Martin Henry Dawson was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, August 6, 1896, the fifth son of Charles M. and Ellen Dickie Dawson.  His only sister died young before Martin was born. He lived in Truro until he attended Dalhousie University in Halifax where he graduated with a B.A. in 1916.

By the time he had graduated he was serving in the Canadian forces in the First World War.  The Pictou Advocate of Dec. 18, 1915 p.8 featured a picture of four of the Dawson brothers with the headline “Four Brothers in the Fight Against Tyranny”.  Martin Henry Dawson was listed with the Dalhousie hospital unit.  In the  Aug. 4th, 1916 edition of The Pictou Advocate there was an article “Five Members Truro Family Serving Flag”.  At that time Pte. M. Henry Dawson was with No. 7 Stationary Hospital last reported at La Harve, France.  He became a Capt. in the Nova Scotia Reg’t of Canadian Army Medical Corps.  He was wounded in 1917 and again in 1918 and was awarded the Military Cross in 1917.

Following the war Martin Henry attended McGill University in Quebec and received his M.D. degree in 1923.

After graduating  in  Medicine he  worked  at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal.  In 1926 he was appointed National Research Fellow, assigned to the Rockefeller Institute in New York.

Marjorie Granger was born at Montreal about 1903.  Her parents were William Rowen Granger and Ida Glassford.  She was born with a dislocated hip and suffered through several painful childhood operations but was still somewhat disabled. Marjorie graduated with a B.A. from McGill University.  She was a teacher and associate principal. 

In 1926 Marjorie and Martin Henry Dawson were married.  Their first daughter was born in Montreal.

In 1929 Martin Henry became associated with the Presbyterian Hospital and the Department of Medicine at Columbia University.

The Dawsons had two sons born in New York City.

Martin Henry Dawson died 27 April 1945 and Marjory Dawson continued to live in New York and returned to the work force in the field of community relations and mass marketing.  She passed away about 1969.

 At a meeting of the Faculty of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeon, held on May 14, 1945 the following minute was adopted by rising vote:

With a sense of profound loss the Faculty of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, records the death on April 27, 1945 of one of its loyal and faithful colleagues.

Dr. Martin Henry Dawson was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, August 6., 1896, a son of Charles M. and Ellen Dickie Dawson.  He was a graduate of Dalhousie University and of McGill University, where he received his Doctor’s Degree.   He served  as Captain in the Trench (sic) Mortar Battery of the Canadian Armed  Forces during World War I, where he was twice wounded and  decorated with the Military Cross.

 He came to New York, in 1926 as a member of the staff of the Rockefeller Institute where he remained until 1929 when he became associated with the Presbyterian Hospital and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University.  He was an out-standing figure in medical research in this country and made many important contributions in the fields of infectious diseases.  Among these were studies on the transmutation of strains of pneumococci, and on the biological variants of the streptococcus and other micro-organisms.      His studies on the nature and treatment of arthritis made him a recognized authority in this disorder.  He was a pioneer in penicillin therapy, and was the first in this country to prepare it and use it in human disease.   Despite the fact that he became the victim of a chronic progressively disabling disease, he directed energetically and enthusiastically to the end of his life a comprehensive research program.    This included the successful treatment of bacterial endocarditis with penicillin, and the use of gold salts in the treatment of' rheumatoid arthritis.

He had warmth of affection and ready wit which attracted a host of friends from all walks of life.    One could not ask  for a more pleasant and entertaining companion.  While these qualities contributed, to his medical successes, they particularly endeared him to those associated with him. 

WHEREAS, the Faculty of the College of Physicians and Surgeons appreciate the faithfu1 service rendered by Doctor  Martin Henry Dawson over a period of' sixteen years, 

BE IT THEREFORE

RESOLVED. That they express in their minutes their  deep sense of loss and their sympathy with his friends and  his family. 
 

 At a meeting of the Medical Board Of The Presbyterian Hospital in the City of New York, held June 12,1945, the following Minute was adopted by rising vote: 

Dr. Martin Henry Dawson died of myasthenia gravis on April 29, 1945 (sic) at the age of 49.  His death takes from the medical staff of the Presbyterian Hospital one of its most able and respected members.  Dr. Dawson graduated  from Dalhousie University in 1916 with the degree of A.B. (sic) and received the M.D. degree from McGill University in 1923.  After his college work he entered the Canadian Army, served overseas as Captain in a French ( sic) Mortar Battery.  He was wounded twice and decorated with the Military Cross.

After graduating in Medicine he became Demonstrator in Pathology at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, and from 1925-1926 held the position of Assistant Resident in this hospital.  In 1926 he was appointed National Research Fellow, assigned to the Rockefeller Institute where he worked for two years, followed by a year as an Assistant in this hospital.  He joined the staff of the Presbyterian Hospital and Department of Medicine in 1929 as Assistant Visiting Physician and Assistant Professor.  In 1935 he was   promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine.  During his short career he became an outstanding figure in medical research in this country.  Recognition of his abilities came in election to the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians and numerous other scientific societies.  He was General Secretary of the Third International Congress for Microbiology held in New York City, 1939.

