ACADEMY OF SCIENCES] BIOGRAPHY 13 



all his heart that the future of medicine depends upon the applications of science to diagnosis 

 and treatment. He had a perfectly clear vision of the good results to be expected in medical 

 practice from the application of laboratory methods to the study of the normal and pathological 

 physiology of the organism. But this was not the opinion of the great body of practicing 

 physicians at that time. There was marked criticism of the elaborate laboratory methods 

 that were coming into vogue and which seemed at first sight to be so far away from the pressing 

 problems of disease. Meltzer, however, was thoroughly au courant with the modern point of 

 view and he was at all times the vigorous defender and propagandist of experimental methods 

 in medicine. In a very real way he became a prominent and influential representative of 

 scientific medicine. Through his writings and his numerous societies he was constantly in 

 evidence as an advocate of the importance of research, and, as was natural, his influence was 

 felt first upon the younger men. The older men were more or less set in their ways, but the 

 younger, better trained men who were then entering medicine were the hopeful element to be 

 considered. Many of these who have since become prominent have expressed their apprecia- 

 tion of the stimulating effect of Meltzer's sympathy and criticism. The fact that he was 

 recognized as an able practitioner, as well as a successful laboratory worker, gave him a position 

 of advantage which he utilized to the fullest extent in bringing his influence to bear upon the 

 younger men to stimulate them to undertake experimental work, and upon the older men to 

 impress them with the value and necessity of such work. As far as I can ascertain his dis- 

 tinguished services did not bring him any academic calls. Whether or not he would have made 

 a successful professor is perhaps open to question. Most likely his qualities were not such as 

 would have made a good instructor for beginners, although for the few really interested indi- 

 viduals he would no doubt have been a constant strong source of inspiration. His work as 

 an investigator did, however, bring him a call of a most complimentary kind from the Rockefeller 

 Institute of Medical Research. 



He was asked in 1904 to take charge of a department of experimental physiology and 

 pharmacology. This invitation presented a serious ddemma. On the one hand, it offered 

 the opportunities that he craved of abundant facilities for research, but, on the other, it meant 

 the suspension of his work as a practitioner. He did not hesitate in making his decision. At 

 a very considerable financial sacrifice he accepted the post, and the long series of important 

 investigations which he published from this laboratory is abundant proof that the selection 

 was a wise one. He retained this position for 15 years, resigning in May, 1919. Shortly 

 before his withdrawal, in 1917, the institute had his portrait painted by Adolphe Borie to 

 commemorate his services. During his latter years at the institute and for the remainder of 

 his life he was in poor health. He had long been a sufferer from diabetes. His own careful 

 supervision of his diet enabled him to control this condition successfully for many years, but 

 during the last 15 years he was restricted to an almost entirely carbohydrate-free dietary. 

 During the last year or two of his life he was a very sick-looking man, wan and feeble, but he 

 did not surrender to his condition. He continued his reading and experimenting and attended 

 faithfully his scientific meetings. Death came to him finally while at work in his study at 

 night. It was his custom apparently when he could not sleep to go into his study to read, 

 and it was on an occasion of this kind that the end came, let us hope suddenly and painlessly. 

 He had long realized that his life was precarious, but his only expressed regret was that he 

 might not have time to do some of the important work that he had planned. 



The latter years of his life were saddened, not only by ill health and the consequent limit- 

 ation of his power to work, but also to a considerable extent by the conditions created by the 

 Great War. Meltzer's education had been obtained in Germany and he had always a feeling 

 of gratitude and appreciation for the opportunities opened to him at that period of his life. 

 He had besides a sincere admiration for the great contributions made to medicine by German 

 physicians and professors, with many of whom he was personally acquainted. When the war 

 started and the tide of anti-German sentiment began to rise rapidly in this country it was 

 directed not only against the policies of the German Government, but oftentimes in an 

 unreasoning way against German science and German scientists. This feeling was augmented 



