Appointments
1
857 He was born in London and he studied medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and the University of Durham, where he graduated M.B. with first-class honours in 1887. Two years later he was awarded the gold medal for his M.D. thesis on colour-blindness, in which he attacked the Holmgren wool test and first put forward his theories on the function of the retinal rods and of the visual purple. Soon afterwards his views received wider publicity when Sir Lauder Brunton presented a paper of his to the Royal Society, and he was appointed a member of the International Code of Signals Committee. But his views did not. win immediate acceptance : and in 1892 a committee of the Royal Society unanimously recommended the continued use of the Holmgren test to railway companies and shipowners. Though dis- appointed by this setback Dr. Edridge-Green published a further monograph on his work, and in 1904 a com- mittee of the Ophthalmological Society confirmed his contention that some cases of colour-blindness cannot be detected’ by the Holmgren test. Fortified by this support he went to Cambridge at his own expense to obtain further evidence. There, however, he was coolly received and his thesis was turned down. But he continued to press his case, and in 1909 he published amonograph on Colour Blindness and Colour Perception. Meanwhile at Oxford Doyne and Gotch had confirmed his findings, and gradually informed opinion turned in his favour. In 1911 he delivered a Hunterian lecture on colour- blindness at the Royal College of Surgeons, and the following year a committee of the British Association reported in his favour. Questions were asked in Parlia- ment, and in 1915 the wool test -was abandoned bv the Board of Trade and a lantern based on Edridge-Green’s principles was adopted. Five years later he was appointed an adviser to the board. In 1920 he was appointed C.B.E., and the same year he gave the Arris and Gale lectures at the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1930 he was president of honour at the annual meeting of the Ophthalmological Society of Paris, and in 1936 he was awarded the Thomas Grey prize. Dr: Edridge-Green’s own account of these far-away battles, which he published in 1933 under the title of Science and Pseudo Science, shows hirn to have been a trenchant and contentious controversialist, and much of his work on the physiology of vision is at variance with present-day thought. But personal difficulties and scientific differences cannot obscure his real contribution to the safety of transport on land and sea. In 1893 he married Minnie Jane, the daughter of Dr. Henry Hicks, - F.R.S. She died in 1901 and there were no children of the marriage. ALEXANDER MITCHELL M.A., Ch.M. Aberd. Mr. Alexander Mitchell, consulting orthopædic surgeon to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, died on April 16, at the age of 72. The record of his family’s connections with medical practice is impressive. His grandfather and father practised at Old Rayne, Aberdeenshire, his two brothers were doctors, and one of his sons is Major Patrick Mitchell, R.A.M.C. His first wife was a daughter of the late Dr. Greig of Fyvie, and his second wife a daughter of the late Dr. David Rorie, whose poems, including " The Lum Hat Wantin’ the Croon," are well known in the North of Scotland and far beyond. He graduated M.A. at Aberdeen University, in 1901 M.B. in 1905, and CH.M. in 1907. He spent several years in general practice with appointments at Fyvie Hospital and Gray’s Hospital, Elgin, but his career in surgery began about 1914 when- he was appointed to the Royal Hos- pital for Sick Children and the Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen. Himself crippled, he had a strong bent for orthopaedics which was stimulated by his surgical experience at base hospitals in Rouen during the 1914-18 war and later became his main professional interest, Between the wars he developed an orthopaedic department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and later, with the help of the Cripples’ Welfare