SIR CHARLES JAMES MARTIN - (Ã 866-1955)
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SIR CHARLES JAMES MARTIN
(Õ866-1955)Downloaded from jn.nutrition.org by guest on March 7, 2015 SIR CHARLESJAMES MARTIN
Sir Charles James Martin
—A Biographical Sketch (1866-1955)
Throughout his long life Charles Martin and a scholarship. On this he went to
delighted in solving scientific problems and Leipzig to work under Carl Ludwig. After
in stimulating others to work in many six months of inspiring contact with Lud
fields which his abounding curiosity had wig he was offered a position as demon
opened for cultivation. His influence spread strator in biology and physiology and lec
over chemical, physiological, clinical, epi- turer in comparative anatomy at King's
demiological and nutritional studies and College. So he returned to London to this
many leading scientists of this century post and at the same time continued his
owe much to enthusiasm kindled by early medical education at St. Thomas's Hospi
contact with Charles Martin. tal. He obtained his medical degree in
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Early years. Charles James Martin was 1890. It is of particular interest that dur
born in North London on January 9, 1866, ing his premedicai studies he met Ernest
the son of Josiah and Elizabeth Mary Starling and Frederick Gowland Hopkins
Martin. Both his parents had been married and formed a lasting friendship with the
before and their combined families pro two men who led the work of physiologists
vided him with many older step-brothers and biochemists at the time of great ex
and step-sisters making a lively family pansion of these subjects in London and
home. Charles was nominated for the Cambridge.
Bluecoat School, at that time still at Christ's First period in Australia, 1891-1903.
Hospital in the City of London. However, Shortly after obtaining his medical qualifi
he was delicate as a small child and was cation Charles Martin was invited to suc
sent to a private boarding school in Hast ceed Almroth Wright as Demonstrator in
ings. He left school at the age of 15 to Physiology at the newly formed Medical
become a junior clerk in the insurance of School in the University of Sydney. His
fice where his father was an actuary. At teaching duties left him time for research
that time he studied mathematics in prepa and he made there his classic studies on
ration for actuarial work but showed no snake venom which earned him in 1901
special talent for this subject. his Fellowship of the Royal Society. Dur
He was, however, free to explore London ing his six years in Sydney he built up a
and its bookshops and he used to relate splendid tradition of research and teaching
that he bought for twopence a secondhand in medical subjects. His transfer to the
copy of "A Hundred Experiments in Chem University of Melbourne as Lecturer in
istry for One Shilling." He duly performed Physiology further increased his influence
the one hundred experiments at home in a on Australian medical research. In 1901
garden shed with simply contrived ma he became Professor in Melbourne and in
terials. By this somewhat dangerous proc spired many young students to work in
ess he received considerable scientific en widely differing fields and subsequently
lightenment and prevailed upon his father to become directors of research around the
to allow him to study science with a view world. Martin became interested in the
to qualifying in medicine. It seems strange anatomy, metabolism, and heat regulation
that at this time his parents appeared quite of marsupials and of the rare and interest
unaware of his very great gifts of intellect ing half-mammals, the monotremes Orni
and character. thorhyncus and Echidna which are indigen
At the age of 17 he passed his matricu ous to Australia. They provided some fas
lation and started his studies in the Uni cinating problems in physiology and the
versity of London at King's College, taking
solutions were later applied to the study
B.Sc. with Honours in Physiology in 1886. of man's reaction to changes of environ
He was awarded the University Gold Medal ment.
J. NUTRITION,101: 3-8.SIR CHARLES JAMES MARTIN
The twelve years in Australia gave Mar stimulating or organizing the research that
tin the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor provided that solution. Thus, lists of his
life of the country and to sail and travel on publications give no adequate representa
trips of exploration in the "outback" and tion of his scientific work.
as far afield as New Zealand. His appoint During the years before the first World
ment in Sydney had allowed him to marry War new departments were opened in the
Edythe Cross, daughter of Alfred Cross, Institute and work on nutrition began in
architect of Hastings. Their only child, a 1911 when studies on the etiology of beri
daughter now Mrs. Anthony Gibbs, was beri and its connection with a rice diet
born in Melbourne. The teaching, research, were undertaken at the request of Dr.
travel, and life in Australia brought many Leonard Braddon, a medical officer in the
friends into the Martin family circle and Federated Malay States, and a pioneer in
formed bonds that remained strong when research on beriberi. At that time Casimir
Martin returned to London in 1903. Dur Funk was a guest worker in the Depart
ing his years at the Lister Institute and ment of Chemistry at the Institute and was
indeed during the rest of his life a steady attempting to separate the anti-beriberi
stream of Australian workers and visitors principle from rice polishings and yeast.
