- Email: [email protected]
George K. Smelser, M.D. 1908-1973
416
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
and traveler's back—an issue with rather more emphasis on nonmedical topics than most. Letters in the previous issue discussed scabies during immunosuppressive therapy, a-thalassemia in Britain, brachial plexus after parenteral feeding, formylation of folate, aerosol and asthma deaths, relapsing polychontritis, calcification in Burkitt's lymphoma, and a variety of other topics. The editorial staff of the JOURNAL be lieves that a correspondence section serves a useful purpose. Although the Notes, Cases, and Instruments section provides a forum for brief communication, the proprietors be lieve the correspondence section would serve a function not yet met in ophthalmic peri odicals. Inasmuch as letters appear without prior review, it is possible to publish ma terial more rapidly for those to whom pri ority is important. Thus publication is possi ble within 30 to 90 days after receipt of communication. However, the main purpose of the correspondence section should not be to establish such priority. The former editor of Nature points out that rapid publi cation of major contributions is seldom essen tial but can be accomplished when necessary (though not by the JOURNAL and its present printing schedule). Thus, Nature published the report of Watson and Crick concerning the structures of D N A within three weeks after the manuscript was received in the Na ture office. Most observations in ophthal mology are unlikely to have this import and a more leisurely (and economical) publica tion schedule is possible. Manuscripts for the correspondence sec tion must be double spaced and must not exceed 500 words. Letters are subject to editing and possible abridgment and are ordinarily not acknowledged, nor is galley proof provided to the author. Publication depends on the availability of space and the topic discussed. In general, letters will not be reviewed by scientific referees. However, as always, the editor and editorial board will seek the counsel of those skilled in the field when such seems desirable.
MARCH, 1974
This correspondence will thus provide an easy method of describing unusual diseases or observations, new instruments, the pre liminary report of a study, a forum for brief reports of negative results and scientific studies, comment on editorial matter in pre vious issues, and an opportunity for read ers to describe the passing scene. F r a n k W. Newell
OBITUARY GEORGE K.
SMELSER,
M.D.
1908-1973 Only at rare intervals does an individual appear in the ophthalmic world who is not only a superb scientist, unrivaled teacher, and administrator of great ability, but also remains a warm, compassionate human being who in spite of his superior achievement manages to inspire admiration and respect without a trace of envy. Such a one was George K. Smelser, who died Dec. 22, 1973. Having known for some time the uncertain future of his cardiac- status, he discussed in his own humorous fashion the alternatives open to him, namely, cardiac surgery with a highly uncertain immediate prognosis or conservative management with equally un certain longterm outlook. Apparently shouldering this undoubted psychological burden rather lightly, he continued to give full effort to his daily work. When M r s . Smelser protested that he was devoting too much time and effort to various meetings, his comment, "I am expected to be there," was typical of his whole life's philosophy. H e was truly a selfless individual, more con cerned with the welfare of those who worked for him than for his own advancement and prerogatives. Although he made numerous requests for academic and financial advance ment of his research group, I have never known him to ask anything for himself. Advancement, honors, and promotions had to be thrust upon him.
