- Email: [email protected]
H. Houston Merritt
Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 1980, 45:391-392 © Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press
391
Obituary
H. H O U S T O N M E R R I T T
Every profession owes its success to a few men who are the leaders of their generation. World neurology is indebted to H. Houston Merritt, whose death on January 9, 1979, leaves a void difficult to fill. Houston Merritt's contributions to neurology were so numerous and diverse that they are difficult to recount. Everyone knows of his scientific work recorded in more than 200 papers. His discovery, with Tracy Putnam, of diphenylhydantoin, the first successful anticonvulsant since the introduction of phenobarbital, was perhaps his most outstanding achievement. Less well known is the methodology he introduced for the exploration of the anticonvulsant properties of drugs. And this work led him into the field of epilepsy in which he remained a world authority for the rest of his professional life. His rigorous training in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University and the New Haven Hospital, in neurology with Stanley Cobb at the Boston City Hospital, and in neuropathology with Walter Spielmeyer at University of Munich made it possible for him to conduct numerous studies of cerebrovascular diseases, syphilis of the nervous system, alcoholic and nutritional diseases, basal ganglia diseases from a multidisciplinary viewpoint over a twenty-five year period. And through these studies he gained an incredible knowledge of neurologic disease. This was the basis of his skill as one of the great neurological clinicians of his day. Houston Merritt's contributions went far beyond the new ideas to be found in his papers and monographs. He was one of the most influential neurologists in the U.S.A. in promoting the advancement of neurology as an independent discipline. He came upon the medical scene when clinical neurology was being threatened from every side. Internal medicine claimed infectious, metabolic and vascular diseases ; neurosurgery claimed tumors and traumatic diseases. There was little left for the neurologist other than multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis. Houston Merritt countered this assault with four tactics: (1) the promotion of scientific work in neuroscience fields relevant to neurology; (2) the insistence of independent neurology services and training programs in university medical centers ; (3) the formation and support of private foundations in the raising of funds by public subscription for the support of scientific work on particular diseases; (4) the foundation of a National Institute of Neurology. In fostering work in the neurosciences Houston Merritt was himself a model contributor. His studies of the cerebrospinal fluid and the development of cytological and chemical methods that were applicable to clinical problems was an important milestone in clinical neurology. The results were finally summarized in a monograph on the cerebrospinal fluid which he co-authored with F. FremontSmith. In his departments at the Montefiore Hospital and at the New York Neurological Institute he set up or supported laboratories in neurochemistry, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, neuroimmunology and neuropharmacology. To house and to support financially these laboratory endeavors he sought and obtained the funds that built the William Black Research Building of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. The influence of Houston Merritt's broad vision of neurology was consistently reflected in his postgraduate training program. He was one of the first to realize the necessity of training neurologistscientists, - - men and women trained not only in clinical neurology but also in one of the fields of science relevant to neurology. Unless this happened, he believed, clinical neurology would not hold its place in the academic hierarchy. The correctness of this prediction is evidenced in the large number of American professors of neurology who had their training at the New York Neurological Institute, more than 30 of whom are presently Chairmen of Neurological Services in our universities.
