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

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from the far East was determining the value of certain salts and gases. The air was full of fundamental problems of life and the roughly clad scientists would gather about the big open fire-place in the evenings discussing and debating the results of the day's experiments in the laboratory. The young student received the friendly explanations of these teachers and men of science as he joined them at their work and sought advice regarding the simpler problems that had been assigned to him. Here the fundamental importance of water, oxygen and certain salts as they related to all forms of cellular life became deeply impressed upon his mind; facts that were destined to play an important role in the more than nation-wide treatment of cerebral injuries, epilepsy, eclampsia and the control of intracranial pressure through regulation of the human water balance. Temple Fay had earned more credits than were required for graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree. He had been entered and accepted in the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins and Harvard. Johns Hopkins offered many possibilities for continuation of his research problems but his father's wishes were that he enroll in Harvard to continue an unbroken line of members of the family that had graduated from its halls since the founding of the Institution at Cambridge. Destiny was to decree otherwise, however, in a most unusual train of circumstances. The United States entered the World War in the Spring of Temple Fay's senior year. He applied at once for admission to the First Officer's Training Camp at the Presidio in San Francisco, leaving the University to go to California. The first class was small comprising seventy men and the selections had been made from those with former military experience. The second class was being organized to begin training four weeks later. While awaiting the opening of the Second Officer's Training School, orders were received directly from the National Committee of Defense to report for special medical training in the Enlisted Medical Reserve Corps. Those scientifically qualified were to be trained for Sanitation Corps duties or to assure filling the places of the medical men called directly into service. On his way to report to Johns Hopkins Medical School he passed through Philadelphia where war-time activities were abundant. An old Seattle friend, then a Junior in the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, met him and at his request showed him over the great hospital of his dreams, filled with neurological patients and the insane. Here was the material that the great Dr. Frazier had operated upon. In one of the wards he met the wizard of neurological diagnosis, Dr. William G. Spiller, himself. His friend delighted in showing the advantages of his medical school - they were forming a corps of medical students here too. It was too much — they hurried together to the office of the Dean of the School of Medicine. The smiling Dean heard the story. Classes had long since been closed and assignments made to various medical institutions by the National Committee of Defense. The B.S. diploma v hich had been granted in the meantime by the University of Washington contained extra credits in science; the grades were satisfactory 14

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assisted Dr. Frazier at this particular operation it was miraculous to see how quickly the patient had recovered. Such dramatic tales and vivid pictures of white-robed men and skilled surgeons were burned deeply into the boy's mind. Dreams of the future carried by an imaginative mind stirred the youthful fancy. Why couldn't he do that too when he grew up? Perhaps even the insane might be cured. Some day there would be white gowns and medicine like the doctor carried in his bag. It was all so real. Little did this doctor ever realize how much of a god he became in the boy's eyes; little did he realize how long these stories would remain vivid even to their detailed points, nor was there realization of what a lasting effect he implanted in such a fertile brain. Young Temple Fay was the eldest son of the Honourable John P. Fay and Alice Ober Fay, the third child in a family of six. He had been bom in Seattle on January 9th, 1895. His father a native of Massachusetts, and graduate of Harvard was a recognized leader in the legal profession. President of the Board of Regents of the University of Washington and a public speaker whose eloquence brought to him the title of the silvered tongue orator of the West. In an home environment rich in classic knowledge, filled with legal and educational problems, mingled with a New England background and an unexcelled master of oratory, Young Temple Fay completed the public school and Broadway High School requirements in Seattle. The sport of hunting turned to a quest for specimens. The game which fell at the feet of the excited waiting dog was quickly retrieved and over the trophy bent this lad, penknife in hand, intent on prying away bits of the skull to gain access to the brain. In his dreams he was a doctor, the smell of medicines haunted his nostrils — he was a brain surgeon. One by one, jars and bottles were filled v ith brains of small animals, birds, as well as those of fish. No books were available but there was plenty to be observed, studied and compared in these self-obtained specimens. Temple Fay entered the University of Washington which his father had long before reorganized and placed upon the standard of Eastern institutions of learning. The Gymnasium and courses of physical education which Judge Fay had sponsored twenty years before, yielded unconquered football teams under Coach Gil Dobie and throughout Temple Fay's college days his team never lost a game. The famous Conibear sent Washington crews to the Poughkeepsie regatta that won distinction for the University and its revolutionary methods of rowing. The surge forward of a great institution saw the departments of science developing rapidly and the now famous Biological Station at Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands was established at this time. Temple Fay spent his summers in research among marine forms of life in this new mecca for scientists from all over the country. A famous biologist from Chicago was studying the metabolism of oxygen on simple cells, another 23

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and Dean William Pepper linally consented to arrange the details oi transter and Temple Fay settled down to the duties oi the day beside the men and institution that had represented an ideal since early childhood. In September oi 1918 his class was called into active service and hopes ran high (or quick transportation to the war zone, but the Armistice followed in November and on December 18th the corps was discharged irom its duties in the Army to return to the peaceiui paths oi medical study. His junior year in Medical School iound him closer to his dream and his devotion to Neurology occupied his spare time and vacation as a volunteer in the Neurological Dispensary. He watched and followed Dr. Frazier throughout the long operations and managed to create in the eyes oi this chiei whom he never met, an amused tolerance to a student who maniiested such constant interest in a subject that others in the class gladly avoided. The crisis oi his liie came in his senior year. An interneship in the University Hospital meant Dr. Frazier, Dr. Spiller, Dr. Deaver and Dr. DeSchweinitz as chieis, with an opportunity to go on in this long-chosen iield oi neurosurgery. No greater group oi men existed for diagnosis and surgery of the nervous system. Failure to obtain this appointment was to abandon the dreams and ideals oi a lifetime. There was no second or third choice — Temple Fay determined to gamble all on this one appointment alone. There were only eight appointments to be made irom the class oi 119 students; 35 were applying for residencies in the University Hospital. Selections were made primarily on one's standing in the class. In spite oi three years oi hard work for a place near the top, he iound his name in tenth place and the men ahead as determined and eligible as he was. The Faculty Committee for selection met to interview the applicants. They had been known in the past to take the first eight men in the class outright. They probably would again. Once more a curious turn oi fate decided the issue. The Committee was composed oi the Professor oi Medicine; the Proiessor oi Surgery; the Proiessors oi Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Dean oi the School oi Medicine. The candidates were called in alphabetical order. Those who returned from the closed conference room were eagerly questioned as to what went on inside. The rumor spread that the Proiessor oi Medicine was having a field day quizzing the students while the other members oi the committee listened in silence. It was best to please him at all costs. Appointments were divided between iour medical and four surgical residencies. Each candidate so far interviewed had expressed a preference for medicine and received the blessing of the Professor oi Medicine and the scowl oi the Professor oi Surgery. Temple Fay found himself before the Committee. The Proiessor oi Medicine began the questions after the Dean had read the record. What service did he prefer? He expressed a preference for surgery. The Proiessor oi Medicine looked startled. The Professor oi Surgery broke in, Here is the first man that shows good common sense. The Proiessor of Medicine disagreed. Personalities were exchanged between the two. The rest oi the Committee looked pleased. The Proiessor of Medicine returned to questioning the bewildered 15