Association, an orthopaedic service for the whole Xorth East of Scotland. I)uring the late war he became orthopaedic consultant to the E.M.S. and the Army Medical Services in the North of Scotland. Undeterred by a first attack of coronary thrombosis in 1942 he carried a heavy burden of work during the war years and, even after retirement from his Aberdeen hospital appointments in 1945, he continued as consultant to the Department of Health and to the North-Eastern Regional Hospital Board under the National Health Service. He was also a vice-president of the Orthopaedic Association. Recently he became chairman of the management board of the Aberdeen special hospitals group and, in fact, was presiding at a board meeting when the final coronary attack began. W. C. W. writes : " Distinguished as were his services to orthopaedics, Sandy (as he was known to all) will best be remembered for his personal qualities and relations with patients. More interested in men than in affairs, he had a fund of reminiscences and stories and a dry, sardonic wit which made him excellent company. His opinions and judgments were forthright and decided, but always fair and often generous. He had a delightful manner with sick children and a real sympathy for the deformed and maimed. His own standard of service to patients was the highest and he demanded the same from his juniors. In this one could see the influence of tradition and upbringing in a medical family and it is a safe assumption that the tradition has been handed on to many former assistants and students. As usually happens, they were quick to see the sterling qualities of the man and with them his popularity was high. His character has been summed up in the words of an old patient : ’He was a grand gentleman, Sandy Mitchell.’ " Mr. ialiteliell is survived by two sons and a daughter and- by his widow who gave him great help in his last years. Births, Marriages, and Deaths BIRTHS FORBES.—On April 15, to Pamela, wife of John Forbes, M.D., of Pen-y-wern, near Mold, Flintshire—a son. FOXELL.—On April 13, at Suffolk House Nursing Home, Stanmore, to -.Nlai-ireen, wife of Dr. Alan Foxell-a son. MARRIAGES NEWBORNE—SKELTON.—On April 18, at St. Giles Church, Oxford, Laurence Perceval Anthony Newborne, M.D. Lond., to Mary Skelton, M.c.s.p. Appointments BICKFORD, J. A. R., M.R.c.s., D.P.M.: consultant psychiatrist, I)e la Pole Hospital, Willerby, E. Yorks. DAviES, E., B., M.B. Mane.: medical registrar, Rookwood Hospital, Cardiff. HILL, J. N., M.B. Leeds, n.I’.H.: medical director (s.H.M.o.), Leeds mass-radiography unit. MORTON, J. A., M.B. Edin., M.R.c.p.E.: M.o. (part-time), H.M. Prison, Edinburgh. ToDD, ELIZA, M.B. Aberd., D.P.H. : asst. M.O., Heston, Isleworth, Southall, Brentford, and Chiswick area, Middlesex County Council. VICKERY, K. 0. A., M.D. Lond., D.P.11. : M.O.H. and school M.O., Eastbourne. Colonial Service : ALLEN, C. P., M.B., CH.M. Glasg., F.R.C.S.E., D.T.M. & H. : specialist officer, grade A, Federation of Malaya. COCHEMÉ, M. A. X., M.B. Camb., D.T.M. & H., D.P.M.: specialist officer, grade A, Federation of Malaya. DRITRY, GRAHAM, M.R.C.S., D.T.M. & H., D.A.: A.D.M.S., Kenya. EDDEY, L. G., M.B. Aberd., D.T.M. & H. : D.M.S., Gold Coast. FRANKLIN, G. C.. M.B. Camb. : M.O., Hong-Kong. GREEN, R. T. I3., M.n., D.T.M.: Specialist oiftcer, grade A, Federation of Malaya. MOLESWORTH, B. D., M.B. Camb.: specialist officer, grade A, Federation of Malaya. PALLISTER, R. A., O.B.E., M.D. Dui-h., M.R.C.P., D.T.M. & H. : specialist officer, grade A, Federation of Malaya. RYAN, J. C., M.B. N.U.I.: M.o., British Guiana. SHAW, R. E., M.B. Lond.. F.R.C.S.: nr.o., Kenya. SINCLAIR, WILLIAM, M.B. Belt.: M.o., Nyasaland. Western Regional Hospital Board, Scotland : CUTHBERT, RICHARD, M.B. Glasg., 1).M.1t.1). : asst. radiologist (S.H.M.O.), Stirling county area. HARPER, JAMES, M.B.E., M.B. Edin., nr.at.c.P.E., D.P.M.: consultant psychiatrist and deputy physician-superintendent, Crichton Royal Mental Hospital, Dumfries. TAIT, A. C’., M.B. Glasg., D.P.H., D.P.M.: consultant psychiatrist, Crichton Royal Mental Hospital, Dumfries.