VOL. 77, NO. 3
OBITUARY
George K. Smelser
George came to the Columbia-Presby terian Medical Center in 1934 after pre liminary training as a biologist. His early work had been largely in the field of endo crine anatomy and physiology. Dr. John M. Wheeler, then Director of the Eye Institute, recognized his interests and arranged for him to be assigned to the Department of Ophthalmology from the Department of Anatomy for full-time work in basic studies related to the cause of endocrine exophthalmos. His work in this field was summed up in the XVIII Jackson Memorial Lecture, "Experimental studies on exophthalmos," given before the American Academy of Oph thalmology and Otolaryngology in 1961, and later published in the JOURNAL (Am. J. Ophthalmol. 54:929, 1962). In the early 1940s, Dr. Smelser's interests shifted towards the physiology and fine structure of the cornea, a field of study he was still pursuing at the time of his death. He was awarded the Proctor Medal in 1961, the subject being, "Corneal hydration." In 1956 after the departure of Dr. Ludwig von Sallmann to become Director
417
of the Eye Services at the National Insti tutes of Health, Dr. Smelser assumed the vacant post of Director of Research Activi ties in the Department of Ophthalmology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1969, this position was dignified by the title of Malcolm P. Aldrich Research Professor of Ophthalmology, a position he held until his death. Although Dr. Smelser's scientific attainments, honors, and committee member ships are well known, other aspects of his professional and personal life are perhaps less well known to the ophthalmic community. It is quite possible that even more important and productive than his actual laboratory work is the influence he has had on medical students, residents, and clinicians. In col laboration with his long-time associate, Miss Victoria Ozanics, he initiated a two-day course to the first year medical students that invariably aroused extraordinary enthusi asm. I have no doubt that a number of medi cal students were stimulated towards oph thalmology by these annual courses alone. Among the residents and attending staff Dr. Smelser's ability as a speaker was legendary. The statement, "I have never heard George give a bad lecture," has been made so often that his performances were taken for granted. He had the unusual knack of being able to reduce difficult, technical complexities to a point where the clinician almost felt like a scientist himself. His ophthalmic in terests were wide ranging and not limited to his own special hobbies. He could talk authoritatively on fluid transport in glau coma, retinal physiology, or electron micro scopic changes of various corneal diseases. His ability to relate basic facts to clinical disorders made him extremely valuable to the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology with such good effect that he became one of the relatively few nonophthalmologists invited to join that Society. At the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute he served on the Board of Surgeons, as well as the Residency Review Committee. His perspicacity in assessing the scientific re-
418
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
search possibilities of a resident applicant was well known to us all. As befits a biologist, George's chief hobby in his free time was gardening. Annually, he produced a vegetable garden that was the envy of all of his neighbors. His great love remained, however, for his flowers. A nota ble collection of some 100 different species of iris and 100 species of day lilies must have provided great pleasure, not only for him, but for his neighbors. If planting seeds and watching them grow produced so much happiness in George Smelser's life, he must have lived a very happy life because he planted the seeds of research in so many young men, both in this country and abroad, who came for training in his laboratory throughout his many years of service. H e will be sorely missed. A. Gerard DeVoe
MARCH, 1974
Dupuytren's contracture, and alcohol addic tion" ( A m . J. Ophthalmol. 76:1005, 1973), citing abusive alcoholism as a factor in the formation of cataract represents an impor tant new syndrome. My own observations, made completely independently of D r . Sabiston's, confirm his work. T h e possibility of alcoholism should be considered when a patient under the age of 60 presents with a rapidly developing posterior subcapsular cataract: appropriate signs should be looked for, and efforts should be made to elicit a history of abusive alcoholism. My own private patients did not present the problems of malnutrition, and I did not experience problems with the vitreous humor during sur gery, but otherwise my findings confirm those of Dr. Sabiston completely. Robert C. Drews, M.D. Clayton, Missouri REPLY
CORRESPONDENCE T O X I C I T Y OF INTRAVITREAL AMPHOTERICIN
B
