Dandy, Walter Edward

Dandy, Walter Edward, 1886–1946, American neurosurgeon. Having studied with Harvey Cushing at Johns Hopkins Univ., Dandy soon made himself a notable figure in the developing specialty of neurosurgery. His introduction of ventriculography in 1918 and, later, of encephalography was of the utmost importance in making possible more accurate diagnosis and localization of tumors of the brain and intracranial tissues. Dandy also devised new instruments and operative procedures for the treatment of hydrocephalus, neuralgias, and other disturbances of the cranial nerves.

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Dandy, Walter Edward (1886–1946) neurosurgeon; born in Sedalia, Mo. On the staff of Johns Hopkins Medical School and its hospital from his internship (1910) until his death, he started as an assistant to the great Harvey Cushing but the two had a falling out; although Cushing would go on to Boston and Harvard in 1912, the two great neurosurgeons of their day never resolved their quarrel. Dandy developed a number of important diagnostic and neurosurgical techniques, including the use of ventriculography and the treatment of hydrocephaly; he pioneered in the surgical treatment of tic douloureux and Ménière's disease; he demonstrated the significance of ruptured vertebra disks to low back pain and pioneered in spinal surgery. Through all this he found time to enjoy a weekly game of golf.