Merritt, MD 12, 1902\p=m-\Jan9, 1979
H. Houston Jan Dr H. Houston Merritt died Jan 9, 1979, in New York City just three days prior to his 77th birthday. By his death American medicine lost a great physician and teacher and the international
neurological community
an
ry
stu¬
providing opportunities for prom¬ ising young investigators, and admin¬ istering a large research program. So and
irreplace-
able leader. For almost half a century, his prodigious efforts on behalf of those with diseases of the nervous system were tenaciously pursued in the clinic, the research laboratory, and the classroom. He labored as well to enlist and direct the support of governmental and voluntary health agencies for the advancement of the neurological sciences. The success of these efforts is reflected in the growth of neurology as a specialty. Houston Merritt entered a field that was in its infancy and leaves it at a time when it has come of age, nourished considerably by his own contributions. Born and raised in Wilmington, NC, he attended its public schools and began his undergraduate studies at the university of his native state. He received his AB degree from Vander¬ bilt University and his MD from Johns Hopkins. Following an intern¬ ship and residency in internal medi¬ cine at Grace-New Haven Hospital, he went on to Boston to begin his neuro¬ logical career. The next 16 years were productively spent in that city at the Boston City Hospital and as a faculty member of the Harvard Medical School. In 1944, Houston Merritt came to New York City and began his associa¬ tion with Columbia University, which continued until his death. He was
department, teaching medical
dents, training residents, encouraging
clinical professor served for four years as director of the Neuropsy¬ chiatrie Service at Montefiore Hospi¬ tal. During this time, he made Montefiore's neurological program a major center of training and clinical activity. Recognizing his outstanding academic abilities, in 1948 Columbia appointed him professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was assigned the directorship of the neurological service at the New York Neurological Institute, a posi¬ tion he held for the next 20 years. In these posts he worked vigorously in developing and directing an exempla-
initially appointed of neurology, and
Downloaded From: http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/ by a University of Manitoba User on 06/11/2015
effective were his efforts that in 1959 Columbia appointed him dean of the Faculty of Medicine and vice presi¬ dent in charge of medical affairs, posts he held till his retirement in 1970. Houston Merritt's ability as a diag¬ nostician is legendary. This unusual capability was founded on a remark¬ able understanding of the complexi¬ ties of the nervous system, a broad range of medical knowledge, and keen clinical skills. He was masterful in elicting and assessing the essentials of a diagnostic problem, separating the wheat from the chaff, in both history and examination. Coupling this with an astonishing ability to recall instantaneously comparable cases he had encountered, he rendered the most complex diagnostic dilemma approachable. At first sight, Dr Mer¬ ritt's abilities seemed to be almost intuitive, for his conclusions were decisive and reached with lightening speed. However, it did not take long to appreciate that his skills were deeply based and indicative of a combination of talents rarely encountered in our
profession.
Those who had the opportunity of as his house officers eagerly looked forward to rounds with "the boss." These were always stimulating and rewarding and not only for the "pearls" that would fall. There was the challenge of trying, against long
serving
odds, to stump the boss by presenting a case that all agreed was a puzzler. The boss almost always had the answer—and it
was more
often than
not, syringomyelia. This diagnosis
usually was made by Merritt in the least expected circumstances and to
the consternation and disbelief of all present. However, in the final analy¬ sis he was nearly always proved to be correct. There was more to this: the pleasure of his wit, his repertoire of stories—always the right one for the occasion, the sense of camaraderie he engendered, and his unassuming, down-to-earth nature, free of any shred of self-importance. One item on the debit side: his unfailing memory made him an unbeatable opponent at poker, and it was understood that you played poker with the boss. Houston Merritt's place in Ameri¬ can neurology would have been assured even if he had limited himself to patient care and teaching, but his achievements went well beyond this. His work as a scientific investigator led to excellent studies; CSF abnor¬ malities in relation to various disease processes, the correlation of clinical and morphological changes in neurosyphilis, as well as his landmark devel¬ opment of phenytoin (diphenylhydan¬ toin) as an anticonvulsant agent. The latter, carried out in association with Tracy Putnam, was the first syste-
