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Thomas D. Heed (1875-1957)
801
OBITUARY been reported to occur along with renal calcification in the rat treated with Diamox. The role of citrate in chelating and solubilizing calcium in the urine of patients as well as the relationship to ureteral colic of its altered concentration after acetazolamide ad ministration remain speculative. W i t h increasing knowledge of the nature and mechanisms of aqueous secretion, one may anticipate more effective and less toxic medical means of altering aqueous flow. Already, newer carbonic anhydrase inhibi tors are available which can lower intraocu lar pressure with much less renal or gas trointestinal effects. There are excellent pros pects for compounds with even greater ocular specificity. It should be remembered, however, the basic defect in glaucoma is almost always an obstruction to aqueous out flow. If this obstruction can be relieved medically (for example, by miotics in chronic simple glaucoma) or surgically (for example, by iridectomy in uncomplicated angle-closure glaucoma), such measures which can correct the defect are much to be preferred to the palliation afforded by secretory suppression. T h e carbonic anhy drase inhibitors should be reserved as useful adjuncts to be added to these measures when necessary for the lowering of intraocular pressure. Bernard Becker.
OBITUARY T H O M A S D. H E E D (1875-1957) In the death of Mr. Thomas D. Heed, on January 29, 1957, at his home at 565 Picacho Lane, Santa Barbara, California, ophthal mology lost a great benefactor. Mr. Heed was a man of imagination and foresight. He, jointly with his wife, Ruth Byers Heed, established the Heed Ophthal mic Foundation, whose primary object has been to further the studies and educational opportunities of outstanding young Ameri
can ophthalmologists, and it is in this connec tion that he will be known in ophthalmic circles for generations to come. The founda tion is a unique organization, conceived by Mr. Heed in conjunction with his wife, who survives him and who is dedicated to carrying
T H O M A S D.
HEED
on the activities and interests of the founda tion. It was established in 1945, at which time a small board of men outstanding in the pro fession was created by them, and the First National Bank of Chicago was appointed trustee of the funds. It was Mr. Heed's joy to see some of the results of the fellowships which he made possible during his life time, rather than to provide for such a foundation after the death of himself and his wife. He, therefore, allo cated certain sums of money throughout the intervening years, as a result of which 41 young men have been enabled to progress further with their careers and their studies and thus make greater contributions to oph-
802
CORRESPONDENCE
thalmology than would otherwise have been possible. To the great good fortune of oph thalmology, Mrs. Heed is planning to con tinue this wonderful and unusual foun dation, as carried on by Mr. Heed during his lifetime and, at the time of her death, according to his wishes, funds will be laid aside in order that it may be continued in perpetuity. Mr. Heed was well known for his activi ties, other than those related to young stu dents of ophthalmology. He was active and successful in the business world, both of Chicago and New York. He was born in Saint Louis, in 1875. From there he went to college in Emporia, Kansas, and entered the railroad service in the general auditor's office of the M. K. and T. Railroad. He then became cashier of the Southwestern Passen ger Bureau and chief clerk of the treasury department of the St. Louis and San Fran cisco Railroad. He later became assistant secretary and treasurer of the same road, and still later held the same offices in the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad. In 1913-15 he was president of the latter, and later became its receiver. From 1921 to 1931 he was a di rector of this road, and also of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad. He was presi dent and director of many outstanding com panies, with varying interests; especially was he associated with land and mining interests in the West. Still other interests were in the lumber business. One of the last of these was that of director of the Edward Hines Lum ber Company, of Chicago. From 1942 to 1945, he served as chair man of the Chicago Division of the United States Navy Price Adjustment Board, in connection with which, in January, 1946, he received the Navy's highest civilian award for outstanding service with this board from October, 1943, to January, 1946. Mr. Heed was well known socially, both in Chicago and New York. He was a mem ber of the Midday and Tavern Clubs of Chicago, and the Midday Club of New York.
Mr. Heed's was a delightful, kindly but firm personality. On meeting him, he put one at ease, and made one feel his deep interest in the human beings about him. The direction of the interests of Mr. and Mrs. Heed toward ophthalmology was initiated by difficulties which both had experienced with ocular disturbances in their early years, and it was out of gratitude for the fortunate outcome of these difficulties that the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation was established. M. Hayward Post.
CORRESPONDENCE RETINOPATIIY OF IMMATURITY
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: In the paper on "Retinopathy of imma turity" by Habegger, et al. (Am. J. Ophth., 42:377 [Sept.] 1956), it is stated that the early manifestations of retrolental fibroplasia are dilatation and tortuosity of retinal vessels and frequent retinal hemorrhages. This I believe to be incorrect. The earliest manifestation is marked contraction of the retinal vessels. When early and regular exam ination of the infant has been possible, this stage precedes the stage of very marked dilatation. The effect of high oxygen therapy in con stricting the retinal vessels has led to the belief in its curative and prophylactic value with the unfortunate result of increasing the number of blind infants. I would also suggest that the finding of retinal hemorrhages soon after birth in a premature infant would have no more sig nificance than the more common finding of retinal hemorrhages in the newborn, fulltime child. I have only once seen a retinal hemorrhage in a day-old premature infant, but most of these infants are too feeble to permit ade quate examination. Any suggestion that hypoxia is the cause of retrolental fibroplasia is to be deprecated.
