BEHRING, EMIL ADOLF. – Born in Hausdorf on 15 March 1854 and died in Marburg on 31 March 1917. A German physician, hygienist, and bacteriologist, professor at the University of Marburg, he was renowned for the discovery of the diphtheria antitoxin, which earned him the name “saviour of children.” He occupied himself with general questions, leaving behind some philosophical notes and fragments, published posthumously. He was not without religious feeling and did not escape metaphysical torment.
Among his works are: Die Geschichte der Diphterie (Leipzig 1893); Therapie der Infection krankheiten (Vienna 1899); Beiträge zur experimentellen Therapie (Vienna and Berlin 1900).
BIBL.: H. Zeiss and R. Bieling, B. Gestalt und Werk, Berlin 1940. Luigi Scremin