Temple University School of Medicine - Skull Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 24 text:

December 7, 1933. I HAVE always felt proud of the men who come from the University of Pennsylvania. and i have felt particularly proud of the men of my own closs, the closs of 1908, a doss which I think stands out obove oil ciosses that have ever left the University This may be but a natural pride n the men whom I knew well but when I consider the accomplishments of those who hove graduated in that particular class I cannot but believe thot this is not false sense of pride but is the truth. One of the shining men os on undergraduate in the closs of 1908 wos John A Kolmer. always a student, always o sincere, industrious and brilliant worker, his subsequent career has mere than fulfilled the promise he gave os c student Shortly after graduating he entered into reseorcb with the spirit of industry, the inquisitive mmd and the proper balance which mokes the great research student Soon the writings of Kolmer were recognized os outstanding throughout the world This wos not a mere flash in the pon, the enthusiasm of youth, but has continued until now Kolmer in his more mature years is one ot the best-known medicol investigators m the country. His original publications, his books ond his contributions of all kinds re medicol knowledge in quontity and in quohty hove mode him today a truly great medicol man. In his new field of endeavor he will be what he has been in the post, o brilliant and indefatigable worker, who will achieve cs greet things m the future os he has in the post. Very sincerely, (V 1A December 4, 1933. THE career of John A. Kolmer illustrotes well the way of successful preporotion for leadership in medicine. Doctor Kolmer started out os teacher and worker m pathology and bacteriology. Gradually he devoted himself more ond more exclusively to the study of immunity ond chemotherapy, but always with an eye to the opplicotion of the growing knowledge and the special methods of these new sciences in diagnosis ond rreotment This strong tendency toward the clinico1 ona practical is seen cleorly in the books lie has written His devoted specialization os investigator and teacher in o relatively new phose of medical science prepared him for leadership in the large and comprehensive field of clinical medicine An oble investigator, an attractive teocher, o successful consultant, a fluent writer, his remarkable capacity for work is to carry his influence for end wide December 26, 1933. I HAVE had the privilege of following Professor Kolmer's career from the beginning, and I hove olwoys been impressed by his immense powers for work and the enormous field of interest which he seemed oble to master, when others in our profession were forced to restrict themselves to relatively narrow departments. Of especial values to all of us hove been Professor Kolmer's extensive studies on the Wossermonn reaction, while his book cn the practical applications of laboratory knowledge to medicine is a standard part of every well organized medicol library. I believe thot the students of Temple University ore extraordinarily tortunate in having a man of such wide interests and deep learning as their Professor of Medicine. May I express my pleasure in the realization thot his students sufficiently appreciate him to wish to dedicote their Year 8cok in his honor. Believe me. Very truly yours. Sixteen

Page 23 text:

December 27, 1933. I AM very glad to learn that the Senior Closs ot Temple University School of Medicine is dedicating its year book, The Skull, to Professor John A Kolmer I hove known Dr Kolmer tor many years and hove appreciated him as a friend os well os a co-labo-'er in the field of bacteriology and immunology His field of research hos been very broad He has added greatly to our store of knowledge by his studies in immunity and chemotheropy His work on syphilis has been of especial value to the humon roce From his students I know thot he hos been an excellent professor ond Ins personal character hos endeared him to his friends It is a great pieosure to me tlvat you have osked me to write these few lines Very Sincerely yOur$, December 23, 1933. I HAVE known Dr Kolmer smce his student days ana have followed his career with ■ interest and cdmirotion. If ever a man has achieved high position ond splendid reputotion by hord work n is John Kolmer But it would nor give c true picture of tne man to oscribe his success to hard work olcne for he hos a meosure of innate ability that few con equal. He hos olwoys reminded me of Queed, a character in o novel by Sydnor Harrison Queed had but one passion in life and thot wos work That is true of Kolmer, whose recreation is work and whose work is his recreation. Kolmer hos to a degree rarely seen the technical skill for animal experimentation and in addition he hos what so mony .nvestigotors lock, scientific imagination This rore combination hos led him to devise voluoble tests ond new methods of treatment that are known everywhere In confiding any tosk to Dr Kolmer one hos the sense thot the culture or the vaccine mode m hi$ laboratory is altogether dependable I have marvelled at Kolmer's copocity to digest the vast and difficult literature of immunology ond at his ability to express his opinions in o fluent and logical manner His discussions are omong the best at medical meetings In the new position that he holds at Temple University h;s power of concentration, hi$ ability to resist deflecting currents, h;s copocity for encompossmg whatever type of literature he attocks will make him os greot a teacher of clinical medicine os he is of pathology and immunology Very sincerely yours. DR KOLMER is, I believe, the leading medicoi technician in the United Stotes He is on ingenuous and most systematic scientific worker, and has exhibited on omount of industry scarcely equaled Hi$ work in connection with Dr Raiziss end myseif during the World War .n establishing methods for the pothologicol testing of 606 on onimols meant a great deal for the cure of diseose and the prevention of suffering m the United Stotes during the period thot we could not obtem the Germon product. He hos done notebie work in the field of immunology ond is one of the leading authorities in the East on this subject He has written several important books end hundreds of scientific articles, and has been one of the most prolific contributors to medicine in this country. He is most worthy of the tribute thot you are paying to him Sincerely yours. Fifteen

Page 25 text:

Memory A wan moment—a flash of thought— And something that was, is not. One moment he breathes—a friend is beside him— The next-------. His ancestors before him fought for man's weal— He walked in their footsteps 'til the path was cut off. Long years he fought—he struggled for ken— To make man's world safe for men— To shatter the sceptres of the great trio of fate— To cast from their dais trauma, cancer and heart death. He raised his mace—prepared a strike at the three— But a dart from the first found him before— Lachesis was ready—Atropos cut the thread short. We knew him only a short time— Not well enough by far— Pretense was lacking in him— He needed not many words. A friend to those about him— To them he showed his best. He studied for other's sake— To them he gave his life. His score is not lengthy, but the total runs high— More than sufficient for the Day when Reckoning is nigh. o w We know what you wanted— For your sake we'll try— We'll take over your work— We'll aim just as high. Wait there with peace— Your share you have done— Our thread is short, too— We'll be with you soon, Hayes, old man. November 2, 1933. H.A.A.