William G. Lennox
Encyclopedia
William Gordon Lennox was an American neurologist
who was a pioneer in the use of electroencephalography
(EEG) for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy
.
, he worked alongside and published many papers with Stanley Cobb
and Erna and Frederic Gibbs
. Lennox was president of the International League Against Epilepsy from 1935 to 1946. After a period as co-editor, he became the editor-in-chief of the journal Epilepsia from 1945 to 1950. He was jointly awarded (with Frederic Gibbs) the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research
in 1951. He wrote, with his daughter Margaret, "Epilepsy and Related Disorders" (Vols. 1 and 2, Little Brown & Co, Boston, 1960), which contains his description of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
.
In 1937, Lennox described the situation regarding the medical treatment of epilepsy at the time:
Lennox was also involved with the eugenics
movement. He gave a speech in 1938 to Harvard's Phi Beta Kappa
, recommending euthanasia
for "the congenitally mindless and for the incurable sick who wish to die". In the same year, he wrote "The principle of limiting certain races through limitation of off-spring might be applied internationally as well as intranationally. Germany, in time, might have solved her Jewish problem this way." In 1943, Lennox joined the advisory council of the Euthanasia Society of America (later known as Partnership for Caring). In 1950, he wrote an article entitled "The Moral Issue", calling for the mercy killing of "children with undeveloped or misformed brains" as a way of opening up space in "our hopelessly clogged institutions."
He continued working into his 70s, only retiring from Harvard in 1958. He died two years later.
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,...
who was a pioneer in the use of electroencephalography
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG measures voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain...
(EEG) for the diagnosis and treatment of 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...
.
Biography
Lennox first became interested in epilepsy when working as medical missionary in China.. At the Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, he worked alongside and published many papers with Stanley Cobb
Stanley Cobb
-External links:* can be found at The Center for the History of Medicine at the Countway Library, Harvard Medical School....
and Erna and Frederic Gibbs
Frederic A. Gibbs
Frederic Andrews Gibbs was an American neurologist who was a pioneer in the use of electroencephalography for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy....
. Lennox was president of the International League Against Epilepsy from 1935 to 1946. After a period as co-editor, he became the editor-in-chief of the journal Epilepsia from 1945 to 1950. He was jointly awarded (with Frederic Gibbs) the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research
Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research
Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award is awarded by the Lasker Foundation for the understanding, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and cure of disease. The award was renamed in 2008 in honor of Michael E. DeBakey...
in 1951. He wrote, with his daughter Margaret, "Epilepsy and Related Disorders" (Vols. 1 and 2, Little Brown & Co, Boston, 1960), which contains his description of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Lennox–Gastaut syndrome , also known as Lennox syndrome, is a difficult-to-treat form of childhood-onset epilepsy that most often appears between the second and sixth year of life, and is characterized by frequent seizures and different seizure types; it is often accompanied by developmental delay...
.
In 1937, Lennox described the situation regarding the medical treatment of epilepsy at the time:
- "In the US there are some 500,000 persons subject to epilepsy. This is approximately the same number as have diabetes or active tuberculosis. In Roman days a seizure in the forum caused its dissolution; now a seizure in a classroom means dismissal of the offending student. In the US we have only the extremes of care in the home, or in largely publicly supported institutions into which the dregs of patients have settled. From the practical point of view, patients with epilepsy are an unusually valuable group for human experimentation. They are numerous, and are available to the research staff of the general hospital; they can usually give intelligent co-operation; they are pathetically anxious to be experimented upon; they have abrupt and unmistakable changes from normal to abnormal states. Epilepsy comparatively speaking has been a neglected field. To the epileptic writhing on the road of medicine, the investigator has perhaps given a cup of cold water, but then has passed by to succour those with illnesses which seemed more likely to reward his efforts. From the humanitarian point of view, epileptics are peculiarly in need of help."
Lennox was also involved with the eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
movement. He gave a speech in 1938 to Harvard's Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
, recommending euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
for "the congenitally mindless and for the incurable sick who wish to die". In the same year, he wrote "The principle of limiting certain races through limitation of off-spring might be applied internationally as well as intranationally. Germany, in time, might have solved her Jewish problem this way." In 1943, Lennox joined the advisory council of the Euthanasia Society of America (later known as Partnership for Caring). In 1950, he wrote an article entitled "The Moral Issue", calling for the mercy killing of "children with undeveloped or misformed brains" as a way of opening up space in "our hopelessly clogged institutions."
He continued working into his 70s, only retiring from Harvard in 1958. He died two years later.
Partial bibliography
- The Health and Turnover of Missionaries (1933)
- Science and Seizures: New Light on Epilepsy and Migraine (1941)
- Epilepsy and Related Disorders (1960)