MOSES HYMAN LURIE, MD 1893-1979 Moses Lurie was born of hard working, ambitious, intelligent parents in Boston, Massachusetts on April 10, 1893. Early in his youth he developed an interest in medicine and began spending time around the Massachusetts General Hospital. Although he wanted to attend medical school his family was unable to finance this dream at that time, so he entered Harvard School of Dentistry. When he obtained his dental degree he discovered that he was too young to be eligible for a license; instead of going into practice, he was admitted to Harvard Medical School. On graduation he was awarded a traveling fellowship and shortly thereafter volunteered for service in the American Ambulance Hospital and the United States Army Medical Corps in France. During his two and a half years at the Ambulance Hospital, he spent a large part of his time in head and neck surgery. Dr. Lurie received an appointment at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in 1926 and one year later, was certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. He started at the bottom of the rung at the Infirmary and worked his way up to Consulting Surgeon in Otolaryngology; in 1954, he was made Director of Otologic Research. At Harvard Medical School he rose from Assistant Instructor to Associate Clinical Professor. Early in his career he became associated with Hallowell Davis, S. S. Stevens and their associates in the Havard Physiology Department who were investigating techniques of electrorecordings of the inner ear and auditory nerve. Although Dr. Lurie's training had been clinical rather than fundamental he was experienced in the use of the compound microscope and was familiar with the preparation of the temporal bone for microscopic examination; consequently he was invited to become a member of the team. In collaboration with the Davis group he published a series of papers the first of which was presented at the American Otological Society in 1933. At that meeting at the very young age of 40, he was made a member of that senior Society. He never willingly missed a meeting of the So880

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ciety, was its President in 1959 and Guest of Honor in 1973. He was Guest of Honor of the Triological Society in 1978. Dr. Lurie was the first Infirmary otologist to become actively engaged in fundamental ear research. He provided financial assistance for research projects and took time from his private practice to participate in them. He distributed to investigators contributions which he received from his patients who wanted to help his research efforts. He made weekly visits to research laboratories in and around the Infirmary and would provide enthusiasm and share his knowledge with the young basic investigators. Dr. Lurie became the unofficial liaison between basic researchers and otolaryngologists in Boston; his ability to communicate with both groups was a great asset which was frequently used. Dr. Lurie was considered one of the most knowledgeable persons in this country on the history of otolaryngology. He amassed a wealth of facts and anecdotes of the Boston medical scene. Under the influence of Harvey Cushing he came to know and love old and rare medical books. He was alert to the classics of otolaryngology; he knew good printing, fine paper and artistic illustrations, but most important, he appreciated outstanding content. Prior to 1950 there had been no library of otolaryngology at the Infirmary. Working with Dr. Leroy Schall, he was able to correct this deficiency. Today the otolaryngology collection at the Infirmary is perhaps one of the finest and most complete in this country. He worked to sustain the library and to see that it was properly housed and managed. He was appointed chairman of the Infirmary Library Committee and became very knowledgeable about medical libraries. Dr. Lurie was loved as a teacher and counsellor of young men; he epitomized the dedicated, scholarly, unselfish physician. He made contributions to our knowledge of the electrical activity of the cochlea, the phylogenetic development of the cochlea, noise deafness, pitch localization, ototoxic drugs, the morphology of the cochlea of the waltzing guinea pig and congenital deafness in dogs. He wrote on such subjects as exophthalmos, cholesteatoma, cystic fibrosis and deafness in infants. Dr. Lurie is survived by his devoted family: his wife, Ruth" who shared with him a rich and full partnership for 53 years, and their children Susan, Fred and Ruth. It was the sincere belief of countless friends, colleagues and patients that Dr. Lurie's rugged constitution would permit him to remain with us indefinitely. He died on September 9, 1979. BEN

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Moses Hyman Lurie, Md; 1893-1979.

MOSES HYMAN LURIE, MD 1893-1979 Moses Lurie was born of hard working, ambitious, intelligent parents in Boston, Massachusetts on April 10, 1893. Early...
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