Bets Vladimir Alekseevich – anatomist and histologist, clinician.
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on April 14 (26 according to the Gregorian calendar) 1834 in the Chernihiv region in a noble family.
He studied at the Nizhyn Gymnasium, and later at the 2nd Kyiv Gymnasium, from which he graduated in 1853.
In 1860 he graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of St. Volodymyr and received a medical degree.
Career
After graduating from the university, Betz remained to work at the Department of Anatomy, which was headed by Professor Alexander Walter.
From May 1861 to September 1862, he trained in leading European clinics. At this time, he began working on his doctoral dissertation, which he defended in 1863.
In his scientific work, Betz was engaged in brain research and developed his own method for making anatomical preparations. He created a collection of more than 8 thousand human and animal brain preparations.
The collection was awarded medals in 1870 in St. Petersburg and in 1873 in Vienna. Bets, in turn, refused to sell it and handed it over to the University of St. Volodymyr.
In 1872, he also refused the offer to print an atlas of the collection in Leipzig at the expense of the Dresden Academy of Sciences, because he wanted to publish it in Kyiv. To do this, he mastered photography and set up a printing house in his own apartment.
The “Atlas of Microscopic Anatomy of the Human Brain” includes 29 tables and 140 figures. The scientist did not have time to fully complete and publish the work.
In parallel with medicine, Betz was interested in the history of Ukraine. Together with historian and ethnographer Volodymyr Antonovych, he prepared and published the book “Historical Figures of South-Western Russia”, which was perceived in government circles as a manifestation of Ukrainian separatism.
From 1868 to 1890, he headed the Department of Anatomy at the University of St. Volodymyr. Under pressure from the leadership, he eventually left the post, officially explaining his resignation by heart disease.
Scientific activity
Betz studied the structure and functioning of the central nervous system, in particular the brain. He discovered the motor zone of the cortex and described giant pyramidal nerve cells, which were later called Betz cells.
He also studied the adrenal glands, bone development and growth, and was engaged in clinical diagnostics. Based on his research, he opposed phrenology and racial theories.
Betz is the author of more than 50 scientific papers.
The scientist also worked for many years as a consultant on nervous diseases at the Kyrylivska hospital and was the chief physician of the hospital of the South-Western Railway.
He participated in the public and scientific life of Kyiv, was one of the founders of the Society of Nature Researchers, headed the Anatomical Theater and was a member of a number of scientific societies.
Death
Betz died on October 12, 1894.
Marital Status
He was married to Daria Pavlovna Shtram.
