcker (April 8, 1822 - September 12, 1897) was a German anatomist who was born in Giessen. In 1851 he earned his doctorate from the University of Giessen. In 1859 he became a professor and prosector at the University of Halle. In 1876 he succeeded Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann (1801-1877) as director of the anatomical institute at Halle.

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Weighing the right way

What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances?

Along with his anatomical duties, Welcker was also a specialist in the fields of anthropology, ethnology, microscopy and biology. He published numerous articles on each of these subjects. In 1854 he devised a method for measuring blood volume in humans and animals. He also devised a method for measuring red blood cell volume. The eponymous Welcker's angle is named after him, which is the anterior, inferior angle of the parietal bone.

In 1889 Welcker received a patent for the invention of "galvanic spectacles", which were essentially battery-operated eyeglasses with nosepiece electrodes. These glasses were used as a remedy for nasal congestion. Also Welcker performed many studies of human skulls, including the famous skulls of Dante Alighieri and Friedrich Schiller.