Silas Weir Mitchell

Biography

Silas Weir Mitchell (1829-1914) earned renown as a physician and neurologist who pioneered the study of nerve injuries and chronic pain. His careful clinical descriptions, including work on what came to be known as the ‘‘rest cure,’’ influenced generations of neurologists and drew artists, writers, and policymakers into conversations about the human mind and body.

Mitchell also left a rich legacy of essays and stories that revealed a compassionate regard for his patients, and his memory endures in The Woodlands.