H. Houston Merritt, MD is widely considered the father of Neurology, by now however, it may be more accurate to say he is the Grandfather of Neurology.  In the 12th edition of Merritt’s Neurology just published, the editors refer to the most recent bunch of contributors as his “intellectual children and grandchildren.” Among these are no less than ten from the Department of Neurosurgery.

Merritt’s Neurology was first published in 1955 with Merritt as the sole author.  He continued to write, revise and expand the text as the field of neurology grew, accepting contributions only for the fifth and sixth editions before he died in 1979.  In the preface of the newest edition the editors write:

The seventh edition, published and edited by Lewis P. Rowland in 1984, was prepared by seventy of Merritt’s students.  Thirty of them headed neurology departments and others had become distinguished clinicians, teachers and investigators.  That edition was a landmark in the history of neurology.  It documented the human legacy of a singular leader(.) 12th edition Merritt’s Neurology

Years earlier, in 1948, when Merritt joined the faculty of the Neurological Institute he was already well known for his accomplishments including the introduction (with his colleague Tracy Putnam) of the use of dilantin to control seizures in epileptics.

Over the course of his career, however, Merritt mentored hundreds of neurologists, and in the end that was probably his greatest achievement.  Just over 30 years have passed since his death and his proteges have themselves become mentors who’s students in turn are teaching a whole new generation of neurologists.

Merritt’s “intellectual children and grandchildren” from the Department of Neurosurgery include: Robert A. Solomon, MD; Peter D. Angevine, MD, MPH; Jeffrey N. Bruce, MD; Neil A. Feldstein, MD; Saadi Ghatan, MD; Steven R. Isaacson, MD; Michael G. Kaiser ,MD, FACS; Sean D. Lavine, MD; Paul C. McCormick, MD, MPH; and  Philip M. Meyers MD.

Look for future blogs that include information about their contributions to this 12th edition of  Merritt’s Neurology.

To learn more, see Merritt’s Neurology On-line for a fully search-able electronic version.