John Auer

John Auer (March 30, 1875 – April 30, 1948) was an American physiologist and pharmacologist. He published nearly 150 papers during his career and is credited with the first description of Auer rods. Auer also contributed to the study of anaphylaxis and helped develop modern thoracic surgery. During World War I, he conducted wartime research with the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, in New York City.

Education

John Auer attended the University of Michigan, where he received his B.S in 1898. In 1902, he received his M.D. from the Johns Hopkins University Medical School. There, he spent time in the ward of Dr. William Osler. Between 1906 and 1907 he was sent to Harvard Medical School as an Instructor in Physiology so that he could become further specialized in the subject. Returning to New York in 1907, Auer became an Assistant in Physiology at the Rockefeller Institute. He was later promoted to Associate, and finally to Associate Member in Physiology and Pharmacology, a position he held from 1909 to 1921. While at the Rockefeller Institute, he also served as a NY physician. In response to his death, the Administrative Board of the St. Louis School of Medicine published a resolution stating he was "a scholar of the broadest interests and a human being of the highest nobility."

Private life John Auer was born in Rochester, New York.

There is some controversy in the eponymous nature of Auer rods. Auer is credited with the first descriptions and illustrations of Auer rods in his 1906 publication, "Some hitherto undescribed structures found in the large lymphocytes of a case of acute leukemia." As acknowledged by Auer in the paper, the inclusions had been previously noted in a paper authored by Thomas McCrae. Auer also acknowledged McCrae's kindness for supplying Auer with clinical notes on the phenomena. In his paper, McCrae had foretold of Auer's coming publication and more detailed description of the subject.

Anaphylaxis In Meltzer's laboratory at the Rockefeller Institute, John Auer and Paul Lewis were the first to recognize asphyxiation as the cause of death in anaphylaxis. Before Auer and Lewis's studies, it was believed that anaphylaxis was a reaction of the central nervous system. In pithing the guinea pigs used in their study, Auer and Lewis were able to show that the peripheral nervous system was responsible for the onset of anaphylaxis. They hypothesized that the asphyxiation observed was the result of bronchial spasms. Operating on this idea, they administered atropine to suppress such spasms, and found this treatment to be effective.

Publications

Meltzer, S. J.; Auer, John (1905-10-02). "PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES OF MAGNESIUM SALTS.—I. GENERAL ANÆSTHESIA BY SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTIONS". American Journal of Physiology. Legacy Content. 14 (4): 366–388 Auer, J. SOME HITHERTO UNDESCRIBED STRUCTURES FOUND IN THE LARGE LYMPHOCYTES OF A CASE OF ACUTE LEUKAEMIA. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences (1827-1924), 131(6), 1002. Meltzer, S. J.; Auer, J. (1908-05-01). "THE ANTAGONISTIC ACTION OF CALCIUM UPON THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM". American Journal of Physiology. Legacy Content. 21 (4): 400–419. S. J. Meltzer, John Auer; CONTINUOUS RESPIRATION WITHOUT RESPIRATORY MOVEMENTS . 'J Exp Med' 17 July 1909; 11 (4): 622–625 John Auer, Paul A. Lewis; THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE IMMEDIATE REACTION OF ANAPHYLAXIS IN THE GUINEA-PIG . 'J Exp Med' 14 March 1910; 12 (2): 151–175.

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