468
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
21 FEBRUARY 1976
OBITUARY NOTICES
G H WHIPPLE BA, MD
Professor George Hoyt Whipple, Nobel prize winner in medicine, died at Rochester, New York, on 2 February. He was 97. Professor Whipple's name is known to every clinical student of medicine because the disease intestinal lipodystrophy, which he identified and described when work-
ing tor
at
as an in
instruc-
pathology
Johns Hopkins as long
Hospital ago
as
nearly
known
1907,
is
always
by
the
eponymWhipple's disease. His Nobel shared by
prize,
Dr George Minot and Dr William Murphy, was awarded on the basis of his pioneer studies of the materials necessary for the manufacture of red blood cells and haemoglobin, which opened the way to the discovery of liver extract, vitamin B,2, and the successful treatment of pernicious anaemia. Indeed, his co-worker C W Hooper prepared a liver extract for trial in pernicious anaemia in 1918, eight years before the convincing demonstration of the therapeutic action of liver in pernicious anaemia by Minot and Murphy in 1926, but was laughed out of court by the clinicians. This is surely a major example of the resistance to new ideas which Trotter emphasised. Whipple was one of the group of medical scientists, men like the Haldanes, Du Bois, van Slyke, F M Allen, and others, who reorientated medicine in the early years of the twentieth century and placed its studv on a firm, quantitative basis. The body is more than a machine, but we realise better than our predecessors that it is an organism which has essential needs that must be satisfied if it is to function properly. In haematologv Whipple revolutionised our ideas about so-called secondary anaemia, pernicious anaemia, tropical and nutritional anaemias, and similar disorders, and was instrumental in the relief of an enormous amount of human suffering. George Hoyt Whipple was born in 1878 in Ashland, a small town in the lake district of New Hampshire, and throughout his life he delighted in hunting, fishing, and camping. He came of a medical family, but his father and both his grandfathers died while he was still a child. He had therefore to support himself largely by his own efforts, and he succeeded in working his wav through college and Yale. At the same time he became a fine athlete and a lover of music. He found mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology extremely interesting, but Greek, Latin, German, and French courses were drudgery. "Perhaps," he said, "it was stern training in doing uninteresting but necessary tasks."
From Yale he went to Johns Hopkins Hospital for his medical training. Hopkins was then in its splendid spring and Whipple had the good fortune to be taught by Mall in anatomy, Mendel and Chittenden in biochemistry, Howell in physiology, Abel in pharmacology, Welch in pathology, and Osler in medicine. These years were filled to the brim with work and happiness, with summer periods earning money as pilot on a summer steamer or as a camp counsellor. On qualification he began work in the department of pathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was to remain from 1908 to 1914, with brief intervals working under General Gorgas in Panama and Horowitz in Heidelberg. A paper read by Howland and Richards on chloroform poisoning at a medical school meeting at Hopkins stimulated Whipple to attempt to produce hepatic necrosis in the dog, and this eventually led to his work on the formation of bile and the metabolism of haemoglobin, and the series of experiments on the production of haemoglobin which began to be reported from 1918 onwards. In the words of the citation for his Nobel prize in 1934, "The method Whipple adopted in his experiments was to bleed dogs, that is to say, to withdraw from them a certain quantity of their blood, supplying them afterwards with food of various kinds By that method he discovered that certain kinds of food were considerably superior to others, inasmuch as they gave stimulus to a more vigorous reformation of blood, that is to say stimulated the bone-marrow-in which the blood-corpuscles are produced-to a more vigorous manufacture of red blood-corpuscles. It was first and foremost liver, then kidney, then meat...." Similar methods were used later in the study of the plasma proteins. Whipple had manv collaborators, but throughout his work from 1907 onwards he was assisted by Frieda Robbins. who later became F S Robscheit-Robbins. This was one of those great creative partnerships in medicine, like McCance and Widdowson, or Biggs and Macfarlane. Whipple was not much of a man for meetings, but Robscheit-Robbins was an outstanding personality who never failed to shine when she appeared at medical conferences. In 1914 Whipple became director of the Hooper Foundation for Medical Research, a department of the medical school of the University of California. The stream of research went on, but it was a difficult period of wartime shortages, and Whipple never became resigned to the cold fog banks over San Francisco in the summertime. Nor did he enjoy the attacks on his work by the antivivisectionists of the west coast. When in 1922 he was invited to become dean of a new medical school to be built at Rochester, NY, he accepted the challenge, even if with some initial misgivings. He stipulated that he must have time for teaching and research, and was able to establish arrangements that made this possible. The essence of these was the complete physical separation of the office and staff of the
dean from the department of pathology. He was intensely interested in the relation of university medical school and hospital and worked out plans for a united school on one site, where the various subdivisions were carefully related to each other. A municipal hospital was built alongside the medical school and made available for its work. Construction went on with remarkable speed and the first student began work in September 1925. Whipple obviously had an unusual faculty for ordering his time, for delegation of work, and for unobtrusive but informed supervision. He was an inspired leader who commanded affection as well as admiration. His talent for administration and organisation was not restricted to his own school, and for a number of years he served as a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation. He received many honours and decorations which are listed in publications such as Wlho's Who. In 1964 he wrote a short autobiography for the book A Dozen Doctors, edited by Dwight J Ingle and reviewed in the BMJ of 1 August 1964. This is written in a beautifully clear style and is compulsive reading for anyone interested in medicine, medical education and research, and hospitals and their organisation. The subtitle is "Experimental Pathology-as Student and Teacher," and in the concluding paragraph he said that teaching and research represented the ultimate in pleasure and satisfaction in his career. He wished to be remembered as a teacher, but for how much more he will be remembered as well !-LJW.