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came to him for information, for encour The biological side of the work was car
agement, for mental stimulation. I count ried out on pigeons by E. Ashley Cooper
myself lucky that I came from New Zea and Martin was entirely convinced that
land and it was near enough to Australia beriberi in man must be a nutritional
to give me a chance to work first as a disease. The chemical work of Funk on
guest and later as a research assistant in the anti-beriberi factor produced a basic
the Lister Institute. In 1929 I began as nitrogenous substance that he christened
assistant to Harriette Chick and stayed "vitamine" —no doubt with Martin's full
with her until 1949. My first meeting with approval. Ashley Cooper sought to ascer
Sir Charles Martin was in 1928 and close tain the distribution in foods of the sub
contact continued as long as he lived. This stance preventing beriberi. His experi
was characteristic of his generous friend ments aimed at finding the minimum
ship towards all who worked with him. protective or curative dose. In the light of
Director of the Lister Institute, 1903- our present application of statistical
1930. Martin's diverse and distinguished
method to biological studies it is difficult
research in Australia brought his appoint to realize how important this first quanti
ment as the Director of the Lister Institute tative stage was and how long the struggle
of Preventive Medicine in 1903 in the early went on to establish it in the face of a
years of its existence. His 27 years as Di complacent qualitative approach.
rector gave the Lister Institute most ex Quantitative study was a concept dear
cellent research programs always in close to the mind of Martin who applied it to
relation to practical problems of living. It problems such as the mechanism and the
was here that his interest in nutrition as rate of coagulation of proteins and the
a part of any physiological study and as a standardization of disinfectants. In these
specific problem developed. His scientific studies he had as assistant Harriette Chick
training and medical knowledge were very who came to the Lister Institute in 1906
widely based and he had a phenomenal and remained officially Assistant to the
memory so that he could give highly ef Director until his retirement and unoffi
fective help in solving problems in fields cially until the end of his life.
related to physiology, biochemistry, bac After his appointment as Director of the
teriology, and pathology. Thus he soon Lister Institute Martin exerted a consider
attracted many new workers to the Insti able influence on preventive medicine in a
tute and established a tradition of research wide sense by the inspiration he gave as
and exchange of ideas. Many of the ideas member or chairman of various official
flowed from the Director but his name did committees. In 1904 he became a member
not take prominence on publications. He of the Royal Society's Committee on Tropi
was always interested in the solution of a cal Diseases; he served on Sub-Committees
problem and rarely in taking credit for for Malaria, Malta Fever and SleepingA BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Sickness. From 1904 to 1907 he was chair young women who had come to work in
man to the War Office Committee on Anti- the Institute during the war years. There
Typhoid Inoculation. From 1905 to 1917 was, at that time, a severe shortage of
he was a very active member of the Ad food in some parts of Europe, especially
visory Committee for the Investigation of in Austria. Reports came of many cases
Plague in India. Some of his own most of rickets in children and of a condition
elegant research was on the subject of called bone-softening or adult rickets. Mar
transmission of plague from rat to man tin agreed that the Lister Institute should
by the tropical rat flea. He was a member join with the Medical Research Council
of the Medical Research Council from in sending a mission to Vienna to investi
1926 to 1930 and of its Committee on Bio gate the opportunities for study of the
logical Standards and Methods of Biologi relation of bone disease to nutrition. The
cal Assay from 1920 to 1923. mission reported in 1919 that conditions
With the outbreak of war in 1914 the were suitable for such research. A small
male members of the Institute staff scat team of women led by Dr. Harriette Chick
tered in all directions to give service where and Dr. Elsie Dalyell with Miss E. M.
they could best be employed. Martin with Hume, Dr. H. M. M. Mackay, and Miss H.