Transcript of Appointments
857
He was born in London and he studied medicine atSt. Bartholomew’s Hospital and the University of
Durham, where he graduated M.B. with first-classhonours in 1887. Two years later he was awarded the
gold medal for his M.D. thesis on colour-blindness, inwhich he attacked the Holmgren wool test and first
put forward his theories on the function of the retinalrods and of the visual purple.Soon afterwards his views received wider publicity
when Sir Lauder Brunton presented a paper of his tothe Royal Society, and he was appointed a member ofthe International Code of Signals Committee. Buthis views did not. win immediate acceptance : and in1892 a committee of the Royal Society unanimouslyrecommended the continued use of the Holmgren testto railway companies and shipowners. Though dis-appointed by this setback Dr. Edridge-Green publisheda further monograph on his work, and in 1904 a com-mittee of the Ophthalmological Society confirmed hiscontention that some cases of colour-blindness cannotbe detected’ by the Holmgren test. Fortified by thissupport he went to Cambridge at his own expense toobtain further evidence. There, however, he was
coolly received and his thesis was turned down. Buthe continued to press his case, and in 1909 he publishedamonograph on Colour Blindness and Colour Perception.Meanwhile at Oxford Doyne and Gotch had confirmedhis findings, and gradually informed opinion turnedin his favour.In 1911 he delivered a Hunterian lecture on colour-
blindness at the Royal College of Surgeons, and thefollowing year a committee of the British Associationreported in his favour. Questions were asked in Parlia-ment, and in 1915 the wool test -was abandoned bv theBoard of Trade and a lantern based on Edridge-Green’sprinciples was adopted. Five years later he was
appointed an adviser to the board. In 1920 he wasappointed C.B.E., and the same year he gave the Arrisand Gale lectures at the Royal College of Surgeons.In 1930 he was president of honour at the annual meetingof the Ophthalmological Society of Paris, and in 1936he was awarded the Thomas Grey prize.Dr: Edridge-Green’s own account of these far-away
battles, which he published in 1933 under the title ofScience and Pseudo Science, shows hirn to have beena trenchant and contentious controversialist, and muchof his work on the physiology of vision is at variance withpresent-day thought. But personal difficulties andscientific differences cannot obscure his real contributionto the safety of transport on land and sea.In 1893 he married Minnie Jane, the daughter of
Dr. Henry Hicks, - F.R.S. She died in 1901 and therewere no children of the marriage.
ALEXANDER MITCHELLM.A., Ch.M. Aberd.
Mr. Alexander Mitchell, consulting orthopædic surgeonto the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, died on April 16,at the age of 72. The record of his family’s connectionswith medical practice is impressive. His grandfatherand father practised at Old Rayne, Aberdeenshire,his two brothers were doctors, and one of his sons isMajor Patrick Mitchell, R.A.M.C. His first wife was adaughter of the late Dr. Greig of Fyvie, and his secondwife a daughter of the late Dr. David Rorie, whose poems,including " The Lum Hat Wantin’ the Croon," are wellknown in the North of Scotland and far beyond.He graduated M.A. at Aberdeen University, in 1901
M.B. in 1905, and CH.M. in 1907. He spent several years ingeneral practice with appointments at Fyvie Hospital andGray’s Hospital, Elgin, but his career in surgery beganabout 1914 when- he was appointed to the Royal Hos-pital for Sick Children and the Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen.Himself crippled, he had a strong bent for orthopaedicswhich was stimulated by his surgical experience atbase hospitals in Rouen during the 1914-18 war and laterbecame his main professional interest, Between thewars he developed an orthopaedic department at AberdeenRoyal Infirmary and later, with the help of the Cripples’Welfare Association, an orthopaedic service for the wholeXorth East of Scotland. I)uring the late war he becameorthopaedic consultant to the E.M.S. and the ArmyMedical Services in the North of Scotland. Undeterred
by a first attack of coronary thrombosis in 1942 hecarried a heavy burden of work during the war yearsand, even after retirement from his Aberdeen hospitalappointments in 1945, he continued as consultant tothe Department of Health and to the North-EasternRegional Hospital Board under the National HealthService. He was also a vice-president of the OrthopaedicAssociation. Recently he became chairman of themanagement board of the Aberdeen special hospitalsgroup and, in fact, was presiding at a board meetingwhen the final coronary attack began.W. C. W. writes : "
Distinguished as were his servicesto orthopaedics, Sandy (as he was known to all) willbest be remembered for his personal qualities and relationswith patients. More interested in men than in affairs,he had a fund of reminiscences and stories and a dry,sardonic wit which made him excellent company. Hisopinions and judgments were forthright and decided,but always fair and often generous. He had a delightfulmanner with sick children and a real sympathy for thedeformed and maimed. His own standard of serviceto patients was the highest and he demanded the samefrom his juniors. In this one could see the influence oftradition and upbringing in a medical family and it isa safe assumption that the tradition has been handedon to many former assistants and students. As usuallyhappens, they were quick to see the sterling qualitiesof the man and with them his popularity was high.His character has been summed up in the words of anold patient : ’He was a grand gentleman, SandyMitchell.’ "
Mr. ialiteliell is survived by two sons and a daughterand- by his widow who gave him great help in his lastyears.