Brigadier A B DICK TD, MIB, CHB, MFCM, DTM&H, PSC,
late RAMC (Ret) Brigadier A B Dick died on 23 January at Winchester. He was 60. Alexander Buchanan Dick was born at Birstall, Yorkshire, on 26 April 1915. He qualified at Leeds University in September 1938 and joined the RAMC from TA in September 1939. After field ambulance appointments he went to France in 1940 with the BEF. For most of the war he served in the War Office (AMD 10), finishing his stint there in 1946 as ADG with the rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel. It was during this period that his flair for administration became evident and set the pattern for his future career. In September 1946 he was posted as CO BMH Tobruk and for the last two years of his Middle East tour as ADMS (Personnel) at GHQ MELF. In 1951 he proceeded on the senior officers' course at the Royal Army Medical College, where he was awarded the Leishman, First Montifiore, and Parkes medals. Attendance at the Staff College was followed by another tour in the Middle East which took him from Khartoum to BMH Favid, finishing as ADMS British Troops, Egypt. In 1968 he commanded the RAMC Records Establishment at Winchester, and publication of his article "Soldiers'
BRxITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
21 FEBRUARY 1976
Careers in the RAMC and RADC" in the Corps journal of 1970 shows evidence of the immense care and drive which he put into his work during that time in furtherance of the careers of the soldier element of the Corps. In 1971 he was promoted brigadier and became Director of Medical Supply, Ministry of Defence, a trimedical service organisation. There his flair for administration and deep knowledge of the administration of military hospitals and field medical units stood him in good stead. He was appointed QHP in 1973. He retired in March 1975, having reached the age limit for further service. However, having laid aside his uniform, he took up the appointment of medical officer at the depot of the Royal Green Jackets, Winchester, holding it until his death. Sandy Dick, under a blunt Yorkshire exterior, was a warmhearted man and very good friend to those who really knew him. In most stations where he served he took a deep interest in church affairs, and usually served as sidesman or in somne capacity. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. Manv members of the RAMC will remember with affection the true hospitality extended to them in many parts of the world by Sandy and Marjorie Dick in their various homes.WSM.
J F FRANK MB, BCH, BAO
Dr J F Frank, a general practitioner at Horsham, Sussex, died suddenly on 11 January. Justin F-itzgerald Frank was born at Maidenhead in 1923. His father was a GP and his mother a psychiatrist. He was educated at Bryanston and entered the Armv during the second world war, rising to the rank of lieutenant in the Royal Berkshire Regiment. In 1949 he left the Army and for three years worked in Lloyd's of London before taking the brave decision to start medical studies from scratch at the age of 28. His training was at Queen's University, Belfast, and he graduated in 1960. He was on the house at Newtownards, County Down, and Maidstone, Kent, hospitals gaining wide experience before moving to Horsham, where within a short time he had made himself an indispensable part of the practice. He became senior partner in 1972. Justin was a devoted GP. He had a "nose" for illness and an uncanny knack of being on hand whenever and wherever emergency situations occurred. No trouble was too great for him, and many are the patients in and around Horsham who have cause to be thankful to him. As a colleague, friend, and partner he is irreplaceable. He had a unique blend of medical knowledge and practical common sense from which it has been a privilege to benefit. Dr Frank is survived by his wife, their three sons, and both his parents. His father is still practising in Jamaica.-IT.
tute, where his father was a member of staff for a time. He graduated in medicine from Liverpool University in 1942. From 1944 to 1947 he held a commission as major in the RAMC. After taking the DPH in 1948 he held various appointments before becoming deputy medical officer of health of Bolton. In 1957 he was appointed medical officer of health for the county borough of West Bromwich and began an illustrious career in public health. He served on many local and national committees, being a member of the National Corporation for the Care of Old People, the Commonwealth Immigrants Advisory Council, and the Advisory Council on Race Relations Research. He was also a member of the council of the Royal Society of Health and a fellow of the Society of Community Medicine. During the NHS reorganisation he took an active part in working parties and committees both national and local, including the vice-chairmanship of the West Midlands Regional Joint Liaison Committee. In 1970 he was appointed OBE for his services to health and welfare. At the time of his death he was a member of many bodies, including that of the Board of Graduate Clinical Studies and the Regional Postgraduate Committee of Birmingham University. Apart from his outstanding qualities as a leader and expert in his chosen profession, Hugh was a delightful man, courteous, cheerful, and ever willing to assist his colleagues in any way possible. He had a quiet charm and kindly manner that endeared him to those fortunate enough to be his friends. He is survived by his wife Mary and by his daughter
-JRP.
