work contains the following prophetic sentence: "In view of the fact 

 that mammalian corpuscles retain their stability for three or four days 

 when kept on ice, a supply of human corpuscles might possibly be kept 

 in this manner in operating rooms for rapid injection in emergencies 

 that would otherwise prove fatal." Here we have the fundamental 

 idea of the "blood bank" which came into use only recently and which 

 was of such great value in the treatment of wounded soldiers in World 

 War II. 



In the summer and fall of 1921, he became very much interested 

 in biophysics, and wanted a department established in the Medical 

 School. Actually, during the academic year 1921-22, biophysics is 

 listed in the catalogue as a department of instruction. It was in charge 

 of a lecturer in biophysics but ^vas really under Abel in the Depart- 

 ment of Pharmacology. Fortunately or unfortunately for the School at 

 this time, the department only lasted a year, and Abel's attempts to get 

 his colleagues to continue it proved unsuccessful. Today, biophysics 

 is recognized as an important University department at Hopkins. It 

 may be mentioned that at the time of his biophysical enthusiasm, 

 Abel purchased from his limited funds an infrared spectroscope and 

 had an assistant for two or three years working with it. Today, infra- 

 red spectroscopy is recognized as a valuable tool in organic chemistry. 



Lastly, in a prophetic way, I can mention his intense interest in 

 scientific journals and in the organization of national scientific so- 

 cieties. In view of the fact that he refused to allow himself to be side- 

 tracked from his devotion to research to figure in the usual accompani- 

 ments of a successful scientist, medical meetings, committee meetings, 

 and board meetings, it is somewhat difficult to explain his interest in 

 scientific journals and scientific societies. The answer appears to be 

 that he saw clearly the necessities of journals and societies in bio- 

 chemistry and pharmacology and interested himself in them so that 

 they might be properly launched. 



Abel was first and foremost an investigator. His great enthusiasm 

 and passionate devotion to research dominated his whole life. In one 

 of his addresses, after discussing the training necessary for the medical 

 investigator, wherein an extended chemical training is emphasized, 

 he writes: 



"But to what end is all this preparation for our yoimg man? Is it 

 solely that he may solve problems whose solution is of practical value 

 to mankind? Is his mind to shape itself only to the insistent demands of 

 utility? Even then our method of training will yield the largest profit. 



"But it does vastly more than that. Thus trained, our young scholar 



6 



