Hesse, Fanny Angelina (1850–1934)
Hesse, Fanny Angelina (1850–1934)
American medical illustrator and laboratory technician. Name variations: Lina Hesse or Angelina Hesse. Born Fanny Angelina Eilshemius, June 22, 1850, in NY; died Dec 1, 1934; m. Dr. Walther Hesse (practiced medicine in Germany), May 16, 1874, in Geneva, Switzerland (died 1911); children.
Promoted the use of agar jelly in lieu of standard gelatin for bacteria cultivation, because of its ability to remain solid in different temperatures, to be sterilized, and to be preserved for long periods (1881); worked as husband's unpaid lab technician and illustrator in Robert Koch's laboratory (1881–82); influenced Koch to use agar jelly to study bacterial causes of tuberculosis; created drawings for husband's publications; though born in New York State, remained predominately in Germany and Europe after marriage (1874); moved with family to a Dresden suburb in Germany (1900).