J CAXIERON MB, CHB, DPH, DTM&H, DIH, MFCM
Dr John Cameron, formerly assistant senior medical officer with the Trent Regional Health Authoritv, died at his home at Sheffield on 21 January. He was 65. John Cameron graduated in medicine in 1939 at St Andrews University and after house appointments at Dundee Royal Infirmary became resident medical officer at King's Cross Fever Hospital, Dundee. In 1941 he took the DPH at Edinburgh University. He joined the Indian Medical Service in 1942 and saw war service in India as a specialist in preventive medicine and as a malariologist holding administrative and health appointments. including that of assistant director of hygiene, Southern Command. In 1946 he retired from the IMS with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He then took the DTM&H at Liverpool in 1947 and that year joined the Colonial Medical Service. He was posted to Malaya and became health officer for the State of Johore. Later he moved to Singapore, where he acted as medical officer of health and city health officer for the Singapore City Council until he retired in 1959. Dr Cameron played an important part during this time in the training of health inspectors, health visitors, and nurses, as well as in lecturing to DPH students at the University of Malaya. H 0 M BRYANT In 1959 he joined the Sheffield Regional OBE, MB, CHB, DPH, FFCM Hospital Board as assistant senior administraDr Hugh Bryant, area medical officer to tive medical officer. He held this post until his Sandwell AHA, died on 24 January after a retirement in 1974, when the new Trent Regional Health Authority conferred upon short illness. He was 55. Hugh Owen Moss Bryant was born at him the unique title of community physician Colchester and educated at Birkenhead Insti- emeritus in recognition of his services to the
469
region, especially in South Yorkshire, Chesterfield, and Worksop. John Cameron will be remembered by colleagues and friends for his great personal charm, courtesy, thoughtfulness, and generosity. Although he played a full part in local medical affairs he also found time to read widely outside medicine and was an ardent theatre goer, all of which contributed greatly to his reputation as a most entertaining host. His friendship and civilising influence will be most sorely missed by those whose privilege it was to work with him. Dr Cameron was a
bachelor.-JAS.
N S WALLS MSC, PHD, MB, CHB, FFARCS, DA
Dr N S Walls, who had been an anaesthetist Southport General Infirmary since 1933, died on 16 January. He was 77. Noel Stanley Walls was born on 27 Decenber 1898. He trained first as a physicist and had obtained the degrees of MSc and PhD before graduating in medicine at Manchester in 1930. He went to Southport in 1933 and was appointed honorary anaesthetist to the infirmary. In addition he undertook general practice. His early training in physics gave him the ability to marshal his facts before making a clinical decision, which gave confidence to those working with him and made for happy and cordial relationships. He had special knowledge and skill to give in the efficient use of anaesthetic apparatus, as well as his first-class clinical judgment in the assessment of the potential hazards of those patients who came under his care. His professional courage was considerable, and, although of somewhat taciturn nature, when his apparent reserve was broken down he was a most delightful and humorous companion who gave of his all to his patients and to his hospital. A devoted supporter of the BMA he was secretary of the Southport Division for many years and invariably combined part of his summer holiday with attendance at the BMA's Annual Meeting. In his retirement he still continued to be active with his hospital in a locum capacity until his health gave way a few years ago. He bore his last illness with great courage. Countless people in the town and district in which he worked will never know how much they owe to his skill and kindness, but his colleagues will always think of him with respect and remember his good fellowship and loyalty. He will be greatly missed. CTAB. to
T K BONEY MD, MRCP Dr T K Boney, formerly in practice at Llandudno, died in Guernsey on 21 December. He was 89. Thomas Knowles Boney was born on 23 January 1886 and qualified with the Conjoint diploma from St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1909, taking the MB, BS in 1911 and proceeding MD in 1913. After a short period of practice in Cornwall he held house appointments in London and then went to South Africa, where he worked as a ship's doctor for a year and later in the main hospital at Port Elizabeth. During the first world war he served in the RAMC, first in France and then in Mesopotamia. At Basra Hospital he developed a
470 great interest in bacteriology and was twice mentioned in dispatches for his work. In 1919 he was appointed to the Royal Army Medical College, Millbank, and took the MRCP. As the first medical specialist he became officer in charge of the medical division at the Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot. Retiring with the rank of major in 1923, he entered civilian practice at Llandudno and rapidly established a consulting practice. He joined the staff of Caernarvonshire and Anglesey Infirmary at Bangor and that of Llandudno Hospital and attended the outlying hospitals of the area. At the outbreak of the second world war he was recalled for duty and served in France until he was evacuated from St Nazaire in 1940. He was posted to the Military Hospital, Bath, as officer in charge of the medical division and promoted lieutenant-colonel. After the hospital was handed over to the Americans in 1942 he acted as president of medical boards in Southern Command until his discharge in 1945. He then resumed practice at Llandudno and entered the NHS in 1948 as senior consulting physician of the Caernarvonshire and Anglesey group, an appointment which he filled with distinction until his retirement in 1952. Dr Boney's greatest hobby was the collection and study of eighteenth-century English porcelain. He had superb and comprehensive examples of Worcester, Chelsea, and Bristol, but his overwhelming passion was for Liverpool porcelain, and his outstanding monograph Liverpool Porcelain of the Eighteenth Century was published in 1957. He was an expert bridge player and in his younger days loved to walk in the Welsh mountains. His varied interests and kindness endeared him to many friends. Dr Boney married Miss Hilary Long, who was a general surgeon. She survives him with their only son, who is a barrister.-LL.
J VELLA BSC, MD, DLO, DPH
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
tion's functions and was a regular attender at business and social events. He also served on the Dudley Local Medical Committee. In 1942, while still a junior medical student, he bravely assumed responsibility for his nine brothers and sisters after the sudden death of his father. This was typical of his strong sense of duty and his concern for others. In his work he showed the same kind of understanding and feeling for his patients. He was a devout Roman Catholic and a man of great integrity. He made many friends during his 10 years at Dudley and they will long remember the warmth of his friendship and hospitality. He is survived by his wife Pat, two sons, and a daughter.-GMR.