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the rank of Lt. Colonel served as patholo Henderson Smith went to Vienna and
gist with the Australian Army Medical worked for over two years in close col
Corps, at first in the Gallipoli campaign, laboration
Kinderklinikwith the staffand
in Vienna of the
the University
Children's
then in Egypt and Palestine, and later in
France. His work was concerned mainly Hospital at Meidling. Martin was in con
with enteric diseases but in Egypt and stant correspondence with the team and
Palestine the problem of nutritional dis accompanied by Walter Fletcher, secre
eases arose. Among soldiers in hospital he tary of the Medical Research Council, went
observed a disease which appeared to be to Vienna to counsel and encourage the
nutritional in origin and to resemble beri workers. There was great controversy over
beri. He wrote back to the Lister Institute the etiology and treatment of rickets in
asking that work should be undertaken to Britain and in Vienna and the team had
seek for protective foods suitable for pro to pursue their study in the face of many
visioning troops. The disease had developed difficulties. The faith of Martin and Flet
in men having a diet composed mainly of cher was a great help in keeping the work
white bread and canned meat. The skele going to the final and clear demonstration
ton staff at the Lister Institute led by that a fat-soluble vitamin present in cod
Harriette Chick and serviced by the faith liver oil, or exposure to ultraviolet light
ful laboratory servant Robbins, carried out could cure and prevent rickets in children.
experimental studies which led to the use The excellent report, M. R. C. No. 77 in
of dried eggs and dried yeast to supple 1923 on Studies of Rickets in Vienna,
ment diets of hospital patients in the Mid names Charles Martin only as Director of
dle East. Later a "soup square" containing the Lister Institute but all who worked on
yeast extract sufficient to provide a protec the team owed much to his constant ad
tive dose of anti-beriberi vitamin was issued vice and inspiration.
in the rations of troops in the Middle East. From 1919 until his retirement from the
Scurvy had also occurred in the army Institute, Martin's main interests were in
in Mesopotamia and work was begun at the field of vitamin studies and further
the Institute on antiscorbutic substances. work on proteins, particularly on biologi
The wartime beginnings in this field grew cal values. He and Robert Robison made
into a very lively vitamin C research group drastic balance experiments on themselves
headed by Dr. S. S. Zilva who with his to determine the biological values of pro
colleagues was responsible for much of the teins in whole wheat and milk. Neither
fundamental work on the nature of vi subject had a very strong digestion and
tamin C. When Martin returned to the the necessary periods on protein-free diets
Institute at the end of the war he found were very detrimental to both of them. So
much work in progress in the field of nu rats were used in later biological value
trition, and an eager band of well-qualified studies. Margaret Boas Fixsen came to6 SIR CHARLES JAMES MARTIN
assist at this time and produced much received a call to go again to Australia to
useful work on the biological value of pro be Director of the Division of Animal Nu
teins. It was directly under Martin's guid trition in the University of Adelaide. This
ance that she worked on the nature of was a department set up in 1927 by the
egg-white injury in rats which was the Australian Council for Scientific and In
first indication of biotin deficiency. The dustrial Research. It had lost its first di
protein studies turned Martin towards the rector in 1930 with the untimely death
problem of pellagra shown by the work of T. Brailsford Robertson and needed the
of Goldberger and his colleagues to be nu guidance of an experienced research mind.
tritional in origin and related to a diet Characteristically Martin set about pre
based on maize. The nature of maize pro paring for the new work by visiting
tein and the questions of qualitative de veterinary research establishments in
ficiency or presence of a toxic property Britain to find out about existing knowl
were investigated over many years in col edge of nutrition of farm animals. En route
laboration with Harriette Chick and her to Australia he called in at South Africa
assistants. The extensive studies on the to visit the Veterinary Institute at Onder-
vitamin B complex began also at this time. stepoort. He arrived in Adelaide in April
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The work on fat-soluble vitamins was 1931 and stayed there nearly three years.
