In 1745, he published an ingenious argumentative dis course, De Fatibus Monstruosis, in which he maintained that the original germs were in such instances defective, in opposition to the opinion that monstrosity was the effect of a derangement in the evolution of a germ originally per fect.
In 1746, he announced his experiments on respiration, in which he established the identity of office of the two layers of intercostal muscles, and the whole of the doctrines regarding the mechanical part of that Junction which have ever since been maintained, in opposition to the vague and erroneous notions which previously prevailed.
Haller, like most other eminent men of the medical pro fession, was engaged in some warm disputes. Dr Ham berger, Van Swieten, De Haen, Albinus, and Lamettrie, were his antagonists. In these, however, he generally dis played moderation. In the second edition of his Essay on Respiration, instead of accumulating rejoinders, and expo sing afresh the weakness of the arguments of Hamberger, he suppressed every harsh expression which the first edi tion contained. 'He had some physiological discussions with Dr Whytt of Edinburgh, Lamure, Lecat, and Lorry, in the course of which candour and mutual respect were on all sides observed.
The subject on which he displayed greatest originality was irritability, which he considered as a property of ani mated bodies distinct from sensibility, and residing in dif ferent organs. On this subject, Dr Whytt of Edinburgh maintained with him a learned and instructive controversy.
The latter undoubtedly had the superiority in argument, without prejndhx: to the genius which I taller displayed in the developement of his theory, and the command of tem per with w Inch he conducted the controversy.
In 1619, he published his Prima lines Physiologic. This work maintained the pre-eminence as a text•book in this department long alter a multitude of improvements had been made in the science. In the composition of it he did nut indulge in theory, but exhibited facts with a rigo rous exactness. Ile published new editions of various works in medicine, as well as in natural science. It is in the prefaces to these works and to his own that he commu nicates knowledge in the most striking and engaging man ner. They are collected in one volume, entitled German Opuscola.
Betwixt the years 1747 and 1756, he was employed in publishing a collection of dissertations, composed by various authors, on anatomy in eight volumes, on surgery in five, and on the practice of medicine in seven.
Besides the works now mentioned, Haller published va rious physiological dissertations betwixt the years 1736 and 1753, which were of themselves sufficient to confer on him a high degree of celebrity. Among these, was one on the
circulation by which the substance of the heart is supplied with blood for its own nutrition ; one on the form of the Eustachian valve at different periods of life; and one on the membrana decidua of the foetus.
At Gottingen, he exerted himself in the formation of various useful institutions ; such as the College of Sur geons, the Gottingen Society, a lying-in hospital subser vient to the obstetrical branch of education, an anatomical museum, and a seminary for instructing artists in painting objects of anatomy, botany, and natural history.
These exertions procured for M. de Haller a high de gree of honourable fame. Ile was elected member of al most all the academies of Europe. It deserves to be men tioned, that the Academy of Upsal had the honour of ta king the lead. A learned society, which slims no tenden cy to precipitate admiration, deserves great credit when it early distinguishes the buds of a just celebrity-, and by its notice cherishes exertions which might otherwise in some measure languish. When on a visit to Berne, he was elect ed a member of the sovereign council of that republic.
George If. took a lively interest in the splendid success of Haller. in 1739, lie appointed him his first physician as elector of Hanover ; he gave him the title of aline coun sellor; and in 1749, procured for him letters of nobility from the Emperor of Germany, creating him baron. Hal ler always, however, declined the title.
More than one seminary of learning aspired to the ho nour of numbering him among their teachers. Dillenius, professor of botany at Oxford, having before his death, which happened in 1747, expressed a desire that he should be chosen his successor, an invitation was given him to fill that vacancy. The following year he was invited to succeed Albinus at Utrecht as chancellor to the universi ty.; and soon after, the King of Prussia offered him an eli gible establishment at Berlin, with the presidentship of the Academy. But Haller did not so far indulge a roving ambition, as to accept of any of these honourable appoint ments. He thus testified a grateful attachment to that university, the founder of which was the earliest to give him the honours best suited to gratify his wishes, and to afford scope for the full exercise of his great talents. He determined not to leave Gottingen for any place except his native country.