M A BLACOW MB, BS
Dr M A Blacow died in a road accident at Johannesburg on 13 December. He was 27. Michael Alexander Blacow was educated at Taunton School, London University, and St George's Hospital, graduating in medicine in 1971. He did his registration year at Ashford Hospital, Surrey, and then went to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, where for six months he worked for the DRCOG, which he took in July 1973. While at the hospital he contributed to research on the subject of induction of labour. At Sutton General Hospital he became a casualty officer and then did nine months' paediatrics at Kingston Hospital. He later decided to seek experience in general practice and worked as a locum general practitioner at Wheathampsted and Swansea. While at Swansea he proved to his many colleagues and patients -alike his sound qualities as a professional man in the making. Michael's main interest was paediatrics and he even found time while engaged in busy general practice to attend the local paediatric department regularly and would have made an excellent specialist. A keen sportsman and skilled driver, it is ironic that his promising life should have ended so abruptly on the road. The profession can ill afford the loss. HJPD.
Dr J Vella, who was in general practice at Dudley, Worcestershire, died suddenly on 23 January. He was 52. John Vella was born on 23 April 1923 and educated at the Lyceum, Malta. He graduated in medicine at the Royal University of Malta and after house appointments in various Malta Government hospitals went to England to P H HEWITT
pursue his interest in ENT medicine at MA, MB, BCHIR, MRCGP Salisbury General Infirmary, the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear fhospital, Dr P H Hewitt, a general practitioner working and various hospitals in the Oxford region. at Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, died on During this time he took the DLO. In 1954 20 January. He was 53. he started a new career in the Overseas Civil Patrick Haselden Hewitt was born on 25 Service in Tanganyika. He was stationed at December 1922 at York, where his father was Mwanza, Lake Province, for 2 years, but in in general practice. He went to Sidney Sussex 1956 moved to Sewa Hadji Hospital, Dar es College, Cambridge, and the London HosSalaam, and within a short time took adminis- pital, qualifying in 1945. He joined the Royal trative charge of the hospital. In 1961 he Navy and served as a surgeon lieutenant in became senior medical officer in charge of HMS Amethyst until 1948. After demobilisaOcean Road Hospital and the Dar es Salaam tion he was appointed pathologist to the Government outpatient dispensaries and Bernhard Baron Institute and in 1950 joined adviser to the Ministry of Health, Tanganyika, a group practice at Bishop's Stortford, where on ENT matters. He retired from the service he worked up to the time of his death. in 1964 and returned to England. His first Dr Hewitt was a man of great charm and appointment was as assistant medical officer courtesy, with many interests outside his of health at Dudley and the following year work, the chief being music. He started the clarinet at the age of 40 and eight years later he entered general practice in the town. John was an active member of the BMA in switched to the bassoon because of the need for Tanganyika and was treasurer and later a bassoonist in the district. He played with president of the branch there. On returning to several orchestras and was for a time chairman England he continued to support the Associa- of Bishop's Stortford Music Association.
21 FEBRUARY 1976
He became president of the local branch of the Royal Naval Association and was directly concerned with the welfare of members. A keen Freemason, he was a past master of Stortford Lodge No 409. In the last year of his life he began to write poetry. Dr Hewitt is survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons.-IDP.
P N BARUA LMSSA, MRCGP
Dr P N Barua, general practitioner and orthopaedic surgeon, died suddenly on 4 January. He was 63. Phanindra Nath Barua was born on 20 May 1912 at Pyawbwe, Burma, of Indian parents. He entered Rangoon Medical School with a scholarship and qualified with honours. As customary in Burma, he was posted to the frontier areas and then to the prison service. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the Indian Army Medical Corps in Burma. He took charge of 11 small famine relief hospitals, was commanding officer of a mobile epidemic team, and worked in casualty clearing stations at Arkan, Burma. While medical officer in the isolated Hukawng Valley he escorted a party of evacuees on an arduous iourney of 300 miles and in recognition of this was mentioned in dispatches and awarded a certificate of honour. In 1948 he went to England and began his career again. He worked his way up to senior hospital medical officer at Guy's, the West London Hospital, and St Mary Abbot's Hospital and spent some time at Oldchurch Hospital, Romford. Subsequently he did consultant orthopaedic sessions at St Mary's Hospital, Plaistow; St Andrew's Hospital, Bow; and the Prince of Wales's General Hospital, Tottenham. In 1960 he entered general practice at Hornchurch and Dagenham. His warm personalitv and skill endeared him to all who met him, and they miss him as a friend as well as a colleague or doctor. Dr Barua's other activities included children's orthopaedic clinics at Havering and Redbridge, dental anaesthetics, and acting as police surgeon and lecturer to nurses. He was a member of the local BMA executive committee and a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. An aggressive tennis and hockey player, his rare quiet moments were spent enjoying ballet, opera, and orchestral music. To all of us who loved him and mourn him now he will remain a totally unique person. He is survived by his wife and two
daughters.-RB.
A memorial service for the late Dr Robert Forgan (obituary, 24 January, p 227) will be held in the Crypt Chapel of the Palace of Westminster, London SWI. on Monday, 23 February, at 12 noon. A memorial service for the late Sir Alexander Haddow (obituary, 31 January, p 287) will be held at St Paul's Church, Onslow Square London SW7, on Friday, 27 Februarv, at 12 noon. A memorial meeting in memory of the late Dr Joshua S Horn (obituary, 10 January, p 103) will be held at the Royal College of Surgeons, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2, on Friday, 27 February, at 7.30 pm.