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: In reviewing our article, "Toxicity of in travitreal amphotericin B " ( A m . J. Ophthalmol. 76:578, 1973), we found we made a typographical error in the summary and recommended 5 mg instead of 5 /ig dose for intravitreal injection. Although the readers may have noticed this in the paper, we thought this error should be brought to their attention. Alan J. Axelrod, M.D. Gholam A. Peyman, M.D. Chicago, Illinois
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: It is encouraging to find an independent observer come up with many of the features that I found in regard to excessive alcohol intake and the rapid onset of cataracts in relatively young people. It is also interesting to talk to our col leagues in the field of orthopedic surgery who have associated alcoholism with Du puytren's contracture but have not really thought about the visual aspects of the prob lem. An interesting feature remains as to why the cataracts occur, and why they occur in some alcoholics and not in others. D. W . Sabiston, F.R.C.S. Napier, New Zealand TONOMETRY
CATARACTS, D U P U Y T R E N ' S
CONTRACTURE,
AND A L C O H O L ADDICTION
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: The paper F.R.C.S., of
by David W . Sabiston, XTew Zealand, "Cataracts,
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: I n these days when tonometry is being used more generally, and ophthalmologists are doing it more frequently, it might be well to mention a simple office addition to this
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
and traveler's back—an issue with rather more emphasis on nonmedical topics than most. Letters in the previous issue discussed scabies during immunosuppressive therapy, a-thalassemia in Britain, brachial plexus after parenteral feeding, formylation of folate, aerosol and asthma deaths, relapsing polychontritis, calcification in Burkitt's lymphoma, and a variety of other topics. The editorial staff of the JOURNAL be lieves that a correspondence section serves a useful purpose. Although the Notes, Cases, and Instruments section provides a forum for brief communication, the proprietors be lieve the correspondence section would serve a function not yet met in ophthalmic peri odicals. Inasmuch as letters appear without prior review, it is possible to publish ma terial more rapidly for those to whom pri ority is important. Thus publication is possi ble within 30 to 90 days after receipt of communication. However, the main purpose of the correspondence section should not be to establish such priority. The former editor of Nature points out that rapid publi cation of major contributions is seldom essen tial but can be accomplished when necessary (though not by the JOURNAL and its present printing schedule). Thus, Nature published the report of Watson and Crick concerning the structures of D N A within three weeks after the manuscript was received in the Na ture office. Most observations in ophthal mology are unlikely to have this import and a more leisurely (and economical) publica tion schedule is possible. Manuscripts for the correspondence sec tion must be double spaced and must not exceed 500 words. Letters are subject to editing and possible abridgment and are ordinarily not acknowledged, nor is galley proof provided to the author. Publication depends on the availability of space and the topic discussed. In general, letters will not be reviewed by scientific referees. However, as always, the editor and editorial board will seek the counsel of those skilled in the field when such seems desirable.
MARCH, 1974
This correspondence will thus provide an easy method of describing unusual diseases or observations, new instruments, the pre liminary report of a study, a forum for brief reports of negative results and scientific studies, comment on editorial matter in pre vious issues, and an opportunity for read ers to describe the passing scene. F r a n k W. Newell
OBITUARY GEORGE K.
SMELSER,
M.D.
1908-1973 Only at rare intervals does an individual appear in the ophthalmic world who is not only a superb scientist, unrivaled teacher, and administrator of great ability, but also remains a warm, compassionate human being who in spite of his superior achievement manages to inspire admiration and respect without a trace of envy. Such a one was George K. Smelser, who died Dec. 22, 1973. Having known for some time the uncertain future of his cardiac- status, he discussed in his own humorous fashion the alternatives open to him, namely, cardiac surgery with a highly uncertain immediate prognosis or conservative management with equally un certain longterm outlook. Apparently shouldering this undoubted psychological burden rather lightly, he continued to give full effort to his daily work. When M r s . Smelser protested that he was devoting too much time and effort to various meetings, his comment, "I am expected to be there," was typical of his whole life's philosophy. H e was truly a selfless individual, more con cerned with the welfare of those who worked for him than for his own advancement and prerogatives. Although he made numerous requests for academic and financial advance ment of his research group, I have never known him to ask anything for himself. Advancement, honors, and promotions had to be thrust upon him.
