Biography of 	METZ, Abraham L., M. D., Chicago, IL., then Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller June 1998

**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************  

Metz, Abraham Louis, M. D., noted New Orleans chemist, educator and 
writer, was born in Chicago, Ill., April 22, 1864; son of Charles R. and 
Rosa (Baer) Metz.  Dr. Metz is a self-educated man, that is to say, he 
has forged his way through institutions of learning and climbed to a 
position of security and eminence by his own unaided efforts.  Through 
the use of that group of faculties termed "self-perfectives," he laid the 
foundation that enabled him to enter the New York college of pharmacy, 
from which he graduated with the degree of Ph. G. in 1887.  At that time 
he was appointed instructor in pharmacy at Tulane university, and 
continued to fill that post until 1896, meantime--in 1889--securing the 
addition degree of Ph. M from the institution at which he was employed as 
an instructor.  In 1893, he received the degree of M. D. at Tulane 
university, continuing all of this time, to fill the position of 
instructor in pharmacy.  In 1896 he was made professor of chemistry and 
medical jurisprudence in the medical department, and has served in that 
capacity to the present time, also filling the position of professor of 
chemistry and metallurgy in the dental department, and head of the 
department of chemistry from 1905 to the present.  Dr. Metz has also 
filled the office of city chemist of New Orleans since 1889; chemist for 
the Louisiana state board of health, 1889 to 1907; for the New Orleans 
board of health, 1897 to 1901, and 1905, to the present time.  Dr. Metz 
has attracted the attention of the nation as an alienist and his 
scientific research into crime mysteries has sent men to prison and set 
men free.  He was the first man in the South to apply the preciptin test 
for the absolute determination of human blood.  This, in 1904, was a 
master stroke which gained for him high place in the ranks of 
criminologists.  This test has cleared many crimes.  Back of Dr. Metz's 
observations and achievements in this line he other triumphs.  He is the 
progenitor of the pure food and sanitation crusades, later popularized 
and nationalized by Dr. Harvey W. Wiley.  In 1889, when Dr. Metz took his 
post as city chemist, he instituted his campaign for pure milk, which has 
resulted in making New Orleans' dairies as sanitary and well conducted as 
any in the United States.  Eternal vigilance has been the price of this 
achievement.  His work against the yellow fever peril resulted in the 
removal of all danger from this infection, when in 1905 he organized the 
conference which resulted in Pres. Roosevelt's action in giving the matter 
over into the government's charge.  Dr. Metz is a fellow of the 
A. A. S., member American Chemical society, American Pharmacy 
association, American Medical association, American Public Health 
association, etc., and is the author of many valuable contributions to 
the literature of his profession.  July 9, 1890, Dr. Metz: was married 
to Miss Cecile Marx of New Orleans.

Source: Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, 
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3),
pp. 640-641.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by 
Century Historical Association.