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
21 FEBRUARY 1976
OBITUARY NOTICES
G H WHIPPLE BA, MD
Professor George Hoyt Whipple, Nobel prize winner in medicine, died at Rochester, New York, on 2 February. He was 97. Professor Whipple's name is known to every clinical student of medicine because the disease intestinal lipodystrophy, which he identified and described when work-
ing tor
at
as an in
instruc-
pathology
Johns Hopkins as long
Hospital ago
as
nearly
known
1907,
is
always
by
the
eponymWhipple's disease. His Nobel shared by
prize,
Dr George Minot and Dr William Murphy, was awarded on the basis of his pioneer studies of the materials necessary for the manufacture of red blood cells and haemoglobin, which opened the way to the discovery of liver extract, vitamin B,2, and the successful treatment of pernicious anaemia. Indeed, his co-worker C W Hooper prepared a liver extract for trial in pernicious anaemia in 1918, eight years before the convincing demonstration of the therapeutic action of liver in pernicious anaemia by Minot and Murphy in 1926, but was laughed out of court by the clinicians. This is surely a major example of the resistance to new ideas which Trotter emphasised. Whipple was one of the group of medical scientists, men like the Haldanes, Du Bois, van Slyke, F M Allen, and others, who reorientated medicine in the early years of the twentieth century and placed its studv on a firm, quantitative basis. The body is more than a machine, but we realise better than our predecessors that it is an organism which has essential needs that must be satisfied if it is to function properly. In haematologv Whipple revolutionised our ideas about so-called secondary anaemia, pernicious anaemia, tropical and nutritional anaemias, and similar disorders, and was instrumental in the relief of an enormous amount of human suffering. George Hoyt Whipple was born in 1878 in Ashland, a small town in the lake district of New Hampshire, and throughout his life he delighted in hunting, fishing, and camping. He came of a medical family, but his father and both his grandfathers died while he was still a child. He had therefore to support himself largely by his own efforts, and he succeeded in working his wav through college and Yale. At the same time he became a fine athlete and a lover of music. He found mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology extremely interesting, but Greek, Latin, German, and French courses were drudgery. "Perhaps," he said, "it was stern training in doing uninteresting but necessary tasks."
From Yale he went to Johns Hopkins Hospital for his medical training. Hopkins was then in its splendid spring and Whipple had the good fortune to be taught by Mall in anatomy, Mendel and Chittenden in biochemistry, Howell in physiology, Abel in pharmacology, Welch in pathology, and Osler in medicine. These years were filled to the brim with work and happiness, with summer periods earning money as pilot on a summer steamer or as a camp counsellor. On qualification he began work in the department of pathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was to remain from 1908 to 1914, with brief intervals working under General Gorgas in Panama and Horowitz in Heidelberg. A paper read by Howland and Richards on chloroform poisoning at a medical school meeting at Hopkins stimulated Whipple to attempt to produce hepatic necrosis in the dog, and this eventually led to his work on the formation of bile and the metabolism of haemoglobin, and the series of experiments on the production of haemoglobin which began to be reported from 1918 onwards. In the words of the citation for his Nobel prize in 1934, "The method Whipple adopted in his experiments was to bleed dogs, that is to say, to withdraw from them a certain quantity of their blood, supplying them afterwards with food of various kinds By that method he discovered that certain kinds of food were considerably superior to others, inasmuch as they gave stimulus to a more vigorous reformation of blood, that is to say stimulated the bone-marrow-in which the blood-corpuscles are produced-to a more vigorous manufacture of red blood-corpuscles. It was first and foremost liver, then kidney, then meat...." Similar methods were used later in the study of the plasma proteins. Whipple had manv collaborators, but throughout his work from 1907 onwards he was assisted by Frieda Robbins. who later became F S Robscheit-Robbins. This was one of those great creative partnerships in medicine, like McCance and Widdowson, or Biggs and Macfarlane. Whipple was not much of a man for meetings, but Robscheit-Robbins was an outstanding personality who never failed to shine when she appeared at medical conferences. In 1914 Whipple became director of the Hooper Foundation for Medical Research, a department of the medical school of the University of California. The stream of research went on, but it was a difficult period of wartime shortages, and Whipple never became resigned to the cold fog banks over San Francisco in the summertime. Nor did he enjoy the attacks on his work by the antivivisectionists of the west coast. When in 1922 he was invited to become dean of a new medical school to be built at Rochester, NY, he accepted the challenge, even if with some initial misgivings. He stipulated that he must have time for teaching and research, and was able to establish arrangements that made this possible. The essence of these was the complete physical separation of the office and staff of the
dean from the department of pathology. He was intensely interested in the relation of university medical school and hospital and worked out plans for a united school on one site, where the various subdivisions were carefully related to each other. A municipal hospital was built alongside the medical school and made available for its work. Construction went on with remarkable speed and the first student began work in September 1925. Whipple obviously had an unusual faculty for ordering his time, for delegation of work, and for unobtrusive but informed supervision. He was an inspired leader who commanded affection as well as admiration. His talent for administration and organisation was not restricted to his own school, and for a number of years he served as a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation. He received many honours and decorations which are listed in publications such as Wlho's Who. In 1964 he wrote a short autobiography for the book A Dozen Doctors, edited by Dwight J Ingle and reviewed in the BMJ of 1 August 1964. This is written in a beautifully clear style and is compulsive reading for anyone interested in medicine, medical education and research, and hospitals and their organisation. The subtitle is "Experimental Pathology-as Student and Teacher," and in the concluding paragraph he said that teaching and research represented the ultimate in pleasure and satisfaction in his career. He wished to be remembered as a teacher, but for how much more he will be remembered as well !-LJW.