Dr. Dawson’s special interest was in infectious diseases.   Among the several important contributions in this field were studies on the transmutation of strains of pneumococci and on the biological variants of streptococcus and other micro-organisms.  For several years he has made a special study of chronic rheumatoid arthritis and other arthritic diseases; has helped to bring order out of chaos in this difficult subject, and became an acknowledged authority in these disorders.  He recognized at an early date the importance of      penicillin and together with his associates was the first in this country to produce penicillin and use it in the treatment of human disease.  The patient was ill with bacterial endocarditis, up to this time uniformly fatal.  Dr. Dawson's persistence and courage in working out the best method in      which to use penicillin in these patients has resulted in the apparent cure of this fatal disease.

Three years ago Dr. Dawson became the victim of myasthenia gravis, a chronic progressively disabling disease. Quite naturally he became interested in it. Although greatly handicapped he directed with energy and enthusiasm a      comprehensive research program in this condition to the end of his life.  He possessed a lively imagination, a discerning mind, a keen critique, a tenacity in sticking to essentials and a determination to carry on.

Henry Dawson had not only the respect and admiration of his associates but their affection.  He had a fine sense of humor, a ready wit and was always good company.

In appreciation of the valuable and faithful service given to the Hospital the Medical Board wishes to express in their minutes their deep sense of loss and their sympathy to his family and friends.

Be it resolved that this minute be made a part of the records of the Medical Board and a copy be sent to Mrs. Dawson.

The McGill University Archives website data base includes the following references to Martin Henry Dawson:

DAWSON, M.H.
   GROUP PORTRAIT: ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL
                        RESIDENT STAFF, 1923-1924 
Description of photo at McGill Archives:  1924  027.5 X 
  035.0 POS   B/W  PL 006864
                            PL 006569

DAWSON, M.H.
   GROUP PORTRAIT: RESIDENT STAFF OF THE 
 ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL, 1925-1926
Description of photo at McGill Archives: 1926  016.0 X 
                            024.5  POS B/W    PL 006569

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease that causes a weakening of the voluntary muscles - that is, the muscles that we can control such as those in our legs and arms. It is caused by a defect in the neuromuscular junction, the place where the nerve and muscle connect, and is the most common neuromuscular junction disorder. An autoimmune disease is a disease that is caused by the body's immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue and producing so many antibodies (substances that recognize and fight infections and other foreign things in the body) that the healthy tissue becomes damaged. 

The distinctive features of MG include a weakness in the muscles that move the eyeball and keep the eyelids open; some of the muscles involved with facial expression, chewing, swallowing and breathing; and muscles in the neck, arms and legs. Sometimes the symptoms may be so severe that a person is unable to breathe without a respirator. 

The symptoms tend to fluctuate, meaning that they come and go. Consequently, a person with MG experiences phases of muscular weakness that alternate with periods of normal health. 

Although the various available treatments do not cure MG, most patients show significant improvement and can expect to lead normal lives. 

                                      M. HENRY DAWSON

                                        Curriculum Vitae

                  1916   B.A. Dalhousie University
                  1923   M.D. McGill University
                  1923   C.M. MeGill University

                  1923-1924  Demonstrator in Pathology and Bacteriology,
                               MeGill University.
                             Externe in Pathology, Roya1 Victoria Hospital.

                  1924-1925  Instructor in Pathology and Bacteriology,
                               University of Louisville.

                  1925-1926  Assistant Resident Physician, Royal Victoria
                               Hospital.

                  1026-1928  National Research Council Fellow in Medicine.
                               Rockefoller Institute.

                  1928-1929  Assistant, Rockefeller Institute.

                  l929-1930   Associate in Medicine, College of Physicians
                                                                  and Surgeons.

                  1929-      Assistant Attending Physician, Presbylterian
                               Hospital.

                  1930-      Assistant Professor of Medicine,. College of
                               Physicians and Surgeons.
 

                  February, 1936

                                         M. HENRY DAWSON

                                           Bibliography
 

              (with H.B.Barbour, W.F.Hamilton and I.Newirth) Mobilization of
                Salt and Water before Sweating, as Determined by the Specific
                Gravity: Solids Ratio of Blood and Serum. Proc. Amer. Physiol.
                Soc., Amer. Jour.  Physiol., 1925, LXXII,

              (with H.B.Barbour and I.Newirth) Heat Regulations and Water Ex-
                change: Water. Salt and Lipoid Accumulation in the Serum as a
                Preliminary to Sweating. Amer. Jour. Physiol.,1925,LXXIV,204.

              (with O.T.Avery) The Reversion of Avirulent "Rouch"  Forms of
                Pneumococcus to Virulent "Smooth" Forms.  Proc.  Soc.  Exper.
                Biol.  Med., 1927, XXIV 943.

              The Interconvertibility of "R" and "S" Forms of Pneumococcus.
                Jour.  Ex.  Med., 1928, XLVII, 577.

