H. Houston Merritt
Encyclopedia
H. Houston Merritt was one of the pre-eminent academic neurologists of his day. As the chair of the Neurological Institute of New York
from 1948 to 1967, he oversaw the training of hundreds of neurologist
s; 35 of his former students have become chairs of academic neurology
departments across the United States. He was also the dean of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
from 1958 to 1970.
His contributions to neurology were countless. Among the most important was the discovery of the anticonvulsant properties of phenytoin
(Dilantin). The technique he used, along with Tracy Putnam
, to identify this compound ushered in the modern era of drug therapy for epilepsy
. He also was the sole author of the first five editions of Merritt's Neurology; this popular textbook is in its twelfth edition (Rowland and Pedley, 2009). His early work on the normal properties of the cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF) was updated and published by one of his students, Robert Fishman, in a text that is the acknowledged standard on the topic.
Merritt was also known in his day as an expert on neurosyphilis
; his 1946 monograph on the topic provided an overview of this condition, which almost disappeared from the medical eye shortly thereafter owing to the advent of penicillin
.
In 1968 he went to Portugal
to assist local doctors after Salazar
suffered brain haemorrhage.
Merritt died in 1979 from complications of cerebrovascular disease
and normal pressure hydrocephalus
; ironically, the latter condition was a syndrome whose existence he had never fully accepted during his career. His students who were treating him in New York disagreed over the proper course of action; eventually, he was taken to the Massachusetts General Hospital
, where he succumbed to the after-effects of a neurosurgical operation.
Neurological Institute of New York
The Neurological Institute of New York is located at 710 West 168th Street in New York City in the United States of America. Its current building was constructed in the 1950s...
from 1948 to 1967, he oversaw the training of hundreds of neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
s; 35 of his former students have become chairs of academic neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
departments across the United States. He was also the dean of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
from 1958 to 1970.
His contributions to neurology were countless. Among the most important was the discovery of the anticonvulsant properties of phenytoin
Phenytoin
Phenytoin sodium is a commonly used antiepileptic. Phenytoin acts to suppress the abnormal brain activity seen in seizure by reducing electrical conductance among brain cells by stabilizing the inactive state of voltage-gated sodium channels...
(Dilantin). The technique he used, along with Tracy Putnam
Tracy Putnam
Tracy Jackson Putnam was the co-discoverer, together with H. Houston Merritt, of Dilantin for controlling epilepsy.He graduated from Harvard College in 1915. Later from Harvard medical school in 1920. He worked by the Boston City Hospital and in the New York Neurological Institute at Columbia...
, to identify this compound ushered in the modern era of drug therapy for epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
. He also was the sole author of the first five editions of Merritt's Neurology; this popular textbook is in its twelfth edition (Rowland and Pedley, 2009). His early work on the normal properties of the cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear, colorless, bodily fluid, that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord...
(CSF) was updated and published by one of his students, Robert Fishman, in a text that is the acknowledged standard on the topic.
Merritt was also known in his day as an expert on neurosyphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
; his 1946 monograph on the topic provided an overview of this condition, which almost disappeared from the medical eye shortly thereafter owing to the advent of penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
.
In 1968 he went to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
to assist local doctors after Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
suffered brain haemorrhage.
Merritt died in 1979 from complications of cerebrovascular disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Cerebrovascular disease is a group of brain dysfunctions related to disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain. Hypertension is the most important cause; it damages the blood vessel lining, endothelium, exposing the underlying collagen where platelets aggregate to initiate a repairing process...
and normal pressure hydrocephalus
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Normal pressure hydrocephalus , also termed symptomatic hydrocephalus, occurs when there is an increase in intracranial pressure due to an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain, which can cause ventriculomegaly...
; ironically, the latter condition was a syndrome whose existence he had never fully accepted during his career. His students who were treating him in New York disagreed over the proper course of action; eventually, he was taken to the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
, where he succumbed to the after-effects of a neurosurgical operation.