Goetz and Harter
Supplemental Materials – Appendix e-1
1: Biographical details: In 1866, he published his first important paper, “The use of the thermometer in clinical medicine,” highlighting the importance of accurate core temperature monitoring in medicine (7). In 1869, he studied in Paris, meeting Brown-Séquard, Charcot, and Ranvier. Returning to the United States, he contributed core insights on cerebral localization and myelopathies, including observations on the lesions of multiple sclerosis (8). Much of his work addressed treatments, and his 1874 lecture on therapeutics in neurological disease was widely disseminated (9). Seguin was noted for his high investment in drug therapy, pushing doses to much higher limits than previously advocated. One important observation related to iodide treatment for cerebral conditions. Whereas low doses, as utilized in Europe, failed, Seguin documented marked improvement with doses 2-10 times higher than those of the standard treatment. Largely based on his work, such high dose treatments were referenced as the “American Method” (10). On the other hand, Seguin was also sensitive to drug toxicity, writing “The abuse and use of bromides” in 1877 (11). Bernard Sachs commented on this contribution, writing “If I had my way about it, this essay should be reprinted and redistributed at least once a year” (1, p. 584). Seguin’s contributions to neurological science also included important observations on cortical localization, especially related to paralysis and aphasia.
2: Further details on the weapons: Biographical summaries of Seguin do not indicate that either he or his wife was an avid hunter or marksman, but Seguin had served in the military as both a cadet during the Civil War and as a military physician in New Mexico (1). It is possible that Seguin retained the guns from his military service.
3: A subsequent marriage ended in divorce, followed by a third marriage. He had no further children. His Last Will and Testament (23), dated August 28, 1896, two years before his death, dictated that personal possessions, including a bronze medallion of Charcot “given to me by the master himself,” portraits of his father and Brown-Séquard, and many books would be given to the New York Academy of Medicine. Instruments, pathological specimens and other books were bequeathed to the Pathological Laboratory of the Alumni Association of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. His personal home possessions were to be left to his wife, Susan Wessells Seguin, though no mention was made of the final disposition of the pistols used in the tragic event of his life or of any items related to his first wife or children.
- Sachs B. A review of Dr. Seguin’s contributions to medicine. Medical News 1898; 72:582-586.
7.Seguin EC. The use of the thermometer in clinical medicine Chicago Med J 1866; 23:193-201.
8. Seguin EC. A contribution to the pathological anatomy of disseminated cerebro-spinal sclerosis. J Nerv Ment Dis 1878;5:281-293.
9. Seguin EC. Lecture upon the general therapeutics of the nervous system: N Y Med Record 1874;19:281-396.
10.Seguin EC. The American method of giving potassium iodide in very large doses for the later lesions of syphilis. Arch Med NY 1884; 12:114-131.
11. Seguin EC. The abuse and use of bromides: J Nerv Ment Dis 1877;4:445-462.
23. Seguin EC. Last Will and Testament, August 28, 1896. Records and Research Department, Surrogate's Court-New York County, 31 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007.