Brigadier A B DICK TD, MIB, CHB, MFCM, DTM&H, PSC,
late RAMC (Ret) Brigadier A B Dick died on 23 January at Winchester. He was 60. Alexander Buchanan Dick was born at Birstall, Yorkshire, on 26 April 1915. He qualified at Leeds University in September 1938 and joined the RAMC from TA in September 1939. After field ambulance appointments he went to France in 1940 with the BEF. For most of the war he served in the War Office (AMD 10), finishing his stint there in 1946 as ADG with the rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel. It was during this period that his flair for administration became evident and set the pattern for his future career. In September 1946 he was posted as CO BMH Tobruk and for the last two years of his Middle East tour as ADMS (Personnel) at GHQ MELF. In 1951 he proceeded on the senior officers' course at the Royal Army Medical College, where he was awarded the Leishman, First Montifiore, and Parkes medals. Attendance at the Staff College was followed by another tour in the Middle East which took him from Khartoum to BMH Favid, finishing as ADMS British Troops, Egypt. In 1968 he commanded the RAMC Records Establishment at Winchester, and publication of his article "Soldiers'
BRxITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
21 FEBRUARY 1976
Careers in the RAMC and RADC" in the Corps journal of 1970 shows evidence of the immense care and drive which he put into his work during that time in furtherance of the careers of the soldier element of the Corps. In 1971 he was promoted brigadier and became Director of Medical Supply, Ministry of Defence, a trimedical service organisation. There his flair for administration and deep knowledge of the administration of military hospitals and field medical units stood him in good stead. He was appointed QHP in 1973. He retired in March 1975, having reached the age limit for further service. However, having laid aside his uniform, he took up the appointment of medical officer at the depot of the Royal Green Jackets, Winchester, holding it until his death. Sandy Dick, under a blunt Yorkshire exterior, was a warmhearted man and very good friend to those who really knew him. In most stations where he served he took a deep interest in church affairs, and usually served as sidesman or in somne capacity. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. Manv members of the RAMC will remember with affection the true hospitality extended to them in many parts of the world by Sandy and Marjorie Dick in their various homes.WSM.
J F FRANK MB, BCH, BAO
Dr J F Frank, a general practitioner at Horsham, Sussex, died suddenly on 11 January. Justin F-itzgerald Frank was born at Maidenhead in 1923. His father was a GP and his mother a psychiatrist. He was educated at Bryanston and entered the Armv during the second world war, rising to the rank of lieutenant in the Royal Berkshire Regiment. In 1949 he left the Army and for three years worked in Lloyd's of London before taking the brave decision to start medical studies from scratch at the age of 28. His training was at Queen's University, Belfast, and he graduated in 1960. He was on the house at Newtownards, County Down, and Maidstone, Kent, hospitals gaining wide experience before moving to Horsham, where within a short time he had made himself an indispensable part of the practice. He became senior partner in 1972. Justin was a devoted GP. He had a "nose" for illness and an uncanny knack of being on hand whenever and wherever emergency situations occurred. No trouble was too great for him, and many are the patients in and around Horsham who have cause to be thankful to him. As a colleague, friend, and partner he is irreplaceable. He had a unique blend of medical knowledge and practical common sense from which it has been a privilege to benefit. Dr Frank is survived by his wife, their three sons, and both his parents. His father is still practising in Jamaica.-IT.
tute, where his father was a member of staff for a time. He graduated in medicine from Liverpool University in 1942. From 1944 to 1947 he held a commission as major in the RAMC. After taking the DPH in 1948 he held various appointments before becoming deputy medical officer of health of Bolton. In 1957 he was appointed medical officer of health for the county borough of West Bromwich and began an illustrious career in public health. He served on many local and national committees, being a member of the National Corporation for the Care of Old People, the Commonwealth Immigrants Advisory Council, and the Advisory Council on Race Relations Research. He was also a member of the council of the Royal Society of Health and a fellow of the Society of Community Medicine. During the NHS reorganisation he took an active part in working parties and committees both national and local, including the vice-chairmanship of the West Midlands Regional Joint Liaison Committee. In 1970 he was appointed OBE for his services to health and welfare. At the time of his death he was a member of many bodies, including that of the Board of Graduate Clinical Studies and the Regional Postgraduate Committee of Birmingham University. Apart from his outstanding qualities as a leader and expert in his chosen profession, Hugh was a delightful man, courteous, cheerful, and ever willing to assist his colleagues in any way possible. He had a quiet charm and kindly manner that endeared him to those fortunate enough to be his friends. He is survived by his wife Mary and by his daughter
-JRP.
