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contain nothing too controversial. So what offerings can we expect from the Department of Health and Social Security? The most obvious candidate is legislation on the Briggs report to reorganise the training and education of nurses. The compromise Bill which was worked out earlier this year was eventually shelved in March for lack of Parliamentary time. Since the legislation is based on a report published six years ago it seems long overdue. Another non-controversial measure would be the setting up of a new supplies council to take over procurement policy for the National Health Service. The proposal already has the backing of Mr David Ennals, Secretary of State for Social Services, and within the next month the D.H.S.S. hopes to have received comments from the health authorities. Anything of greater significance, such as legislation on the Pearson report on civil liability and compensation for personal injury or the reform of the Mental Health Act 1959, as proposed in this week’s white-paper, is likely to await a Governmeni with better long-term prospects.
Obituary ERIC DENHOLM PRIDIE K.C.M.G., D.S.O., O.B.E., M.B.Lond., F.R.C.P.
Sir Eric Pridie, who died on Sept. 3 at the age of 82, had a distinguished career in both world wars, in his twenty-one years in the Sudan, and later at the Colonial Office. In the 1914-18 war he served in France and Mesopotamia and he survived when the troopship of which he was adjutant was torpedoed. He was mentioned in despatches and in 1918 he was awarded the D.s.o. After the war he studied medicine at Liverpool, qualifying in 1922. He joined the Sudan Medical Service in 1924 and six years later became assistant director. In 1933 at the young age of 37 he became director of the Service, a post he held for twelve years. He then became health advisor to the British Embassy in Cairo for three years; and in 1948 he was appointed chief medical officer to the Colonial Office. In all his long service the years most dear to him were those in the Sudan. As director he was chairman of the school council of the Kitchener School of Medicine, founded in 1924. It was largely through his efforts that in 1938 the qualifying examination of this medical school was first approved by the Conjoint Board. In 1934 he was made a member of the Governor General’s council, the "Cabinet" of the then Sudan Government. He was the only doctor to be so honoured. As the war clouds gathered over Europe, he ensured that large stocks of medical supplies were built up in Khartoum and they proved invaluable when the Italians entered the war. In 1940 Pridie was gazetted brigadier and D.D.M.S. of troops in the Sudan and Eritrea. Pridie was an inveterate traveller and during his time at the Colonial Office he became the only c.mt.o. who visited every country, small or large, in the Colonial Empire. In 1952 he organised a conference at Oxford of the heads of Commonwealth medical departments at which over 30 countries were represented. After his retirement he continued his travels; and not far short of his 80th birthday, after a visit to Gabon he proudly claimed that he had been in every country in the world. Nevertheless he visited the Sudan almost every year-the country where he had successfully guided the development of medical services. Past British members of the Sudan Medical Service will join many Sudanese doctors to mourn his
passing.
J.F.E.B.
HENRY SAMUEL BEDSON M.D.Lond., M.R.C.P. Professor Bedson, who held the chair of medical microbiology at Birmingham University, died on Sept. 1 at the age of 49. His work in virology carried into another generation the distinguished standards of his father, Sir Samuel Bedson, the bacteriologist. He qualified in 1952 from the London Hospital, where he then became first assistant in the medical unit. Later he was lecturer in bacteriology at Liverpool University and reader in virology at Birmingham, where he was subsequently appointed professor of medical microbiology.
K. R. D. writes: "The death of Henry Bedson was a sudden and tragic end to a career in its full maturity of performance and influence. His main contributions lay in the virology of smallpox. Since he joined Professor Downie at Liverpool in 1958, his chief research interests were in the pox-virus field, ranging from studies of the pathogenicity of rabbit pox to the molecular biology of variola virus and the closely related white-pox viruses of animal origin. His work was of great importance to the World Health Organisation’s campaign to eradicate smallpox. Present knowledge of the relationship of white-pox viruses to variola virus owes much to his studies. His deep understanding of the ways of smallpox had been regularly placed at the disposal of W.H.O. He visited Pakistan and Afghanistan as a member of an international commission which assessed the success of smallpox eradication in that area. "He had many admirable qualities, so harmoniously blended that one was immediately aware of a very human and likeable character; only on reflection were the extent and depth of his quality to be recognised. He was a quiet person, who observed the world with patient acuity but could move quickly and decisively when occasion demanded. It is little wonder that in his leisure he was a keen dry-fly fisherman. Henry’s many friends and colleagues are still in a state of shock after his final and uncharacteristic act. Nothing can hide the whole life which shone so warmly. The wife and young family he leaves have good reason to be proud of him."
