Volume 70 Number 5 October 2003	back to contents

The Journal has republished, with permission, the article by Dr. Eli Moschcowitz which follows this note. It originally appeared 78 years ago when he was an attending physician at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Moschcowitz was short in stature but had a giant intellect. He was an astute clinician well trained in pathology. This combination of talent and training made it possible for him to recognize a serious disease which had not yet been described. His original observations inspired many other clinicians and researchers to study this disease, as testified by many subsequent reports. New observations and expanded laboratory techniques resulted in an explosion of knowledge which led to a better understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease nearly eight decades later.

Reading Dr. Moschcowitz’s article in its original version enhances the stature of the clinician’s input in defining and describing illnesses. It is not often that a singular contribution can be identified. Thus, the original report by Dr. Moschcowitz serves as an ideal companion piece to the article by Shah and Rand which immediately precedes this editorial note. I can think of no better way for the reader to appreciate how much has been learned about this disease since Dr. Moschcowitz’s initial report.

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