Births, Marriages, and Deaths
BIRTHS
FORBES.—On April 15, to Pamela, wife of John Forbes, M.D., ofPen-y-wern, near Mold, Flintshire—a son.
FOXELL.—On April 13, at Suffolk House Nursing Home, Stanmore,to -.Nlai-ireen, wife of Dr. Alan Foxell-a son.
MARRIAGESNEWBORNE—SKELTON.—On April 18, at St. Giles Church, Oxford,
Laurence Perceval Anthony Newborne, M.D. Lond., to MarySkelton, M.c.s.p.
AppointmentsBICKFORD, J. A. R., M.R.c.s., D.P.M.: consultant psychiatrist,
I)e la Pole Hospital, Willerby, E. Yorks.DAviES, E., B., M.B. Mane.: medical registrar, Rookwood Hospital,
Cardiff.HILL, J. N., M.B. Leeds, n.I’.H.: medical director (s.H.M.o.), Leeds
mass-radiography unit.MORTON, J. A., M.B. Edin., M.R.c.p.E.: M.o. (part-time), H.M.
Prison, Edinburgh.ToDD, ELIZA, M.B. Aberd., D.P.H. : asst. M.O., Heston, Isleworth,
Southall, Brentford, and Chiswick area, Middlesex County- Council.
VICKERY, K. 0. A., M.D. Lond., D.P.11. : M.O.H. and school M.O.,Eastbourne.
Colonial Service :
ALLEN, C. P., M.B., CH.M. Glasg., F.R.C.S.E., D.T.M. & H. :
specialist officer, grade A, Federation of Malaya.COCHEMÉ, M. A. X., M.B. Camb., D.T.M. & H., D.P.M.: specialist
officer, grade A, Federation of Malaya.DRITRY, GRAHAM, M.R.C.S., D.T.M. & H., D.A.: A.D.M.S., Kenya.EDDEY, L. G., M.B. Aberd., D.T.M. & H. : D.M.S., Gold Coast.FRANKLIN, G. C.. M.B. Camb. : M.O., Hong-Kong.GREEN, R. T. I3., M.n., D.T.M.: Specialist oiftcer, grade A,
Federation of Malaya. -
MOLESWORTH, B. D., M.B. Camb.: specialist officer, grade A,Federation of Malaya.
PALLISTER, R. A., O.B.E., M.D. Dui-h., M.R.C.P., D.T.M. & H. :specialist officer, grade A, Federation of Malaya.
RYAN, J. C., M.B. N.U.I.: M.o., British Guiana.SHAW, R. E., M.B. Lond.. F.R.C.S.: nr.o., Kenya.SINCLAIR, WILLIAM, M.B. Belt.: M.o., Nyasaland.
Western Regional Hospital Board, Scotland :CUTHBERT, RICHARD, M.B. Glasg., 1).M.1t.1). : asst. radiologist
(S.H.M.O.), Stirling county area.HARPER, JAMES, M.B.E., M.B. Edin., nr.at.c.P.E., D.P.M.: consultant
psychiatrist and deputy physician-superintendent, CrichtonRoyal Mental Hospital, Dumfries.
TAIT, A. C’., M.B. Glasg., D.P.H., D.P.M.: consultant psychiatrist,Crichton Royal Mental Hospital, Dumfries.
