VIl From the preface to the third edition The first German edition of this book was al- Their intention was to cross the atlantic in their sailing boat. This was the last that wa ever heard of them and we have had to aban- Without the creative enthusiasm of Aga- menon Despopoulos, it is doubtful whether this book would have been possible; without his personal support it has not been easy to continue with the project. whilst keeping in mind our original aims, I have completely re vised the book, incorporating the latest adval in the field of physiology as well as the wel- edition, to whom I extend my thanks for their active interest in New York: Professor of Physiology at the buquerque, USA, until 1971: Wurzburg, Fall 1985 scientific adviser to CIBA-GEIGY. Basel.VII From the Preface to the Third Edition The first German edition of this book was al￾ready in press when, on November 2nd, 1979, Agamennon Despopoulos and his wife, Sarah Jones-Despopoulos put to sea from Bizerta, Tu￾nisia. Their intention was to cross the Atlantic in their sailing boat. This was the last that was ever heard of them and we have had to aban￾don all hope of seeing them again. Without the creative enthusiasm of Aga￾mennon Despopoulos, it is doubtful whether this book would have been possible; without his personal support it has not been easy to continue with the project. Whilst keeping in mind our original aims, I have completely re￾vised the book, incorporating the latest advan￾ces in the field of physiology as well as the wel￾come suggestions provided by readers of the earlier edition, to whom I extend my thanks for their active interest. Würzburg, Fall 1985 Stefan Silbernagl Dr. Agamemnon Despopoulos Born 1924 in New York; Professor of Physiology at the University of New Mexico. Albuquerque, USA, until 1971; thereafter scientific adviser to CIBA-GEIGY, Basel