Franz Nissl

German medical researcher. He was a noted neuropathologist.

He gravitated to medicine and as a student in Munich he wrote on pathology of cortical cells in which he used a stain he created which opened up a new era in neurocytology and neuropathology. He also did outstanding work in psychiatry and demonstrated the correlation of nerves and mental disease by relating them to changes in glial cells, blood elements, blood vessels, and brain tissue in general. He worked with Alzheimer on general paresis. In the last 10 years of his life he did studies in which he established connections between the cortex and certain thalamic nuclei. He will be remembered as a great neuropathologist.

Nissl was of small stature, with poor posture. He had a birthmark on his left face. He never married, and his life revolved entirely around his work.

Nissl was a competent pianist.

He died 11 August 1919.