carried on under the lead of E. M. Hume His association with the existing staff was
on the biological side and Ida Smedley- happy and profitable and he attracted and
MacLean on the chemical side. Arthur helped to train new young workers. The
Harden, busy with problems of fermenta immediate problem was the influence of
tion, and Robert Robison working on cal pastures on wool quality. The nutritional
cification of bone owed much to inspira requirements of the sheep for protein and
tion and encouragement from Martin. So minerals were the prime matters of con
also did departments of immunology and cern and the deficiencies of pastures in
bacteriology, and many highly distin some areas had to be investigated. In
guished scientists came to the Lister In South Africa phosphorus had been shown
stitute. Though Martin was not master of to be the most deficient mineral but phos
all techniques under his direction he was phate licks did not provide the solution in
widely read and had an excellent memory Australia where deficiencies of copper and
so that he could contribute usefully to dis cobalt were found also to occur. The fine
cussion in many medical and scientific work of Hedley Marston and his col
fields. He had a flair for realizing the es leagues after Marston's succession to Mar
sence of a problem and for suggesting tin as Director owed much to the ground
lines along which investigation might lead work of Martin's years in Adelaide. As in
to its solution. He was infinitely generous his first period spent in Sydney and Mel
with his help and rarely took credit for bourne, Martin greatly enjoyed Australia
the ultimate solution of the problem. and when he left Adelaide he did not sever
Martin was awarded the Royal Medal connection with the Institute and the
of the Royal Society in 1923 and was workers. He was always available for con
knighted in 1927. He received honorary sultations and ready with hospitality for
degrees from the Universities of Sheffield, visitors. He remained as scientific advisor
Dublin, Edinburgh, Cambridge and Adel to the International Wool Secretariat
aide. Early in his directorship the Lister throughout the Second World War and in
Institute became a school of the University spite of winter snows and air raids he
of London and Martin was appointed Pro would set off from Cambridge with his
fessor of Experimental Pathology. The little rucksack on his back to attend Secre
early nutrition work in the Institute was tariat meetings in Leeds.
carried out in the Director's Department Cambridge, 1933-1955. By the end of
of Experimental Pathology and after his 1933 Martin settled into Roebuck House,
retirement the Division of Nutrition was Old Chesterton. It was a beautiful old house
set up under Harriette Chick. with a lovely garden and a fine lawn
Second period in Australia, 1931-1933. stretching down to the River Cam. There
As soon as he retired Sir Charles Martin were also many outbuildings and green-A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
houses and Martin could enjoy the plea the Medieval Laboratory and was suitable
sures of the garden and those of tinkering only for gross biochemical procedures since
in a well-equipped workshop. His acknowl we were not permitted to disturb the nest
edged hobby was tinkering and he had ing of swallows when spring came, nor
wonderful skills in making and using fine could we exclude other "visitors" from the
apparatus and in mending machinery. In garden and the river. For finer work we
the first war he had acquired a cobbler's obtained accommodation in the University
last and mended his own and his assistants' laboratories. We also found a home for
shoes. This hung in the workshop at Roe our very valuable stock animals in more
buck House in case of need in the second conventional quarters. However, the main
war. work of the Nutrition division was carried
I have one lively memory of the move on at Roebuck House from September 1939
into Roebuck House when Sir Charles until February 1946. Martin was always at
found he had a large vinery to tend and hand with much invaluable advice and
asked my help in planning pruning and with new ideas for research on proteins,
cleaning of the vines, as he remembered vitamins, food plans and practical prob
that I had lived with a vinery in my youth. lems of blackout and heating. He was al
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During the war years, when the Lister ways chief workman on any project of
Institute Division of Nutrition moved to improving services or mending breaks in
Roebuck House, my work in the vinery was equipment, even to the point of nearly
again requisitioned as the gardener was losing his life from pneumonia after fix
called away for war work. ing the frozen pipe of the antique boiler
The second "retirement" in 1933 was that warmed the animals in the conserva
purely nominal for Martin returned to ac tory. This same conservatory opened out
tive experimental work on pellagra in pigs. of Lady Martin's drawing room and how
This study was possible in the field la ever tiresome and indeed positively un
boratory at the Department of Animal pleasant this must have been for her she
Pathology in Cambridge and was carried never failed in her kindness and hospi
out in collaboration with the Lister Insti tality to us. We used rooms within the
tute Division of Nutrition. He also carried house as offices and took up the great
out fundamental research on myxomato- cellar with our animal food stores and
sis in order to help Australia with the other supplies. So we were very much in
acute problem of rabbit control. He became the Martin family through all the trials
Chairman of the Management Committee and tribulations of the war.
