Cholesterol was discovered as long ago as 1789 . Since it was found to be
widely distributed in both the plant and the animal organism, and since it
plays an important part in the latter (being present in blood, brain, liver,
egg yolk, gall-stones, etc.), it is understandable that many chemists and
physiologists should have directed their efforts, especially during the second
half of the 19th century, towards determining the composition and structure
of this remarkable and important substance.