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

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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

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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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candidate and snapped ' Supposing you could not get a surgical residency — then would you accept one on the Medical Service?” The answer was a rather feeble Yes.” The Professor of Medicine continued the attack, then you would accept a medical residency just to get into the University Hospital?” There was a pause as there appeared to be only one answer to this question or the truth must be told. The candidate raised his head and said haltingly The residency in Medicine would give me a chance to work under Dr. Spiller in Neurology, to prepare for surgery under Dr. Frazier whose work I have always admired.” Both the Professor of Medicine and Surgery looked shocked. That anyone should prefer one of the specialties” to their departments was beyond comprehension! The other members of the Committee were rocking with laughter. With obvious contempt the Professors of Medicine and Surgery said in chorus, That is all, you may go.” The other candidates realized by the noise in the Committee room and the flushed face that appeared again in their midst that disaster had overtaken one of their number at least. More than an hour later the selections of the Committee were announced. That was the blackest hour in Temple Fay's life. Pride alone kept him from leaving the group awaiting the verdict. It was obvious he had failed in the crucial moment of his dreams. Was it fate again that allowed the first seven names to be slowly read off along with the date of appointment to service? Vacancies were filled in the Hospital every three months so that the last appointment meant a delay of almost one year before beginning service. The eighth name was that of his friend who sat beside him. There was an unconscious move to escape from the room but the announcer was continuing. Owing to the fact that two vacancies now exist on the resident staff of the Hospital, the Committee has made the following special appointments Mr. Temple Fay will report for interne duty to the surgical division of the hospital next Monday but will be required to attend major classes throughout the remainder of the year . . Rapid realization of many dreams followed during the two and a half years spent as Resident in the University Hospital as he became associated actively in work under Dr. Spiller and Dr. Frazier. During this period he exchanged whenever possible, optional services for those in neurology and neurosurgery. At the termination of his interneship he was appointed to the faculty and staff of the University of Pennsylvania in both the departments of Neurology and Surgery. He immediately became assistant to Dr. Spiller and shortly after assistant to Dr. Frazier, as well. His teaching of neurology and neuropathology began at this time and continued at the University of Pennsylvania until his appointment to the Chair of Neurosurgery at Temple University in nineteen hundred and twenty-nine. For several years he taught general surgery and neurosurgery in Dr. Frazier's department. His appointment to the hospital of his dreams came a few days after completion of his interneship, when Dr. Spiller made him assistant neurologist 16