of the Dunn Nutritional Laboratory so that Some very important work was done in
workers there came to know him and to the war years under the direction of Har
learn the value of his advice in many ways. riette Chick and the advice of Martin. The
With the outbreak of war in 1939 an nutritive value of proteins in fractions of
order was made that all experimental ani wheat flour, of the potato and of an infant
mals must be removed to the country or food made entirely from plant materials
killed. Animal work was in full swing at were researches which derived directly
the Lister Institute under Harriette Chick from the work of Martin at the Lister
and evacuation accommodation had to be Institute in the decade 1920-1930. The
found. We needed not only space and suit work on the plant-derived infant food led
able housing for animals, but also con on to the work of R. F. A. Dean on babies
siderable laboratory facilities. Martin in Wuppertal and to his researches on
found a solution by offering to take us kwashiorkor in East Africa. The vitamins
into Roebuck House where the existing of the B complex in fractions of wheat
conservatory and outhouses could be made flour were investigated and work on the
available. As he remarked, it was once standardization of methods for estimation
the Roebuck Inn, and should be adaptable. of vitamin E and the B vitamins was car
His great skill in improvisation fitted up ried out amid other more pressing prob
the conservatory as an animal laboratory lems. T. F. Macrae was seconded from the
and the old coach house as a biochemical Division to be Nutrition Adviser to the
laboratory. This was quickly nicknamed Royal Air Force and his problems often8 SIR CHARLES JAMES MARTIN
came back to Roebuck House for solution. 1954 and by his own ill-health and di
In this way Martin was fully involved in nu minished physical activity. Failing eye
tritional work for the whole of the second sight prevented much reading but he still
war and he undoubtedly derived great endeavoured to keep up with scientific
pleasure from the opportunity to continue progress through contact with old col
the promotion of useful scientific work in leagues. A year or so before he died Aus
those critical years. tralia paid him signal honour by the
In 1946 when the Division of Nutrition foundation of Sir Charles James Martin
could at last return to Chelsea, Martin's Fellowships in Medical Science, "to be
health had become very precarious. Though awarded periodically to young Australians
to give them overseas experience." In the
his physical capacity dwindled, his in
terest in a scientific problem was as great illuminated address which accompanied
as ever and he kept up with the literature the announcement of the foundation of
in many fields and enjoyed visits and dis the fellowships, the National Health &
cussions whenever he had strength to talk. Medical Research Council of Australia de
He always answered letters promptly in scribed the creation of the fellowships as
his beautiful regular handwriting. He en a tribute to his great work as a scientist
and teacher and greeted him in these
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joyed a glass of Marsala in the late morn words: "Your work and teaching in Aus
ing and this was often the best time to
call and get useful advice or just discuss tralian institutions laid a solid foundation
a recent interesting book or paper. I re to research in this country, and your ex
member, for instance, his particular de ample and encouragement stimulated its
light with Thor Heyerdahl's "Kon Tiki." progress during its formative years. Your
That was an expedition after his own inspiration still permeates its whole fabric,
heart. The discussion of "Kon Tiki" coin and you are remembered by Australian
cided with discussion of developments in workers as one of their distinguished
the field of the "animal protein factor" Masters."
and vitamin BJ2. I was commissioned to All who had the privilege of working
keep him informed of reports in the litera with Martin in London, in the Army and
ture and their relation to growth studies I in Cambridge would surely agree with
was making in rats at that time. these words.
Martin was one of the moving spirits I can but emulate my friend and col
in starting Nutrition Abstracts & Reviews league, E. M. Hume, and end my bio
which was first issued in 1931 under the graphical note, as she did her obituary
joint editing of Sir John Boyd Orr, Pro notice in 1956 by quoting the beautiful
fessor J. J. R. MacLeod, and Dr. Harriette words of the memorial service held in the
Chapel of St. John's College, Cambridge,
Chick. Boyd Orr and Martin both knew
only too well the need of workers away in March 1955:
"Let us give thanks to God for the life
from university and other good libraries
for information on current research. The and work of Charles Martin. For the
aim of Nutrition Abstracts & Reviews was honesty, simplicity and unselfishness of
to provide a concise but complete account his character. For his gifts of vision and
of important research papers and to give wisdom and for the powers of his mind,
useful reviews of current problems. Martin faithfully used for the welfare of mankind
was a member of the Board of Manage in the increase of knowledge, prevention
of disease and preservation of health."
ment for many years and was a Consulting
Editor until shortly before he died. ALICE M. COPPING,
The last years of his life were saddened 51, Argyll Rd.,
by the long illness of his wife who died in London, W. 8, EnglandYou can also read