392 Houston Merritt's support of private foundations for the solicitation of public funds to be used in the study of diseases was another of his impressive contributions to American neurology. No man of his day was more generous of his own time and energy for such charitable enterprises. Probably it will never be known how much he helped in the founding and support of such agencies as the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, the Parkinson's Foundation, and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation. He served generously as a Trustee and on Scientific Advisory Committees of each of these until the time of his retirement, and in some instances even afterwards. The creation of our National Institute of Neurology, now called the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke was masterfully promoted by a few neurologists in the U.S.A., including Houston Merritt. Hours were spent before congressional committees testifying as to the need of such a center and, once it was founded, in increasing its budget so that it could undertake the necessary research and training of young neurologists. And, he served two four-year terms on the Council of this Institute because of the recognized value of his judgment. The personal qualities of Houston Merritt, his quiet equanimity, his warmth and friendliness, his incisive intellect, and his loyalty and devotion to medical education and public causes made him one of the finest administrators of his day. No problem regardless of its complexity, was unsolvable. A reasoned analysis always gave the best answer and could be conducted without the involvement of personalities. These qualities made him an ideal Chairman of the Neurology Service at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and later as Dean of the Medical School and Vice-President for Medical Affairs. And in all these activities his effectiveness was greatly enhanced by the gracious and loyal assistance of Mable Merritt, who always accompanied him to meetings and played an active role in various social committees. In addition to his academic appointments he served as a trusted advisor on many national and international organizations concerned with neurology and medicine. Included are the Veterans Administration, the Army, Navy, and Atomic Energy Commission, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Diseases, the Josiah Macy Foundation, the World Health Organization, the National Fund for Medical Education and many others. In recognition of his contributions to neurology he was elected President of the American Neurological Association and was Vice-President or President of four successive International Congresses of Neurology, and Honorary President of the Pan-American Congress of Neurology. Columbia University established the Merritt Chair of Neurology in 1970. An H. Houston Merritt Clinical Research Center for Muscular Dystrophy and Related Diseases was created in 1974. He was a member of all the major Societies of Neurology in Canada, Western Europe and Central and South America. He was given the Max Weinstein Award of the Cerebral Palsy Association, the George W. Jacoby Award, the Bronze Hope Chest Award of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Lennox Award of the American Epilepsy Society, the Modern Medicine Award, Officer of the Portuguese Order of Santiago, the Golden Anniversary Award of the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Diseases, the Award of Merit of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, the Distinguished Service Award of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and many others. But apart from Houston Merritt's remarkable skill, efficiency, and administrative capacity, his innumerable friends and colleagues will remember him as a delightful companion. Every meeting, large or small, professional or social, that he attended was always made more pleasant by his open friendliness, his complete lack of rancor, his simplicity and unpretentiousness and his delightful sense of humor. As his devoted student, Lewis P. Rowland remarked, "He could attract the attention, admiration and devotion of people at all levels of our complex world, from the illiterate to leaders of society and government. He cared about people, - - patients, students, and associates, and those he hardly knew. And they cared about him". Raymond D. Adams, M.D.
391
Obituary
H. H O U S T O N M E R R I T T
Every profession owes its success to a few men who are the leaders of their generation. World neurology is indebted to H. Houston Merritt, whose death on January 9, 1979, leaves a void difficult to fill. Houston Merritt's contributions to neurology were so numerous and diverse that they are difficult to recount. Everyone knows of his scientific work recorded in more than 200 papers. His discovery, with Tracy Putnam, of diphenylhydantoin, the first successful anticonvulsant since the introduction of phenobarbital, was perhaps his most outstanding achievement. Less well known is the methodology he introduced for the exploration of the anticonvulsant properties of drugs. And this work led him into the field of epilepsy in which he remained a world authority for the rest of his professional life. His rigorous training in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University and the New Haven Hospital, in neurology with Stanley Cobb at the Boston City Hospital, and in neuropathology with Walter Spielmeyer at University of Munich made it possible for him to conduct numerous studies of cerebrovascular diseases, syphilis of the nervous system, alcoholic and nutritional diseases, basal ganglia diseases from a multidisciplinary viewpoint over a twenty-five year period. And through these studies he gained an incredible knowledge of neurologic disease. This was the basis of his skill as one of the great neurological clinicians of his day. Houston Merritt's contributions went far beyond the new ideas to be found in his papers and monographs. He was one of the most influential neurologists in the U.S.A. in promoting the advancement of neurology as an independent discipline. He came upon the medical scene when clinical neurology was being threatened from every side. Internal medicine claimed infectious, metabolic and vascular diseases ; neurosurgery claimed tumors and traumatic diseases. There was little left for the neurologist other than multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis. Houston Merritt countered this assault with four tactics: (1) the promotion of scientific work in neuroscience fields relevant to neurology; (2) the insistence of independent neurology services and training programs in university medical centers ; (3) the formation and support of private foundations in the raising of funds by public subscription for the support of scientific work on particular diseases; (4) the foundation of a National Institute of Neurology. In fostering work in the neurosciences Houston Merritt was himself a model contributor. His studies of the cerebrospinal fluid and the development of cytological and chemical methods that were applicable to clinical problems was an important milestone in clinical neurology. The results were finally summarized in a monograph on the cerebrospinal fluid which he co-authored with F. FremontSmith. In his departments at the Montefiore Hospital and at the New York Neurological Institute he set up or supported laboratories in neurochemistry, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, neuroimmunology and neuropharmacology. To house and to support financially these laboratory endeavors he sought and obtained the funds that built the William Black Research Building of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. The influence of Houston Merritt's broad vision of neurology was consistently reflected in his postgraduate training program. He was one of the first to realize the necessity of training neurologistscientists, - - men and women trained not only in clinical neurology but also in one of the fields of science relevant to neurology. Unless this happened, he believed, clinical neurology would not hold its place in the academic hierarchy. The correctness of this prediction is evidenced in the large number of American professors of neurology who had their training at the New York Neurological Institute, more than 30 of whom are presently Chairmen of Neurological Services in our universities.
