40 



Memorial Number. 



In those early years when Meltzer came to New York, the 

 leading physicians were Jacobi, Clark, the elder Flint, Delafield 

 and Janeway, the scientific basis of whose work was mainly patho- 

 logical anatomy. From this school of pathological anatomists 

 most admirable practitioners have come; but today we recognize 

 that the study of function is essential to make the good doctor, 

 and we must bear in mind that Meltzer typified this idea when 

 scarcely any one else in the country did so. 



In the early nineties Meltzer's productivity amounted to 

 many papers a year, and so continued to the end. It is interesting 

 to consider why. In the first place he was in easier circumstances, 

 not uninterested in his practice, but easier in his circumstances so 

 far as time to give to his work went. Then it was a time too, when 

 there were great advances in scientific and medical education. 

 Laboratories were established in various schools in the country. I 

 wish to emphasize also the formation of special societies such as 

 the Association of American Physicians, devoted to the various 

 specialties, particularly the Physiological Society, where Meltzer 

 played the very important part indicated by Dr. Howell. At 

 this time too, there came the establishment of journals devoted 

 solely to the publication of technical research. They not only 

 provided a much needed means for publication, but they were 

 positively stimulating to the production of research. The first of 

 these was the Journal of Experimental Medicine started in 1896, 

 soon followed by the Journal of Physiology and then by others. 

 The organization of these special societies, the new media of 

 publications, gave Meltzer his opportunity, and how well he used 

 it, how much a part of this development he was, has been indicated 

 here tonight. 



And now, just a little more about his relation to the clinical 

 side. He represented the physiological type of physician. He 

 was, I understand from competent sources, really an accomplished 

 physician, doing full justice to his patients. His influence on 

 clinical medicine however, is not to be measured by his accom- 

 plishments merely as a physician. He was never weary of im- 

 pressing especially upon the younger generation of physicians, that 

 the field of clinical research is just as interesting, as rewarding, as 

 important and just as capable of scientific advancement by re- 



