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THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

own

composition, "Monologue at the Piano." He also wrote a pamphlet, "Jenny Lind, eine Skizze Hires Lebens," and a quartet. Of the last-named composition Grillparzer declared: "It sounds as though a man were splitting wood with an ax, the while two women sawed a cord of wood." Becher was perennially poor, and eked out a precarious existence writing for the " Sonntagsblatt and the " Wiener Musikzeitung." He was a stanch champion of the classical school of music, and especially of Mendelssohn and Berlioz. In the spring of 1848 Becher became the practical head of the radicals, then fomenting a revolt in the Austrian capital. He became a member of the central committee and assumed editorial charge of the revolutionary organ, "Der Radikale." While the revolution lasted and during the siege of Vienna by Prince Windischgratz, Becher was a popular hero. When, however, the tide of war turned, and Vienna fell into the hands of the imperial troops, Becher was forsaken by his whilom friends and tried for treason. He was found guilty, and early in the morning of Nov. 23 was taken before the Neuethor, where a battalion of Jaegers shot him. Bibliography Allgemeine Deutsche Blographie, ii. 200-201 Augnhurger Allg.Zeit.. Supplement, Dec. 3, 1848; Mtmitcar des Dates. 1886, p. 69; ib.. Appendix, p. 21 Meyer, Kimver-

Bebai Beck

BECHER, WOLF

German physician and medauthor; born at Filehne, province of Posen. Prussia, May 6, 1862. He received his education at the gymnasium of his native town and at the University of Berlin, whence he was graduated as doctor of medicine in 1889. After having been assistant physician at the Litten'schen Poliklinik fur Innere Krankheiten at Berlin from 1889 to 1892, he engaged in private practise in that city in 1893. Becher has written several essays, among which may be mentioned: "Choleraverschleppung," in "Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift," 1892;

ical

"Cholera und Binnenschifffahrt," ib. 1893; "Experimentelles ilber Anwendung des Rontgenverfahrens in der Medizin," ib. 1896 (jointly with R. Lehnhoff) " Ueber Korperf orm und Lage der Nie;

ren,"

ib.

1898.

Bibliography: Pagel, Biographisches Lexikon,

s.v.,

Vienna,

1901.

F. T. H.

s.

BECHOR SCHOR, JOSEPH.

See

Joseph

Bekor Shor.

BECHORATH Apliiah

(I

Sam.



An

ancestor of Saul, and son of

ix. 1).





sations-Lcxiltun,

ii.

654.

E. Ms. Austrian economist bornatPlany, Bohemia, Feb. 28, 180b; died at Vienna March 4, 1873. He studied at the universities of Prague and Vienna, receiving from the latter the degree of Ph.D. In 1831 he entered the state service; in 1835 became professor of geography and S.

BECHER, SIEGFRIED



history at the Vienna Poly technical High School; in 1848, councilor in the Ministry of Commerce under

Minister Dobbihoff. He was charged with various missions to Germany aud Belgium (1849), and received the title "Kaiserlich Koniglich Hofrath." During the revolutionary period Becher was the head of the ministry until relieved by Baron Brack. Becher published the following works: "Beitrage zur Oesterreichischen Handels- und Zollstatistik von 1831-42, " part I. Stuttgart, 1844 (the only part published); " Die Organisation des Gewerbewesens," " Die Bcvolkerungsverhaltnisse der Vienna, 1851 Oesterreichischen Monarchie," Vienna, 1846; "Die Deutschen Zoll- und Handelsverhaltnisse, " Leipsic,

1850; "Ergebnisse des Handels- und Zolleinkommens der Oesterreichischen Monarchie im Jahre 1842," Leipsic, 1845; "Handbuch zur Vorbereitung fur das Historische Gesammtstudium und Literatur Desselben," Vienna, 1833; "Handelsgeographie," vol. ii., Vienna, 1837; "Ideen zu einer Vernilnftigen Erziehung," Vienna, 1835; "Das Oesterreichische Munzwesen vom Jahre 1524 bis 1838," vol. ii., Vi" Statistische Uebersicht der Bevolkeenna, 1838 rung der Oesterreichischen Monarchie nach den Ergebnissen der Jahre 1834-1840," Stuttgart and Tu" Statistische Uebersicht des Handels bingen, 1841



der Oesterreichischen Monarchie mit dem Auslande Wahrend der Jahre 1829 bis 1838," ib., 1841; "Die Volkswirthschaf t, " Vienna, 1853. Bibliography: Jtiaischcx Athcn/hnn, 1851, p. 4; Wurzbach, Biographisches Lexilttm ilea Kaimrlhiuns Oesterreich, i. 308; Meyer, Konveisittions-Lc.i -ikon, s.v. G.

S.

.r.

jr.

G. B. L.

BECK, ADOLF

Austrian physician and professor of physiology at the University of Lemberg born Jan. 1, 1863, in Cracow, Galicia, of poor parDuring his academic career Beck supported ents. himself as a private tutor. Upon graduating with distinction



from the gymnasium of

his native city

he entered the University of Cracow. In 1888, while still a medical student, Beck gained the prize of the university by a paper on the excitability of a nerve, afterward published under the title, " O Pobudliwos'ci Roznych Miejsc Tego Samego Nerwu " (On the Excitability of a Nerve at Different In 1890 he received the degree of M.D., Points). and in the same year published the results of his in 1884,

extensive research on electrical

His papers on

processes in the

"Die Bestimder Localisation des Gehirn- und Rtickenmarksfunctionen Vermittelst der Electrischen Erscheinungen," 1890, and " Weiterc Untersuchungen liber die Electrischen Erscheinungen des Hirnrinde der Affen und Hunde," 1891 (in collaboration with Cybulski), attracted wide attention in Germany, France, and England, and won for him a prominent position among students of physiology. In 1889 Beck was appointed assistant in the physiological laboratory of the University of Cracow; brain.

this subject,

mung

and he remained in this position until 1894, when he became privat-docent on the presentation of his In the thesis " Ueber die Physiologie der Reflexes." following year he was offered a chair of physiology as associate professor in the newly created medical department of the University of Lemberg, and in 1897 was appointed professor in the same institution.

Beck has received many marks of distinction from medical societies in recognition of his scientific inHis numerous contributions, pubvestigations. lished in German and in Polish, belong almost exAmong his clusively to the domain of physiology. papers, besides those already referred to, may be