Febkuaet 4, 1921] 



SCIENCE 



105 



To do full justice to tlie influence exerted 

 upon contemporary medical research by Melt- 

 zer's work would require a careful analysis 

 of tlie entire medical literature of the period, 

 for, as I have tried to indicate, his sym- 

 pathies were very broad and his activity was 

 great. In some measure, either as interpreter 

 or contributor, this influence was felt at many 

 of the points of contact between medical sci- 

 ence and medical practise. The border land 

 between these subjects was in fact his special 

 field of work. He had the spirit and ideals 

 of the scientist, and knew at first hand what 

 research work really means. He had experi- 

 enced the labor and care and devotion re- 

 quired of those who aspire to increase knowl- 

 edge. On the other hand he had a personal 

 realization of the difiiculties and necessities 

 of medical practise and so was especially 

 fitted to act as a sort of liaison ofiicer between 

 the two great wings of the medical army, the 

 investigators who have the diificult task of 

 discovering new truths, and the practitioners 

 who must learn to apply these truths to the 

 preservation of health and the protection from 

 disease. K"o one in our generation, I venture 

 1» say, was more useful in this country in 

 bringing about a helpful and sympathetic 

 understanding between the laboratory worker 

 and the physician. As a physiologist he en- 

 joyed the best opportimities and training of 

 his period. He was equipped with the meth- 

 ods and technique that the subject owes to 

 the great masters of the latter half of the 

 nineteenth century. The more modem meth- 

 ods of physics and chemistry which seem to 

 be essential for the new generation of physio- 

 logical workers he did not possess, but he did 

 not let this deficiency discourage him nor 

 diminish in any way his activity in research. 

 He had the wisdom to understand that the 

 armamentarium with which he was provided 

 was adequate for the accomplishment of much 

 important and necessary investigation. He 

 was no faint-hearted seeker after truth. 

 There never was a time, I fancy, in his active 

 life when his mind was not full of problems 

 that he wished to solve and which he intended 



to solve in part at least with the aid of his 

 experimental methods. 



Dr. Meltzer was elected to membership in 

 the American Physiological Society at its 

 first annual meeting held in Philadelphia in 

 December, 1888. From that time imtil his 

 death he was perhaps its most faithful mem- 

 ber in attendance, in the presentation of 

 papers and in participation in the discussions 

 and social intercourse. Other less heroic 

 spirits might weary under the load of papers 

 and seek respite and fresh air by frequent dis- 

 appearances between acts, but this was never 

 the case with Meltzer. He loved the meet- 

 ings, he loved to listen to the papers and to 

 take part in the discussions. He had some- 

 thing to say of value on almost every paper 

 that was read. It is small wonder therefore 

 that his position and influence in the society 

 constantly increased in importance. He 

 served as president from 1911 to 1913, but 

 the older members know that before that time 

 and since his advice was paramount in mat- 

 ters of policy as well as in the selection of 

 oiEcers. He was sincerely and deeply inter- 

 ested in the welfare of the society and be- 

 lieved in its importance as one of the major 

 agencies concerned in the advancement of the 

 cause of physiological research. Wliat he had 

 to say in regard to its policies was always 

 said in the opening meetings and in the 

 plainest of terms, and if in his opinion it 

 was necessary to be critical of either persons 

 or things he never hesitated to express what 

 was in his mind. His courage in stating his 

 position in matters in which some personal 

 criticism necessarily played a part in the dis- 

 cussion has often aroused my admiration. He 

 did not indulge in circumlocutions or euphem- 

 isms, but was entirely frank and direct. 

 There could be no niistak# as to what he 

 thought and yet no matter how plainly and 

 bluntly he might speak there was as a rule 

 no offense taken, because it was evident to 

 every one that what concerned him was not 

 personalities but the principles involved. The 

 American Physiological Society owes much to 

 him for the sound policies and wholesome 

 traditions which have characterized its his- 



