14 



Memorial Number. 



This possibility was eagerly seized upon and developed. It came 

 in time to be the central idea upon which a large part of his re- 

 search work was based. Briefly stated, his conception was that 

 inhibition is as essential a process in cellular activity as is excita- 

 tion. All living tissues are irritable, i.e., they respond to stimula- 

 tion with a vital reaction. This reaction can be either the mani- 

 festations of their specific activity, excitation, or it can be an in- 

 hibition of an existing activity. Absolute rest occurs when both 

 opposing energies are exactly even and the difference between 

 activity and rest consists only in the fact that excitation predomi- 

 nates during activity and inhibition during rest. To support his 

 conception, Meltzer turned his attention to experimental proof. 

 His studies on respiratory function strengthened his belief, as did 

 his work on the gastro-intestinal tract. Later in his search for an 

 agent causing inhibition, he discovered the depressing properties of 

 magnesium and found in this substance what he believed to be the 

 representative of inhibition in the animal body. His numerous 

 papers on the action of magnesium salts are too well known to 

 need review. 



It may be noted here that owing to his wide knowledge gained 

 through years of practice, he endeavored whenever possible to 

 utilize his experimental facts for the service of humanity. Thus 

 he pointed out and devised a technic for the use of magnesium sul- 

 phate as a general anesthetic and in the treatment of tetanus. He 

 described its advantages in the treatment of burns and its applica- 

 tion in the diagnosis of gall bladder disease. Suggested by the 

 magnesium work, he turned his attention to artificial respiration 

 and devised his method of intratracheal insufflation, a method 

 notable for its simplicity, effectiveness and wide application. 



In Meltzer's research work in general there is seen a breadth 

 of view and range of subjects that is remarkable. In his earlier 

 publications, as might be expected, tjiere are found a number 

 of papers on clinical subjects. Thus he wrote on the auscultatory 

 sounds of swallowing, subphrenic abscess, congenital hypertrophic 

 stenosis of the pylorus, otitis media and earache in pneumonia, 

 paratyphoid, mechanical relations in the occurrence of pneumonia, 

 myelopathic albuminosuria, gastralgia, intestinal colic and colic 

 in general. These papers all show a keen observation and careful 

 interpretation of facts. 



