Bunge

BUNGE, Alexander Alexandrovich, physician, zoologist, traveler (born 1851). Assistant to the head and physician of the Russian Geographical Society expedition to the Lena River estuary, 1882-84; head of the Academy of Sciences expedition to the Priamur region and the New Siberian Islands, 1885-87. Physician of the Spitsbergen expedition for degree measurement, 1899-1900. Physician of the naval fleet from 1884 to 1914. Advocate for the idea of using Spitsbergen Island as a health resort. The "Land of Bunge" was named for the southeastern part of Kotelny Island, previously believed to be covered by sea. Works by B.: "Preliminary report on the expedition to the New Siberian Islands" ("Izvestiya Imperatorskogo russkogo geograficheskogo obshchestva", vol. XXIII, 1888); "The Spitsbergen expedition for degree measurement in sanitary and hygienic aspects" (medical supplement to "Morskoy Sbornik", September, 1901); "On diseases among the indigenous peoples of the northern part of the Yakut region" (St. Petersburg, 1888); "Uber die Nachweisbarkeit eines biserialen Archipterygium bei Selachiern und Dipnoeren" (Jenaische Zeitschrift für Medizin u. Naturwissenschaften, vol. VIII); "Untersuchungen zur Entwicklungsgeschichte des Beckengurtels der Amphibien" (Dorpat, 1880); "Naturhistorische Beobachtungen u. Fahrten in d. Lena-Delta" (Melanges biologiques, tires du Bulletin de l'Academie imperiale des sciences de St. Petersbourg, vol. XII, 1888); "Bericht uber die im Lenagebiet im Sommer 1885 ausgeführten Reisen nebst einem Verzeichnis der daselbst beobachteten u. erkundeten Säugetiere u. Vogel" (Beitr. zur Kenntnis d. Russ. Reiches u. der angrenzenden Länder Asiens, St. Petersburg, 1886); "Spitzbergen als Kurort" (1886).

BUNGE, Gustav (Gustav Bunge, 1844-1920), one of the greatest biochemists. B. studied biology at the University of Dorpat, where he received his associate professorship in 1874. From 1895 until his death, B. held the chair of physiological chemistry at the University of Basel. Among B.'s works, his research on the composition of blood in different animal species, which showed significant constancy of plasma composition in contrast to the formed elements, are foremost. Bunge's data served as the basis for the preparation of physiological nutrient solutions. B.'s research on the composition of milk in different animals, in connection with the study of the composition of tissues of newborns, has, besides theoretical interest, great practical significance, showing on the one hand the impossibility of completely replacing mother's milk, and on the other hand the insufficiency of exclusive milk feeding for an infant from 7-8 months. Of no less interest is B.'s work on the question of the significance of table salt in food, noting the relationship between the need for NaCl and the content of K salts in food. B. is the prototype of a scientist whose interests far extend beyond the laboratory and seek application in life, the improvement of which is his main task. The great role of B. in the fight against alcoholism is known, thanks to his scientific research on the effects of alcohol and his public speeches for complete abstinence from alcohol (since 1885). Bunge's influence as an educator is still evident today in the works of his numerous students, many of whom enjoy world fame (e.g., Abderhalden). His classical book is widely known: "Lehrbuch der physiologischen und pathologischen Chemie", translated into all languages.