VOL. 77, NO. 3
OBITUARY
George K. Smelser
George came to the Columbia-Presby terian Medical Center in 1934 after pre liminary training as a biologist. His early work had been largely in the field of endo crine anatomy and physiology. Dr. John M. Wheeler, then Director of the Eye Institute, recognized his interests and arranged for him to be assigned to the Department of Ophthalmology from the Department of Anatomy for full-time work in basic studies related to the cause of endocrine exophthalmos. His work in this field was summed up in the XVIII Jackson Memorial Lecture, "Experimental studies on exophthalmos," given before the American Academy of Oph thalmology and Otolaryngology in 1961, and later published in the JOURNAL (Am. J. Ophthalmol. 54:929, 1962). In the early 1940s, Dr. Smelser's interests shifted towards the physiology and fine structure of the cornea, a field of study he was still pursuing at the time of his death. He was awarded the Proctor Medal in 1961, the subject being, "Corneal hydration." In 1956 after the departure of Dr. Ludwig von Sallmann to become Director
417
of the Eye Services at the National Insti tutes of Health, Dr. Smelser assumed the vacant post of Director of Research Activi ties in the Department of Ophthalmology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1969, this position was dignified by the title of Malcolm P. Aldrich Research Professor of Ophthalmology, a position he held until his death. Although Dr. Smelser's scientific attainments, honors, and committee member ships are well known, other aspects of his professional and personal life are perhaps less well known to the ophthalmic community. It is quite possible that even more important and productive than his actual laboratory work is the influence he has had on medical students, residents, and clinicians. In col laboration with his long-time associate, Miss Victoria Ozanics, he initiated a two-day course to the first year medical students that invariably aroused extraordinary enthusi asm. I have no doubt that a number of medi cal students were stimulated towards oph thalmology by these annual courses alone. Among the residents and attending staff Dr. Smelser's ability as a speaker was legendary. The statement, "I have never heard George give a bad lecture," has been made so often that his performances were taken for granted. He had the unusual knack of being able to reduce difficult, technical complexities to a point where the clinician almost felt like a scientist himself. His ophthalmic in terests were wide ranging and not limited to his own special hobbies. He could talk authoritatively on fluid transport in glau coma, retinal physiology, or electron micro scopic changes of various corneal diseases. His ability to relate basic facts to clinical disorders made him extremely valuable to the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology with such good effect that he became one of the relatively few nonophthalmologists invited to join that Society. At the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute he served on the Board of Surgeons, as well as the Residency Review Committee. His perspicacity in assessing the scientific re-
418
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
search possibilities of a resident applicant was well known to us all. As befits a biologist, George's chief hobby in his free time was gardening. Annually, he produced a vegetable garden that was the envy of all of his neighbors. His great love remained, however, for his flowers. A nota ble collection of some 100 different species of iris and 100 species of day lilies must have provided great pleasure, not only for him, but for his neighbors. If planting seeds and watching them grow produced so much happiness in George Smelser's life, he must have lived a very happy life because he planted the seeds of research in so many young men, both in this country and abroad, who came for training in his laboratory throughout his many years of service. H e will be sorely missed. A. Gerard DeVoe
MARCH, 1974
Dupuytren's contracture, and alcohol addic tion" ( A m . J. Ophthalmol. 76:1005, 1973), citing abusive alcoholism as a factor in the formation of cataract represents an impor tant new syndrome. My own observations, made completely independently of D r . Sabiston's, confirm his work. T h e possibility of alcoholism should be considered when a patient under the age of 60 presents with a rapidly developing posterior subcapsular cataract: appropriate signs should be looked for, and efforts should be made to elicit a history of abusive alcoholism. My own private patients did not present the problems of malnutrition, and I did not experience problems with the vitreous humor during sur gery, but otherwise my findings confirm those of Dr. Sabiston completely. Robert C. Drews, M.D. Clayton, Missouri REPLY
CORRESPONDENCE T O X I C I T Y OF INTRAVITREAL AMPHOTERICIN
B
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: In reviewing our article, "Toxicity of in travitreal amphotericin B " ( A m . J. Ophthalmol. 76:578, 1973), we found we made a typographical error in the summary and recommended 5 mg instead of 5 /ig dose for intravitreal injection. Although the readers may have noticed this in the paper, we thought this error should be brought to their attention. Alan J. Axelrod, M.D. Gholam A. Peyman, M.D. Chicago, Illinois
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: It is encouraging to find an independent observer come up with many of the features that I found in regard to excessive alcohol intake and the rapid onset of cataracts in relatively young people. It is also interesting to talk to our col leagues in the field of orthopedic surgery who have associated alcoholism with Du puytren's contracture but have not really thought about the visual aspects of the prob lem. An interesting feature remains as to why the cataracts occur, and why they occur in some alcoholics and not in others. D. W . Sabiston, F.R.C.S. Napier, New Zealand TONOMETRY
CATARACTS, D U P U Y T R E N ' S
CONTRACTURE,
AND A L C O H O L ADDICTION
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: The paper F.R.C.S., of
by David W . Sabiston, XTew Zealand, "Cataracts,
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: I n these days when tonometry is being used more generally, and ophthalmologists are doing it more frequently, it might be well to mention a simple office addition to this