J CAXIERON MB, CHB, DPH, DTM&H, DIH, MFCM
Dr John Cameron, formerly assistant senior medical officer with the Trent Regional Health Authoritv, died at his home at Sheffield on 21 January. He was 65. John Cameron graduated in medicine in 1939 at St Andrews University and after house appointments at Dundee Royal Infirmary became resident medical officer at King's Cross Fever Hospital, Dundee. In 1941 he took the DPH at Edinburgh University. He joined the Indian Medical Service in 1942 and saw war service in India as a specialist in preventive medicine and as a malariologist holding administrative and health appointments. including that of assistant director of hygiene, Southern Command. In 1946 he retired from the IMS with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He then took the DTM&H at Liverpool in 1947 and that year joined the Colonial Medical Service. He was posted to Malaya and became health officer for the State of Johore. Later he moved to Singapore, where he acted as medical officer of health and city health officer for the Singapore City Council until he retired in 1959. Dr Cameron played an important part during this time in the training of health inspectors, health visitors, and nurses, as well as in lecturing to DPH students at the University of Malaya. H 0 M BRYANT In 1959 he joined the Sheffield Regional OBE, MB, CHB, DPH, FFCM Hospital Board as assistant senior administraDr Hugh Bryant, area medical officer to tive medical officer. He held this post until his Sandwell AHA, died on 24 January after a retirement in 1974, when the new Trent Regional Health Authority conferred upon short illness. He was 55. Hugh Owen Moss Bryant was born at him the unique title of community physician Colchester and educated at Birkenhead Insti- emeritus in recognition of his services to the
469
region, especially in South Yorkshire, Chesterfield, and Worksop. John Cameron will be remembered by colleagues and friends for his great personal charm, courtesy, thoughtfulness, and generosity. Although he played a full part in local medical affairs he also found time to read widely outside medicine and was an ardent theatre goer, all of which contributed greatly to his reputation as a most entertaining host. His friendship and civilising influence will be most sorely missed by those whose privilege it was to work with him. Dr Cameron was a
bachelor.-JAS.
N S WALLS MSC, PHD, MB, CHB, FFARCS, DA
Dr N S Walls, who had been an anaesthetist Southport General Infirmary since 1933, died on 16 January. He was 77. Noel Stanley Walls was born on 27 Decenber 1898. He trained first as a physicist and had obtained the degrees of MSc and PhD before graduating in medicine at Manchester in 1930. He went to Southport in 1933 and was appointed honorary anaesthetist to the infirmary. In addition he undertook general practice. His early training in physics gave him the ability to marshal his facts before making a clinical decision, which gave confidence to those working with him and made for happy and cordial relationships. He had special knowledge and skill to give in the efficient use of anaesthetic apparatus, as well as his first-class clinical judgment in the assessment of the potential hazards of those patients who came under his care. His professional courage was considerable, and, although of somewhat taciturn nature, when his apparent reserve was broken down he was a most delightful and humorous companion who gave of his all to his patients and to his hospital. A devoted supporter of the BMA he was secretary of the Southport Division for many years and invariably combined part of his summer holiday with attendance at the BMA's Annual Meeting. In his retirement he still continued to be active with his hospital in a locum capacity until his health gave way a few years ago. He bore his last illness with great courage. Countless people in the town and district in which he worked will never know how much they owe to his skill and kindness, but his colleagues will always think of him with respect and remember his good fellowship and loyalty. He will be greatly missed. CTAB. to
T K BONEY MD, MRCP Dr T K Boney, formerly in practice at Llandudno, died in Guernsey on 21 December. He was 89. Thomas Knowles Boney was born on 23 January 1886 and qualified with the Conjoint diploma from St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1909, taking the MB, BS in 1911 and proceeding MD in 1913. After a short period of practice in Cornwall he held house appointments in London and then went to South Africa, where he worked as a ship's doctor for a year and later in the main hospital at Port Elizabeth. During the first world war he served in the RAMC, first in France and then in Mesopotamia. At Basra Hospital he developed a
470 great interest in bacteriology and was twice mentioned in dispatches for his work. In 1919 he was appointed to the Royal Army Medical College, Millbank, and took the MRCP. As the first medical specialist he became officer in charge of the medical division at the Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot. Retiring with the rank of major in 1923, he entered civilian practice at Llandudno and rapidly established a consulting practice. He joined the staff of Caernarvonshire and Anglesey Infirmary at Bangor and that of Llandudno Hospital and attended the outlying hospitals of the area. At the outbreak of the second world war he was recalled for duty and served in France until he was evacuated from St Nazaire in 1940. He was posted to the Military Hospital, Bath, as officer in charge of the medical division and promoted lieutenant-colonel. After the hospital was handed over to the Americans in 1942 he acted as president of medical boards in Southern Command until his discharge in 1945. He then resumed practice at Llandudno and entered the NHS in 1948 as senior consulting physician of the Caernarvonshire and Anglesey group, an appointment which he filled with distinction until his retirement in 1952. Dr Boney's greatest hobby was the collection and study of eighteenth-century English porcelain. He had superb and comprehensive examples of Worcester, Chelsea, and Bristol, but his overwhelming passion was for Liverpool porcelain, and his outstanding monograph Liverpool Porcelain of the Eighteenth Century was published in 1957. He was an expert bridge player and in his younger days loved to walk in the Welsh mountains. His varied interests and kindness endeared him to many friends. Dr Boney married Miss Hilary Long, who was a general surgeon. She survives him with their only son, who is a barrister.-LL.
J VELLA BSC, MD, DLO, DPH
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
tion's functions and was a regular attender at business and social events. He also served on the Dudley Local Medical Committee. In 1942, while still a junior medical student, he bravely assumed responsibility for his nine brothers and sisters after the sudden death of his father. This was typical of his strong sense of duty and his concern for others. In his work he showed the same kind of understanding and feeling for his patients. He was a devout Roman Catholic and a man of great integrity. He made many friends during his 10 years at Dudley and they will long remember the warmth of his friendship and hospitality. He is survived by his wife Pat, two sons, and a daughter.-GMR.