matic study of clinical compounds screened for anticonvulsant activity by utilizing electric thresholds of seizure activity in animals. Their pio¬ neer studies opened a whole new approach to the pharmacological treatment of epilepsy. scientific Merritt's Houston achievements are evident in his bibli¬ ography of over 200 publications and five books, including a classic text¬ book on neurology, the sixth edition of which has just appeared. He served on numerous editorial boards of scien¬ tific journals and was chief editor of the Archives from 1962 to 1971. His accomplishments in science and public service received accolades in numer¬ ous quarters. He was awarded honor¬ ary degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and New York Medical College. In 1977 Columbia awarded him its high¬ est honor, the Distinguished Service Award. The American Neurological Association, of which he had been Secretary, Treasurer, and President not only made him an honorary member but awarded him the coveted George W. Jacoby prize for outstand¬ ing scientific achievement. Similar recognition came from the American Epilepsy Society, United Cerebral Palsy Association, The Multiple Scle¬ rosis Society, and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. His native state gave him the North Carolina Award,
Downloaded From: http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/ by a University of Manitoba User on 06/11/2015
which
is
reserved
outstanding citizens. Always at his side
for
its
most
was his wife, Mabel Carmichael Merritt. Through¬ out his career, her efforts supported and complemented his own, whether in maintaining patient records during his days at the Boston City or later graciously serving at the registration desk of the American Neurological Association, assisting in handling of manuscripts for the Archives, or help¬ ing new faculty members to settle in. Their devotion to each other was unwavering throughout the 50 years of their marriage. Houston Merritt's success as a teacher is borne out by the large number of his students who now occu¬ py academic posts throughout the country. His stature as a neurological scientist is evident in that his contri¬ butions have withstood the test of time. As an administrator he expertly guided Columbia through the turbu¬ lence of the 1960s, years in which major changes in medical education were occurring as well as student turmoils. Most important perhaps were his humanistic qualities, his warmth and sensitivity that endeared him to his patients, his students, and his colleagues. His loss will be sorely felt in many quarters. Melvin D. Yahr, MD New York
H. Houston Jan Dr H. Houston Merritt died Jan 9, 1979, in New York City just three days prior to his 77th birthday. By his death American medicine lost a great physician and teacher and the international
neurological community
an
ry
stu¬
providing opportunities for prom¬ ising young investigators, and admin¬ istering a large research program. So and
irreplace-
able leader. For almost half a century, his prodigious efforts on behalf of those with diseases of the nervous system were tenaciously pursued in the clinic, the research laboratory, and the classroom. He labored as well to enlist and direct the support of governmental and voluntary health agencies for the advancement of the neurological sciences. The success of these efforts is reflected in the growth of neurology as a specialty. Houston Merritt entered a field that was in its infancy and leaves it at a time when it has come of age, nourished considerably by his own contributions. Born and raised in Wilmington, NC, he attended its public schools and began his undergraduate studies at the university of his native state. He received his AB degree from Vander¬ bilt University and his MD from Johns Hopkins. Following an intern¬ ship and residency in internal medi¬ cine at Grace-New Haven Hospital, he went on to Boston to begin his neuro¬ logical career. The next 16 years were productively spent in that city at the Boston City Hospital and as a faculty member of the Harvard Medical School. In 1944, Houston Merritt came to New York City and began his associa¬ tion with Columbia University, which continued until his death. He was
department, teaching medical
dents, training residents, encouraging
clinical professor served for four years as director of the Neuropsy¬ chiatrie Service at Montefiore Hospi¬ tal. During this time, he made Montefiore's neurological program a major center of training and clinical activity. Recognizing his outstanding academic abilities, in 1948 Columbia appointed him professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was assigned the directorship of the neurological service at the New York Neurological Institute, a posi¬ tion he held for the next 20 years. In these posts he worked vigorously in developing and directing an exempla-
initially appointed of neurology, and
Downloaded From: http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/ by a University of Manitoba User on 06/11/2015
effective were his efforts that in 1959 Columbia appointed him dean of the Faculty of Medicine and vice presi¬ dent in charge of medical affairs, posts he held till his retirement in 1970. Houston Merritt's ability as a diag¬ nostician is legendary. This unusual capability was founded on a remark¬ able understanding of the complexi¬ ties of the nervous system, a broad range of medical knowledge, and keen clinical skills. He was masterful in elicting and assessing the essentials of a diagnostic problem, separating the wheat from the chaff, in both history and examination. Coupling this with an astonishing ability to recall instantaneously comparable cases he had encountered, he rendered the most complex diagnostic dilemma approachable. At first sight, Dr Mer¬ ritt's abilities seemed to be almost intuitive, for his conclusions were decisive and reached with lightening speed. However, it did not take long to appreciate that his skills were deeply based and indicative of a combination of talents rarely encountered in our
profession.