Prof. JAMES CRAIGIE, F.R.S., formerly professor of virus infections at Toronto University and later a member of the scientific staff of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, died on Aug. 26. He was 79. Dr was a
JEFFERY HARRISON, who died on Sept. 1 at the age of 56, general practitioner in Sevenoaks. He was particularly
famous for his many feats which contributed to the preservation of wild life Dr G. J. ROCKLEY, consultant psychiatrist at Prestwich Hospital, Manchester, died on Aug. 17 at the age of 51. Dr J. B. TILLEY, formerly county medical officer of health for Northumberland, died on Aug. 27.
Appointments North West Thames Regional Health Authority WAJED, M. A., M.B., D.PHYS.MED.: consultant physician in rheumatology
and
rehabilitation. Hemel Hempstead General and St. Alban’s City Hospitals and Garston Manor Medical Rehabilitation Centre. AMIN, SHEELA, M.R.C.PATH. : consultant heematologist, Harefield and Mount Vernon Hospitals, Hillingdon A.H.A. VRIONIDES, Y., M.D., M.R.C.P. : consultant in geriatric medicine, Hillingdon A.H.A. M.R.C.P. : consultant in rheumatology rehabilitation, Edgware/ Hendon district of Barnet health area. CHAPPLE, M., M.R.C.P., D.M.R.D.: consultant pxdiatrician with special interest in neonatology, south Bedfordshire health district. DANZINGER, J. E., F.F.A. R.c.s.: consultant anxsthetist, Brent health district. RIMMER, D. B., M.R.C.PATH. : consultant histopathologist, north Bedfordshire health district. SIEGLER, D. I. M., M.D., M.R.C.P. : consultant physician, with special experience in chest diseases, south Bedfordshire health district.
STURGE, R. A.,
contain nothing too controversial. So what offerings can we expect from the Department of Health and Social Security? The most obvious candidate is legislation on the Briggs report to reorganise the training and education of nurses. The compromise Bill which was worked out earlier this year was eventually shelved in March for lack of Parliamentary time. Since the legislation is based on a report published six years ago it seems long overdue. Another non-controversial measure would be the setting up of a new supplies council to take over procurement policy for the National Health Service. The proposal already has the backing of Mr David Ennals, Secretary of State for Social Services, and within the next month the D.H.S.S. hopes to have received comments from the health authorities. Anything of greater significance, such as legislation on the Pearson report on civil liability and compensation for personal injury or the reform of the Mental Health Act 1959, as proposed in this week’s white-paper, is likely to await a Governmeni with better long-term prospects.
Obituary ERIC DENHOLM PRIDIE K.C.M.G., D.S.O., O.B.E., M.B.Lond., F.R.C.P.
Sir Eric Pridie, who died on Sept. 3 at the age of 82, had a distinguished career in both world wars, in his twenty-one years in the Sudan, and later at the Colonial Office. In the 1914-18 war he served in France and Mesopotamia and he survived when the troopship of which he was adjutant was torpedoed. He was mentioned in despatches and in 1918 he was awarded the D.s.o. After the war he studied medicine at Liverpool, qualifying in 1922. He joined the Sudan Medical Service in 1924 and six years later became assistant director. In 1933 at the young age of 37 he became director of the Service, a post he held for twelve years. He then became health advisor to the British Embassy in Cairo for three years; and in 1948 he was appointed chief medical officer to the Colonial Office. In all his long service the years most dear to him were those in the Sudan. As director he was chairman of the school council of the Kitchener School of Medicine, founded in 1924. It was largely through his efforts that in 1938 the qualifying examination of this medical school was first approved by the Conjoint Board. In 1934 he was made a member of the Governor General’s council, the "Cabinet" of the then Sudan Government. He was the only doctor to be so honoured. As the war clouds gathered over Europe, he ensured that large stocks of medical supplies were built up in Khartoum and they proved invaluable when the Italians entered the war. In 1940 Pridie was gazetted brigadier and D.D.M.S. of troops in the Sudan and Eritrea. Pridie was an inveterate traveller and during his time at the Colonial Office he became the only c.mt.o. who visited every country, small or large, in the Colonial Empire. In 1952 he organised a conference at Oxford of the heads of Commonwealth medical departments at which over 30 countries were represented. After his retirement he continued his travels; and not far short of his 80th birthday, after a visit to Gabon he proudly claimed that he had been in every country in the world. Nevertheless he visited the Sudan almost every year-the country where he had successfully guided the development of medical services. Past British members of the Sudan Medical Service will join many Sudanese doctors to mourn his
passing.