M A BLACOW MB, BS
Dr M A Blacow died in a road accident at Johannesburg on 13 December. He was 27. Michael Alexander Blacow was educated at Taunton School, London University, and St George's Hospital, graduating in medicine in 1971. He did his registration year at Ashford Hospital, Surrey, and then went to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, where for six months he worked for the DRCOG, which he took in July 1973. While at the hospital he contributed to research on the subject of induction of labour. At Sutton General Hospital he became a casualty officer and then did nine months' paediatrics at Kingston Hospital. He later decided to seek experience in general practice and worked as a locum general practitioner at Wheathampsted and Swansea. While at Swansea he proved to his many colleagues and patients -alike his sound qualities as a professional man in the making. Michael's main interest was paediatrics and he even found time while engaged in busy general practice to attend the local paediatric department regularly and would have made an excellent specialist. A keen sportsman and skilled driver, it is ironic that his promising life should have ended so abruptly on the road. The profession can ill afford the loss. HJPD.
Dr J Vella, who was in general practice at Dudley, Worcestershire, died suddenly on 23 January. He was 52. John Vella was born on 23 April 1923 and educated at the Lyceum, Malta. He graduated in medicine at the Royal University of Malta and after house appointments in various Malta Government hospitals went to England to P H HEWITT
pursue his interest in ENT medicine at MA, MB, BCHIR, MRCGP Salisbury General Infirmary, the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear fhospital, Dr P H Hewitt, a general practitioner working and various hospitals in the Oxford region. at Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, died on During this time he took the DLO. In 1954 20 January. He was 53. he started a new career in the Overseas Civil Patrick Haselden Hewitt was born on 25 Service in Tanganyika. He was stationed at December 1922 at York, where his father was Mwanza, Lake Province, for 2 years, but in in general practice. He went to Sidney Sussex 1956 moved to Sewa Hadji Hospital, Dar es College, Cambridge, and the London HosSalaam, and within a short time took adminis- pital, qualifying in 1945. He joined the Royal trative charge of the hospital. In 1961 he Navy and served as a surgeon lieutenant in became senior medical officer in charge of HMS Amethyst until 1948. After demobilisaOcean Road Hospital and the Dar es Salaam tion he was appointed pathologist to the Government outpatient dispensaries and Bernhard Baron Institute and in 1950 joined adviser to the Ministry of Health, Tanganyika, a group practice at Bishop's Stortford, where on ENT matters. He retired from the service he worked up to the time of his death. in 1964 and returned to England. His first Dr Hewitt was a man of great charm and appointment was as assistant medical officer courtesy, with many interests outside his of health at Dudley and the following year work, the chief being music. He started the clarinet at the age of 40 and eight years later he entered general practice in the town. John was an active member of the BMA in switched to the bassoon because of the need for Tanganyika and was treasurer and later a bassoonist in the district. He played with president of the branch there. On returning to several orchestras and was for a time chairman England he continued to support the Associa- of Bishop's Stortford Music Association.
21 FEBRUARY 1976
He became president of the local branch of the Royal Naval Association and was directly concerned with the welfare of members. A keen Freemason, he was a past master of Stortford Lodge No 409. In the last year of his life he began to write poetry. Dr Hewitt is survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons.-IDP.
P N BARUA LMSSA, MRCGP
Dr P N Barua, general practitioner and orthopaedic surgeon, died suddenly on 4 January. He was 63. Phanindra Nath Barua was born on 20 May 1912 at Pyawbwe, Burma, of Indian parents. He entered Rangoon Medical School with a scholarship and qualified with honours. As customary in Burma, he was posted to the frontier areas and then to the prison service. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the Indian Army Medical Corps in Burma. He took charge of 11 small famine relief hospitals, was commanding officer of a mobile epidemic team, and worked in casualty clearing stations at Arkan, Burma. While medical officer in the isolated Hukawng Valley he escorted a party of evacuees on an arduous iourney of 300 miles and in recognition of this was mentioned in dispatches and awarded a certificate of honour. In 1948 he went to England and began his career again. He worked his way up to senior hospital medical officer at Guy's, the West London Hospital, and St Mary Abbot's Hospital and spent some time at Oldchurch Hospital, Romford. Subsequently he did consultant orthopaedic sessions at St Mary's Hospital, Plaistow; St Andrew's Hospital, Bow; and the Prince of Wales's General Hospital, Tottenham. In 1960 he entered general practice at Hornchurch and Dagenham. His warm personalitv and skill endeared him to all who met him, and they miss him as a friend as well as a colleague or doctor. Dr Barua's other activities included children's orthopaedic clinics at Havering and Redbridge, dental anaesthetics, and acting as police surgeon and lecturer to nurses. He was a member of the local BMA executive committee and a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. An aggressive tennis and hockey player, his rare quiet moments were spent enjoying ballet, opera, and orchestral music. To all of us who loved him and mourn him now he will remain a totally unique person. He is survived by his wife and two
daughters.-RB.
A memorial service for the late Dr Robert Forgan (obituary, 24 January, p 227) will be held in the Crypt Chapel of the Palace of Westminster, London SWI. on Monday, 23 February, at 12 noon. A memorial service for the late Sir Alexander Haddow (obituary, 31 January, p 287) will be held at St Paul's Church, Onslow Square London SW7, on Friday, 27 Februarv, at 12 noon. A memorial meeting in memory of the late Dr Joshua S Horn (obituary, 10 January, p 103) will be held at the Royal College of Surgeons, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2, on Friday, 27 February, at 7.30 pm.