OBITUARY been reported to occur along with renal calcification in the rat treated with Diamox. The role of citrate in chelating and solubilizing calcium in the urine of patients as well as the relationship to ureteral colic of its altered concentration after acetazolamide ad ministration remain speculative. W i t h increasing knowledge of the nature and mechanisms of aqueous secretion, one may anticipate more effective and less toxic medical means of altering aqueous flow. Already, newer carbonic anhydrase inhibi tors are available which can lower intraocu lar pressure with much less renal or gas trointestinal effects. There are excellent pros pects for compounds with even greater ocular specificity. It should be remembered, however, the basic defect in glaucoma is almost always an obstruction to aqueous out flow. If this obstruction can be relieved medically (for example, by miotics in chronic simple glaucoma) or surgically (for example, by iridectomy in uncomplicated angle-closure glaucoma), such measures which can correct the defect are much to be preferred to the palliation afforded by secretory suppression. T h e carbonic anhy drase inhibitors should be reserved as useful adjuncts to be added to these measures when necessary for the lowering of intraocular pressure. Bernard Becker.
OBITUARY T H O M A S D. H E E D (1875-1957) In the death of Mr. Thomas D. Heed, on January 29, 1957, at his home at 565 Picacho Lane, Santa Barbara, California, ophthal mology lost a great benefactor. Mr. Heed was a man of imagination and foresight. He, jointly with his wife, Ruth Byers Heed, established the Heed Ophthal mic Foundation, whose primary object has been to further the studies and educational opportunities of outstanding young Ameri
can ophthalmologists, and it is in this connec tion that he will be known in ophthalmic circles for generations to come. The founda tion is a unique organization, conceived by Mr. Heed in conjunction with his wife, who survives him and who is dedicated to carrying
T H O M A S D.
HEED
on the activities and interests of the founda tion. It was established in 1945, at which time a small board of men outstanding in the pro fession was created by them, and the First National Bank of Chicago was appointed trustee of the funds. It was Mr. Heed's joy to see some of the results of the fellowships which he made possible during his life time, rather than to provide for such a foundation after the death of himself and his wife. He, therefore, allo cated certain sums of money throughout the intervening years, as a result of which 41 young men have been enabled to progress further with their careers and their studies and thus make greater contributions to oph-
802
CORRESPONDENCE
thalmology than would otherwise have been possible. To the great good fortune of oph thalmology, Mrs. Heed is planning to con tinue this wonderful and unusual foun dation, as carried on by Mr. Heed during his lifetime and, at the time of her death, according to his wishes, funds will be laid aside in order that it may be continued in perpetuity. Mr. Heed was well known for his activi ties, other than those related to young stu dents of ophthalmology. He was active and successful in the business world, both of Chicago and New York. He was born in Saint Louis, in 1875. From there he went to college in Emporia, Kansas, and entered the railroad service in the general auditor's office of the M. K. and T. Railroad. He then became cashier of the Southwestern Passen ger Bureau and chief clerk of the treasury department of the St. Louis and San Fran cisco Railroad. He later became assistant secretary and treasurer of the same road, and still later held the same offices in the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad. In 1913-15 he was president of the latter, and later became its receiver. From 1921 to 1931 he was a di rector of this road, and also of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad. He was presi dent and director of many outstanding com panies, with varying interests; especially was he associated with land and mining interests in the West. Still other interests were in the lumber business. One of the last of these was that of director of the Edward Hines Lum ber Company, of Chicago. From 1942 to 1945, he served as chair man of the Chicago Division of the United States Navy Price Adjustment Board, in connection with which, in January, 1946, he received the Navy's highest civilian award for outstanding service with this board from October, 1943, to January, 1946. Mr. Heed was well known socially, both in Chicago and New York. He was a mem ber of the Midday and Tavern Clubs of Chicago, and the Midday Club of New York.
Mr. Heed's was a delightful, kindly but firm personality. On meeting him, he put one at ease, and made one feel his deep interest in the human beings about him. The direction of the interests of Mr. and Mrs. Heed toward ophthalmology was initiated by difficulties which both had experienced with ocular disturbances in their early years, and it was out of gratitude for the fortunate outcome of these difficulties that the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation was established. M. Hayward Post.
CORRESPONDENCE RETINOPATIIY OF IMMATURITY
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: In the paper on "Retinopathy of imma turity" by Habegger, et al. (Am. J. Ophth., 42:377 [Sept.] 1956), it is stated that the early manifestations of retrolental fibroplasia are dilatation and tortuosity of retinal vessels and frequent retinal hemorrhages. This I believe to be incorrect. The earliest manifestation is marked contraction of the retinal vessels. When early and regular exam ination of the infant has been possible, this stage precedes the stage of very marked dilatation. The effect of high oxygen therapy in con stricting the retinal vessels has led to the belief in its curative and prophylactic value with the unfortunate result of increasing the number of blind infants. I would also suggest that the finding of retinal hemorrhages soon after birth in a premature infant would have no more sig nificance than the more common finding of retinal hemorrhages in the newborn, fulltime child. I have only once seen a retinal hemorrhage in a day-old premature infant, but most of these infants are too feeble to permit ade quate examination. Any suggestion that hypoxia is the cause of retrolental fibroplasia is to be deprecated.