16 



Memorial Number. 



the formation of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, 

 a society made up of younger men, active workers in medicine. 

 This society is unique among medical organizations, in the char- 

 acter and ability of its members and the scientific excellence of 

 their work. It is unquestionably one of the most important in- 

 fluences in this country in the progress of clinical medicine. His 

 address at the first meeting of this society on "The Science of 

 Clinical Medicine, what it ought to be and the men to uphold it" 

 is an especially inspiring one, and sets forth fully the ideals for 

 which he was fighting. Again a paper on "Headship and Or- 

 ganization of Clinical Departments" shows his conception of 

 what the organization of a modern department of medicine should 

 be. Through all these addresses one can find proof of his firm 

 conviction of the successful future of medicine in this country. 

 He had full faith in the new generation, with its education and 

 scientific training. 



I take the opportunity of quoting here a letter, recently re- 

 ceived from Dr. Victor C. Vaughan, which reflects the general 

 regard in which Dr. Meltzer was held by men of his own type. 

 " I know of no one within my wide circle of acquaintances who has 

 more fully filled my ideal of a physician and investigator than Dr. 

 Meltzer. Although busy in the practice of medicine for many 

 years, he always found time to do research, and this was of the 

 highest kind. Personally I loved him like a brother. Profes- 

 sionally I appreciated his great service to science and to his 

 profession." 



And again, I quote from a letter received from Professor Yan- 

 dell Henderson: " I believe that I can, as well as almost any one, 

 testify from my own experience in scientific discussion with Dr. 

 Meltzer, to the value of his constructive criticism. To excite 

 comment on one's work from Dr. Meltzer was to receive at once 

 stimulus, guidance, encouragement, and warning against prema- 

 ture conclusion. The function of critic which he filled for twenty 

 years or more was one of his most valuable services." 



In concluding, I feel that I can speak for the large group of 

 men, young when Meltzer was in his full maturity, who looked 

 on him as a sympathetic friend, a trusted adviser, an exponent 

 of that spirit and accomplishment for which we are all striving. 