Those who had the opportunity of as his house officers eagerly looked forward to rounds with "the boss." These were always stimulating and rewarding and not only for the "pearls" that would fall. There was the challenge of trying, against long
serving
odds, to stump the boss by presenting a case that all agreed was a puzzler. The boss almost always had the answer—and it
was more
often than
not, syringomyelia. This diagnosis
usually was made by Merritt in the least expected circumstances and to
the consternation and disbelief of all present. However, in the final analy¬ sis he was nearly always proved to be correct. There was more to this: the pleasure of his wit, his repertoire of stories—always the right one for the occasion, the sense of camaraderie he engendered, and his unassuming, down-to-earth nature, free of any shred of self-importance. One item on the debit side: his unfailing memory made him an unbeatable opponent at poker, and it was understood that you played poker with the boss. Houston Merritt's place in Ameri¬ can neurology would have been assured even if he had limited himself to patient care and teaching, but his achievements went well beyond this. His work as a scientific investigator led to excellent studies; CSF abnor¬ malities in relation to various disease processes, the correlation of clinical and morphological changes in neurosyphilis, as well as his landmark devel¬ opment of phenytoin (diphenylhydan¬ toin) as an anticonvulsant agent. The latter, carried out in association with Tracy Putnam, was the first syste-
matic study of clinical compounds screened for anticonvulsant activity by utilizing electric thresholds of seizure activity in animals. Their pio¬ neer studies opened a whole new approach to the pharmacological treatment of epilepsy. scientific Merritt's Houston achievements are evident in his bibli¬ ography of over 200 publications and five books, including a classic text¬ book on neurology, the sixth edition of which has just appeared. He served on numerous editorial boards of scien¬ tific journals and was chief editor of the Archives from 1962 to 1971. His accomplishments in science and public service received accolades in numer¬ ous quarters. He was awarded honor¬ ary degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and New York Medical College. In 1977 Columbia awarded him its high¬ est honor, the Distinguished Service Award. The American Neurological Association, of which he had been Secretary, Treasurer, and President not only made him an honorary member but awarded him the coveted George W. Jacoby prize for outstand¬ ing scientific achievement. Similar recognition came from the American Epilepsy Society, United Cerebral Palsy Association, The Multiple Scle¬ rosis Society, and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. His native state gave him the North Carolina Award,
Downloaded From: http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/ by a University of Manitoba User on 06/11/2015
which
is
reserved
outstanding citizens. Always at his side
for
its
most
was his wife, Mabel Carmichael Merritt. Through¬ out his career, her efforts supported and complemented his own, whether in maintaining patient records during his days at the Boston City or later graciously serving at the registration desk of the American Neurological Association, assisting in handling of manuscripts for the Archives, or help¬ ing new faculty members to settle in. Their devotion to each other was unwavering throughout the 50 years of their marriage. Houston Merritt's success as a teacher is borne out by the large number of his students who now occu¬ py academic posts throughout the country. His stature as a neurological scientist is evident in that his contri¬ butions have withstood the test of time. As an administrator he expertly guided Columbia through the turbu¬ lence of the 1960s, years in which major changes in medical education were occurring as well as student turmoils. Most important perhaps were his humanistic qualities, his warmth and sensitivity that endeared him to his patients, his students, and his colleagues. His loss will be sorely felt in many quarters. Melvin D. Yahr, MD New York
