St. Thomas's hospital Gazette.

No. 8.

NOVEMBER, 1906.

VOL. XVI.

Obituary.

OBERT HAMILTON BELL died on October 28th, of pneumonia, after two days' illness, at the age of 35.

Dr. Bell came up to St. Thomas's Hospital in 1895 to complete his medical studies, after taking his arts degree at Cambridge. He qualified at the end of 1897, and was then house physician and obstetric house physician. After this he took the membership of the College of Physicians and the fellowship of the College of Surgeons.

Meanwhile he made a special study of gynæcology and was appointed to various posts at hospitals in London. At the time of his death he was obstetric tutor and registrar at St. Thomas's Hospital, physician to out-patients at the Samaritan Free Hospital for Women, physician to out-patients in the diseases of women at the Great Northern Central Hospital, and assistant physician to the British Lying-in Hospital. In addition to the large amount of work this entailed he made many valuable contributions to the literature of his subject.

In his profession, at his age, we have promise rather than achievements to look to and in his case there was the sure promise of an honourable and successful career; success indeed was already assured when he died, for his reputation was firmly established with his colleagues, and in the profession generally his ability was rapidly gaining wider recognition. His reputation was founded on the straightforwardness of his character and the conscientious thoroughness of his work. His character commanded the esteem and confidence of everybody. His work was remarkable both for the immense amount undertaken and for the thorough way in which it was carried out. Considering the very high standard he set himself, it is wonderful that he was able to do the work of four hospital appointments and of his increasing private practice, and yet find time for the amount of original work he did in the last five years. For he spared himself no pains in the preparation of matter for publication, and his writings show the results of much diligent

research as well as accurate observation and original thought. The same thoroughness, which characterised his hospital work and his writings, gave him his success in teaching, aided no doubt by his personal charm and a genial sense of humour.

Dr. Bell's great gift was his sound judgment. All men who become distinguished have each some one quality pre-eminent among the many necessary for success, and all who knew Dr. Bell would point to his judgment as his most remarkable quality.

At Cambridge Dr. Bell had a good academic record. He took a second class in the Natural Science Tripos, narrowly missing the distinction of a first class. He mixed freely in the social life of the university and took full advantage of the intellectual and literary society there. He was not himself a noted athlete, but he took a keen interest in everything going on in the sporting world; his interests in fact were very varied and he had the faculty of becoming well informed on all subjects which interested him. He read a great deal and remembered what he read, but much of his fund of information was collected in the conversations and discussions of which he was very fond. He was a good talker and a sympathetic listener. Politics attracted him very strongly. He was a strong liberal and was always eager to defend the principles of his party and to apply them to the question of the hour. He took an active part in parliamentary and municipal elections and had well defined views upon the questions at issue.

Death has robbed us of one for whose character all had the greatest admiration. Kind, courteous and considerate to all, to his many friends he gave a whole-hearted devotion which none can forget, and his loyal friendship will remain a precious memory in many hearts.

Dr. Bell's death has all the sadness of its suddenness and of his youth. By only looking back a few days one sees his life full of work and energy, rewarded by growing prospects of success, one sees the charming happiness of his home, the love of many friends and the esteem of everybody. A sudden tragedy leaves us mourning for a friend we cannot replace.

Hospital Notes.

Mr. Clutton has been re-elected as president of the Clinical Society and Mr. Ballance has been elected president of the Medical Society of London.

Dr. Fairbairn has been appointed examiner in Midwifery and Gynecology to the University of Oxford.

*

Dr. H. R. Le Sueur has been appointed examiner to the London Board of the Pharmaceutical Society.

Dr. W. E. Dixon has been appointed examiner in Pharmacology and Dr. T. Gregor Brodie examiner in Physiology to Cambridge University.

Two former students of the hospital have accepted the office of mayor-Dr. Henry Gervis at Brighton and Dr. F. Montague Miller at Hackney.

Reprinted from "The SEI-I-KWAI Medical Journal."

RECEPTIONS GIVEN FOR BARON TAKAKI.

On his return home from abroad after his six months' absence his friends and medical profession in Tokyo and its neighbourhood congratulated his brilliant success by holding meetings and receptions in his honour. In these meetings, Baron Takaki always obtained approvals and cheers by addressing the members present with his usual eloquent speeches. In the reception proposed by the medical profession, Baron Saneyoshi, Surgeon-General K. Suzuki, Surgeon-General Yamamoto, Surgeon-Inspector Prof. Honda, Surgeon-Inspector Yabe, Dr. Takagi, Junior, Dr. Higuchi, Dr. Rokkaku, Dr. Gomes, Dr. Worden and sixty other notable physicians and pharmacists met in the Maple Club, Shiba Park, Tōkyō on the 21st ult, and after the Banzai for Baron Takaki, which was proposed by Baron Saneyoshi, the guest gave some observations during his trip.

The causation of lumbago is perhaps a simpler matter than we are led to believe. The other day a lady sent her son to inquire after their game-keeper who was laid up with lumbago, and after expressing his sympathy, he asked him how he thought he had got it. "Well," said Velveteens, "it's all this standin' about in damp woods wot guv it me!" But," objected the young master, "lots of people have lumbago, my mother had it, and her ladyship does not stand about in damp woods." "Then you may depend on it, it's the beer!" was the ready diagnosis.

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A parson complained to his doctor that the powder he had prescribed for his little son made his little insides make such a noise that it kept the whole nursery awake. The doctor thought a minute and then remembering that he had given him Pulv: Rhei Co:, remarked, "I suppose it sets up a sort of Gregorian Chant."

It was a Cheselden night, and about six o'clock an eminent pathologist made his way to the medical school but failed to find the worthy Mead on duty. "Where is he?" said the pathologist. 'He left early to-day, sir," was the answer, "I think he must have gone to this 'ere band of hope."

We offer our heartiest congratulations to Dr. E. A. Ross for his valuable monograph on cytodiagnosis recently published in the Transactions of the Pathological Society of London.

Dr. Ross deserves every credit for the careful and accurate deductions which he has drawn from the very large amount of material at his disposal. These experiments have shewn that cytodiagnosis is a valuable aid to clinical diagnosis and is perhaps the most valuable method known for the differential diagnosis of inflammation of the serous sacs. The work was done in the clinical laboratory and extended over a period of twelve to fifteen months.

When physicians despair

Of a sick millionaire,

And wonder whatever the matter

Can be,

By Pathology's aid

Diagnoses are made,

For it's only a matter

Of L. S. D.