Who was Joseph Erlanger? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 91

Died on: December 5, 1965

place of death: St. Louis

More Facts

education: University of California, Berkeley, 1892 - Lowell High School, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

awards: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Recommended For You

Recommended Lists:

University Of California, Berkeley

Male Physicians

American Physicians

American Neurologists

Childhood & Early Life

Joseph Erlanger was born on 5 January 1874 at San Francisco, California. He was the sixth child of Herman and Sarah Erlanger who were Jewish immigrants from the Kingdom of Württemberg in Germany.

In 1892, he completed his school education from the Lowell High School in San Francisco. In 1895, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of California in Berkley.

He subsequently enrolled at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore to pursue studies in medicine and attained his M. D degree in 1899.

Continue Reading Below

Career

Upon completing his graduation, Joseph Erlanger went on to continue his internship at the John Hopkins hospital for a year after which he was appointed at the medical school there.

He worked at the Department of Physiology and began his career as an assistant. He later took up the post of Instructor and used to deliver lectures on topics related to metabolism and digestion as part of his work.

In 1901, he published a paper on the digestive system of canines. This work caught the attention of physiology professor William H Howells, who recruiter Joseph Erlanger as an Assistant Professor. He was later promoted as Associate Professor.

In 1906, he joined the Medical school associated with the University of Wisconsin as the first Professor of Physiology. Among his students was Herbert Spencer Gasser who went on to become a noted physiologist and collaborated with Joseph Erlanger for several research and study purposes.

A few years later, in 1910, he joined as the Professor of Physiology at the Medical School of Washington University in St. Louis. Here he received more support and funding for his research projects.

In 1922, Joseph Erlanger along with Herbert Spencer Gasser developed a modified Western Electric cathode ray Oscilloscope that functioned in low voltage. This assisted in their study of nerve action potentials in two phases. Prior to this invention, there was only a device named electroencephalograph that measured neural activity that too in cases of large electrical activity.

With the cathode ray Oscilloscope, they identified different types of neurons and its forms along with their individual capability for excitability. Their studies proved that the velocity of action potential is directly proportional to the diameter of a nerve fiber.

In 1931, with Herbert Spencer Gasser joining the Cornell University, their long term partnership came to an end. His other research works include the study of metabolism of dogs with shortened intestines and studies related to shock and functioning of the arteries while producing sound.

In 1937, he authored a book titled ‘Electrical Signs of Nervous Activity’. Throughout his career he conducted research in a range of topics. However, he focused upon the physiology of the circulatory system and electrophysiology. Initially, his area of interest was cardiology, specifically the working of the atrium and ventricle. He also designed and patented a model of Sphygmomanometer that enabled the measurement of blood pressure from the brachial artery.

Continue Reading Below

As a result of his research, he also developed a clamp with which the auriculo-ventricular bundle of the heart in mammals could be reversibly blocked. The device aided his studies in identifying issues associated with the functioning of the bundle.

In 1946, he retired while serving as Chairman of the Medical School at the Washington University. After his retirement he was designated as a Professor emeritus at the school.

Major Works

Joseph Erlanger was a noted physiologist whose primary focus in research was neuroscience. His inventions of devices like the adapted cathode ray oscilloscope, and modified sphygmomanometer were considered a breakthrough. He along with counterpart physiologist H.S.Gasser conducted studies that led to the discovery of the various types and forms of neurons and the measurement of their action potential in different stages.

Awards & Achievements

He was the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1944 along with physiologist Herbert Spencer Gasser.

He was the recipient of honorary degrees from several prestigious universities like the University of Pennsylvania, University of California, University of Michigan, and University of Wisconsin.

Personal Life & Legacy

He married Aimée Hirstel in 1906 and the couple had three children - Margaret (born in 1908), Ruth Josephine (born in 1910) and Herman (born in 1912). His wife Aimée Hirstel as well as his son Herman died in the year 1959.

Joseph Erlanger died of heart disease on 5 December 1965, at the age of 91, at St. Louis, Missouri.

On 8 December 1976, the Joseph Erlanger House at St. Louis was designated as National Historical Landmark in appreciation of his efforts and achievements.

Trivia

In 2009, a crater on the moon was named after him by the International Astronomical Union.

Joseph Erlanger Biography