J.F.E.B.
HENRY SAMUEL BEDSON M.D.Lond., M.R.C.P. Professor Bedson, who held the chair of medical microbiology at Birmingham University, died on Sept. 1 at the age of 49. His work in virology carried into another generation the distinguished standards of his father, Sir Samuel Bedson, the bacteriologist. He qualified in 1952 from the London Hospital, where he then became first assistant in the medical unit. Later he was lecturer in bacteriology at Liverpool University and reader in virology at Birmingham, where he was subsequently appointed professor of medical microbiology.
K. R. D. writes: "The death of Henry Bedson was a sudden and tragic end to a career in its full maturity of performance and influence. His main contributions lay in the virology of smallpox. Since he joined Professor Downie at Liverpool in 1958, his chief research interests were in the pox-virus field, ranging from studies of the pathogenicity of rabbit pox to the molecular biology of variola virus and the closely related white-pox viruses of animal origin. His work was of great importance to the World Health Organisation’s campaign to eradicate smallpox. Present knowledge of the relationship of white-pox viruses to variola virus owes much to his studies. His deep understanding of the ways of smallpox had been regularly placed at the disposal of W.H.O. He visited Pakistan and Afghanistan as a member of an international commission which assessed the success of smallpox eradication in that area. "He had many admirable qualities, so harmoniously blended that one was immediately aware of a very human and likeable character; only on reflection were the extent and depth of his quality to be recognised. He was a quiet person, who observed the world with patient acuity but could move quickly and decisively when occasion demanded. It is little wonder that in his leisure he was a keen dry-fly fisherman. Henry’s many friends and colleagues are still in a state of shock after his final and uncharacteristic act. Nothing can hide the whole life which shone so warmly. The wife and young family he leaves have good reason to be proud of him."
Prof. JAMES CRAIGIE, F.R.S., formerly professor of virus infections at Toronto University and later a member of the scientific staff of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, died on Aug. 26. He was 79. Dr was a
JEFFERY HARRISON, who died on Sept. 1 at the age of 56, general practitioner in Sevenoaks. He was particularly
famous for his many feats which contributed to the preservation of wild life Dr G. J. ROCKLEY, consultant psychiatrist at Prestwich Hospital, Manchester, died on Aug. 17 at the age of 51. Dr J. B. TILLEY, formerly county medical officer of health for Northumberland, died on Aug. 27.
Appointments North West Thames Regional Health Authority WAJED, M. A., M.B., D.PHYS.MED.: consultant physician in rheumatology
and
rehabilitation. Hemel Hempstead General and St. Alban’s City Hospitals and Garston Manor Medical Rehabilitation Centre. AMIN, SHEELA, M.R.C.PATH. : consultant heematologist, Harefield and Mount Vernon Hospitals, Hillingdon A.H.A. VRIONIDES, Y., M.D., M.R.C.P. : consultant in geriatric medicine, Hillingdon A.H.A. M.R.C.P. : consultant in rheumatology rehabilitation, Edgware/ Hendon district of Barnet health area. CHAPPLE, M., M.R.C.P., D.M.R.D.: consultant pxdiatrician with special interest in neonatology, south Bedfordshire health district. DANZINGER, J. E., F.F.A. R.c.s.: consultant anxsthetist, Brent health district. RIMMER, D. B., M.R.C.PATH. : consultant histopathologist, north Bedfordshire health district. SIEGLER, D. I. M., M.D., M.R.C.P. : consultant physician, with special experience in chest diseases, south Bedfordshire health district.
STURGE, R. A.,
