Johann Balthasar Schnetzler (3 November 1823 in Gächlingen – 29 June 1896 in Lausanne) was a Swiss naturalist.

In 1840/41, he studied at Polytechnic Stuttgart and, for a period of time, taught French classes at the Schaffhausen gymnasium. From 1844 to 1847, he furthered his education at the University of Geneva and, from 1847 to 1867, worked as a science teacher at the progymnasium in Vevey. In 1864, he became an associate professor, and, from 1871, was a full professor of botany at the Academy of Lausanne. From 1879 to 1881, he served as academic rector.[1]

He was the author of many scientific papers with botanical, mycological and zoological themes,[2] a few of which have been translated into English. In 1873, he published a book on introductory botany titled Entretiens sur la botanique.[3] Also, he is the taxonomic authority of the bryophyte variety Thamnium alopecurum var. lemani.[4] In the field of human nutrition, he collaborated with Henri Nestlé in the development of a powdered infant formula.[5]

Articles by Schnetzler that have been published in English

• "Protection of herbaria and entomological collections from insects by means of sulphide of carbon", 1876.
• "On an aerial alga inhabiting the bark of the vine", 1884.
• "On the infection of a frog-tadpole by Saprolegnia ferax", 1888.[6]

References