Sir Gordon Morgan Holmes (1876-1965): one of the founders of modern neurology

Neurol Sci. 2018 Jan;39(1):169-171. doi: 10.1007/s10072-017-3180-6. Epub 2017 Nov 7.

Abstract

Sir Gordon Morgan Holmes (1876-1965) was one of the most important founders of modern neurology and a great teacher and scientist. He was the first scientist to challenge the theory of the unitary function of the cerebellum and described cerebellar disorders. Holmes together with Thomas Grainger Stewart (1877-1957) described 40 cases of the rebound phenomenon in cerebellar disease (Stewart-Holmes maneuver or Stewart-Holmes test). He also described the symptoms of inherited neurodegenerative spinocerebellar ataxia involving the olivary nucleus (Gordon-Holmes syndrome). Independently from the Australian neurologist William John Adie (1886-1935), he described the partial iridoplegia (Holmes-Adie pupil or Holmes-Adie syndrome). His teaching skills became clearly visible in Goulstonian and Croonian lectures dedicated to spinal cord injuries.

Keywords: Gordon Morgan Holmes; Gordon-Holmes syndrome; Holmes-Adie pupil; Stewart-Holmes maneuver; Stewart-Holmes test.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Historical Article
  • Portrait

MeSH terms

  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • Neurology / history*

Personal name as subject

  • Sir Gordon Holmes