              The Transformation of Pneumococcal Types.  I. The Conversion of R
                Forms of Pneumococcus into S Forms of the Homologous Type.
                II. The Interconvertibility of Type-Specific S Pneumococci.
                Jour.  Exp.  Med., 1930, LI, 99.

              (with R.H.P.Sia and R.H.Boots) The Sedimentation Rate of the
                Erythrocytes in Chronic Arthritis.  Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.,
                XXVII, 657, 1930.

              (with P.H.P.Sia) The Transformation of Pneumococcal Types in
                Vitro.  Proc.  Soc.  Exper.  Biol.  Med., XXVII, 989, 1930.

              (with R.H.P.Sia and R.H.Boots) The Differential Dipagnosis of
                Rheumatoid and Osteo-Arthritis.  The Sedimentation Reaction and
                Its Value.  Jour. Lab.  Clin. Med., 1930 XV, 1065.

              Subcutaneous Nodules in Rheumatoid (Chronic Infectious) Arthritis.
                (with R.H.Boots) J.A.M.A., 1930, XCV, 1930, p. 1894.

              (with M.Olmstead and R.H.Boots) Studies on the Etiology of
                Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I. Bacteriological Investigations on 
                Blood, Synovial Fluid and Subcutaneous Nodules in Rheumatoid 
                Arthritis.  Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol.  Med., 1931, XXVIII, 419.

              (with M.Olmstead and R.H.Boots) Studies on the Etiology of Rheu-
                matoid Arthritis.  II.  Agglutination Reactions with Hemolytic
                Streptococci in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
                Proc.  Soc.  Exp.  Biol.  Med., 1931.  XXVIII, 421.

              (with A.Warbasse) Further observations on the Transformation of
                Type~Specific Pneumococci by in Vitro Procedures.
                Proc.  Soc.  Exp.  Biol.  Med., 1931, xxix, pp. 149-151.
 

              M. H. Dawson
              Bibliography -2

              (with R.H.P.Sia) In Vitro Transformation of Pneumococcal Types,
                I. A Technique for Inducing Transformation of Pneumococcal Types
                in Vitro.  J.Exp.Med.,Vol. 54,No.5,pp.631-699, November 1, 1911.

              (with P.H.P.Sia) In Vitro Transformation of Pneumococcal Types.
                II. The Nature of the Factor Responsible for the Transformation
                of Pneumococcal Types.  J.Exp.M.,Nov.1,1931,Vol.54 No,5 701-710.

              (with M.Olmstead) Agglutination of Streptococcus Hemolyticus by
                Rheumatoid Arthritis Sera.  Thermal Characteristics of the Reac-
                tion.  Proc. Soc. Exp.  Biol. Med., 1932, xxx, pp. 96-97.

              (with M.Olmstead and R.H.Boots) Agglutination Reactions in Rheuma-
                toid Arthritis. 1. Agglutination Reactions with Streptococcus
                Hemolyticus.  II.  The Nature and Significance of Agglutination Re-actions with Streptococcus                 
                Hemolyticus.  Jour.  Immun., Vol.XXIII, No. 3, September l932.

              (with M.Olmstead and R.H.Boots) Bacteriological Investigations on
                the Blood.  Synovial Fluid and Subcutaneous Nodules in  Rheumatoid (Chronic Infectious) Arthritis.
                Arch.  Int.  Med., Vol. 49. pp. 173-180.  February 1932.

              A Comparative Study of Subcutaneous Nodules in Rheumatic Fever and
                Rheumatoid Arthritis.  J.Exp.Med.,May 1, 1933 V.57 No.5 845-858.

              (with R.H.Boots) Recent Studies in Rheumatoid (Chronic Infectious,
                Atrophic) Arthritis.  New England Jour.  Med., Vol. 208, No. 20,
                pp. 1030-1035, May 18, 1933.

              Dissociation of Pneumococcus: A New Colony Variant.
                Proc.  Soc.  Exp.  Biol.  Med., 1933, xxx, pp. 806-808.

              Veriation in the Pneumococcus.  J. Path.and Bact.,V.XXXIX, 1934.

              Bacterial Variation in Pneumococcus and Streptococcus Hemolyticus.
                Proc.  Soc. Exp.  Biol.  Med., 1934, 31; 59O-592.

              (with M. Olmstead) The Nucoid Phase of Streptococcus Hemolyticus.
                Science.  September 28. 1934, Vol. 30.  No.2074. pp. 296-297.

              (with M.Olmstead and E.L.Jost) Agglutination Reaction in Rheuma-
                toid Arthritis.  III, Comparison of Agglutinins and Precipitins
                for Streptococcus Hemolyticus in Rheumatoid Arthritis Sera.
                Jour.  Immun., Vol. 27.  No. 4. October 1934.

              The Differential Diagnosis of Rheumatoid and Osteo-arthritis.
                The Health Examiner.  Vol. 4, No. 1, April 1934.

              Chronic Arthritis.  Nelson's System of Medicine. 1935.