ACADEMY OF SCIENCES] BIOGRAPHY H 



further discussion. He got the same kind of pleasure in listening to the presentation of scientific 

 papers that he did from following the literature, so that he was an ideal society member, punc- 

 tilious in attendance and in following the program, an absorbed listener, and willing and able 

 to help in the discussion. 



As physiology was his first love so the American Physiological Society was probably the 

 organization in which he was most interested. He was elected to membership in this society 

 at its Philadelphia meeting in December, 1888. From that time until his death he was perhaps 

 its most faithful member in attendance, in the presentation of papers, in participation in the 

 discussions, and in promoting social intercourse among the membership. It was evident that 

 he enjoyed thoroughly these gatherings with his fellow workers. He believed in their impor- 

 tance as a means of promoting the advance of physiological science, and he gave the best that 

 was in him to make the meetings profitable and to maintain the high standards of the society 

 as an organization devoted primarily to the encouragement of research. It is a great good 

 fortune for any society to have a member of this type, one who attends its meetings not from 

 a sense of duty or for reasons of personal advancement, but because he thoroughly enjoys and 

 believes in them. It may be said that Doctor Meltzer listened eagerly to every paper presented 

 and had something to say about most of them. What he said was not always important, but 

 it showed his interest. No one was more appreciative of good or new work and no one was 

 more frank in expressing doubt or criticism when the work was not to his taste. Meltzer was 

 not a good speaker. In spite of his long residence in this country he spoke with a marked 

 accent and was far from being fluent or happy in his choice of words. But he was always 

 sincere and earnest and in the discussions at least made his points so that they could not be 

 misunderstood. In the presentation of his own papers, however, he was not particularly 

 skillful. It was something of a strain to follow him closely, and very frequently he elaborated 

 details at such length that the main points they were intended to demonstrate or illustrate 

 were lost or obscured. But the constant interest that he manifested in all that was going on 

 was singularly effective in the long run. One such member, provided he is free from suspicion 

 of self-seeking, can contribute powerfully to the vitality and interest of an organization. Doctor 

 Meltzer was just as much interested in the business meetings of the society as he was in the 

 scientific sessions. The members of the society as a rule were not greatly concerned in such 

 matters as the choice of officers. As is the case probably in most of such scientific societies, 

 they voted for whatever ticket was presented or was nominated in open meeting. But Doctor 

 Meltzer, because of his genuine belief in the influence of the organization upon the advancement 

 of physiological research, took such matters very much to heart. He had quite decided opinions 

 and expressed them with entire frankness. He looked upon the presidency of the society as 

 an honor and recognition and was anxious that it should go to the men who in his opinion were 

 most deserving. It so happened therefore that for a number of years he was a sort of king- 

 maker. When he thought that a president had served long enough he said so plainly in the 

 open meeting and proposed the name of his successor. And because he had given thought to 

 the matter and was obviously sincere and disinterested, he usually carried the meeting with him. 

 When in the course of time the honor of the presidency came to him it was evident that he 

 appreciated it greatly, and he magnified as much as possible the importance of the office. He 

 was in fact a bit autocratic in exercising its functions, but all of his actions were obviously meant 

 to promote the efficiency and importance of the society. One of his reforms caused some 

 consternation when it was first sprung upon the society. Like other presiding officers he was 

 very anxious to finish the program in good time and for this purpose he brought with him an 

 alarm clock which could be set to ring for any given interval. When a member arose to give 

 a paper for which 15 minutes had been allowed on the program, Doctor Meltzer very carefully 

 wound and set the clock and promptly at the appointed moment the alarm went off. This in 

 itself was sufficient to bring most speakers to a precipitous and, usually, incoherent conclusion. 

 Less sensitive members who made an effort to proceed after the noise was over found that the 

 audience was not with them, the faces of the members reflected their somewhat amused con- 

 viction that the speaker's time had struck and it was his duty to sit down. Some of the members 