392 Houston Merritt's support of private foundations for the solicitation of public funds to be used in the study of diseases was another of his impressive contributions to American neurology. No man of his day was more generous of his own time and energy for such charitable enterprises. Probably it will never be known how much he helped in the founding and support of such agencies as the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, the Parkinson's Foundation, and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation. He served generously as a Trustee and on Scientific Advisory Committees of each of these until the time of his retirement, and in some instances even afterwards. The creation of our National Institute of Neurology, now called the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke was masterfully promoted by a few neurologists in the U.S.A., including Houston Merritt. Hours were spent before congressional committees testifying as to the need of such a center and, once it was founded, in increasing its budget so that it could undertake the necessary research and training of young neurologists. And, he served two four-year terms on the Council of this Institute because of the recognized value of his judgment. The personal qualities of Houston Merritt, his quiet equanimity, his warmth and friendliness, his incisive intellect, and his loyalty and devotion to medical education and public causes made him one of the finest administrators of his day. No problem regardless of its complexity, was unsolvable. A reasoned analysis always gave the best answer and could be conducted without the involvement of personalities. These qualities made him an ideal Chairman of the Neurology Service at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and later as Dean of the Medical School and Vice-President for Medical Affairs. And in all these activities his effectiveness was greatly enhanced by the gracious and loyal assistance of Mable Merritt, who always accompanied him to meetings and played an active role in various social committees. In addition to his academic appointments he served as a trusted advisor on many national and international organizations concerned with neurology and medicine. Included are the Veterans Administration, the Army, Navy, and Atomic Energy Commission, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Diseases, the Josiah Macy Foundation, the World Health Organization, the National Fund for Medical Education and many others. In recognition of his contributions to neurology he was elected President of the American Neurological Association and was Vice-President or President of four successive International Congresses of Neurology, and Honorary President of the Pan-American Congress of Neurology. Columbia University established the Merritt Chair of Neurology in 1970. An H. Houston Merritt Clinical Research Center for Muscular Dystrophy and Related Diseases was created in 1974. He was a member of all the major Societies of Neurology in Canada, Western Europe and Central and South America. He was given the Max Weinstein Award of the Cerebral Palsy Association, the George W. Jacoby Award, the Bronze Hope Chest Award of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Lennox Award of the American Epilepsy Society, the Modern Medicine Award, Officer of the Portuguese Order of Santiago, the Golden Anniversary Award of the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Diseases, the Award of Merit of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, the Distinguished Service Award of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and many others. But apart from Houston Merritt's remarkable skill, efficiency, and administrative capacity, his innumerable friends and colleagues will remember him as a delightful companion. Every meeting, large or small, professional or social, that he attended was always made more pleasant by his open friendliness, his complete lack of rancor, his simplicity and unpretentiousness and his delightful sense of humor. As his devoted student, Lewis P. Rowland remarked, "He could attract the attention, admiration and devotion of people at all levels of our complex world, from the illiterate to leaders of society and government. He cared about people, - - patients, students, and associates, and those he hardly knew. And they cared about him". Raymond D. Adams, M.D.