Obituary.

WILLIAM RUTHERFORD, M.D. EDIN., F.R.S.,

PROFESSOR OF PHYSIOLOGY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.

THE medical profession, not only in Scotland or the United THE medical profession, not only in Scotland or the United Kingdom, but in every country where a school of medicine exists, will share with us our deep regret at the death of Professor William Rutherford, Professor of Physiology in the University of Edinburgh, which occurred on Tuesday last, Feb. 21st, at his residence, 14, Douglas-crescent, Edinburgh. Professor Rutherford was born at Ancrum in Roxburghshire just 60 years ago and was educated first at one of those local grammar schools of which Scotland is so justly proud and afterwards at the University of Edinburgh which he was later to adorn with his great gifts of teaching and investigation. He graduated in medicine in 1863, obtaining the gold medal for his thesis, and after filling the usual resident appointments became assistant demonstrator of anatomy at Surgeons' Hall, Edinburgh, his chief being Professor (now Sir John) Struthers. He then went on a tour of the great continental medical schools, which were at that time-that is to say, in 1864-far better -equipped scientifically than the British schools. He visited and studied at Berlin, Vienna, and Paris, and when he returned to Edinburgh a year later was already marked a rising physiologist. In 1865 the late Dr. Hughes Bennett, who had himself studied deeply in the French and German schools of medicine and who was at that time Professor of the Institutes of Medicine in the University of Edinburgh, appointed Rutherford as his assistant. Here he showed himself so thoroughly competent and advanced a physiologist that it came-at any rate, to his Scotch contemporaries-as but little surprise that in 1869, when only 30 years of age, he should be appointed Professor of Physiology in King's College, London. In 1871 he became Fullerian Professor of Physiology in the Royal Institution of London, and in 1874 returned to his old University of Edinburgh as Professor of 'Physiology.

-out as

The following estimate of Professor Rutherford's work in

the chair with which his name will be for ever associated is

from the pen of Professor Sims Woodhead, not his least distinguished pupil :

"Those Edinburgh men who first knew Professor Rutherford in 1874 will scarcely be able to realise Edinburgh University without its late Professor of "The Institutes of Medicine." Those of us who attended his first series of lectures will remember the impression which was made, not so much in the introductory lecture perhaps as when he came to deal with the real work of the session. We should as soon have thought of going without our morning bath or our breakfast as of missing a single minute of Rutherford's lecture or of the catechism which so frequently preceded it. At first we were struck by the thoroughness and patience with which he drilled into us the most elementary facts, but any feeling thus generated was rapidly lost in our admiration of the never-failing success of his experiments, which we soon came to see was the result not only of a wide and accurate knowledge of his subject but of an enormous expenditure of time, ingenuity, and labour. There can be no doubt that the influence exerted by Rutherford in moulding the minds and careers of the men who came within its sphere was due not so much actually "to what he taught (though that was always most carefully brought up to date),but to the fact that we were led to look upon his lectures and demonstrations as the manifest outcome of an enormous amount of labour and careful preparation. Whatever Professor Rutherford's position may be in future as an original experimentalist his influence in that direction can never for a moment compare with the influence which he has had indirectly as a teacher, and had he not made a single contribution of his own to physiological science his name in future must rank amongst those of the great teachers of whom Edinburgh is so justly proud. With all this, however, Rutherford was always an ardent investigator. and such time as was not devoted to the preparation of his lectures and demonstrations or to music was given to investigation. I well remember the awe with which I was inspired when I was allowed to go and

help in a very small way by counting the drops of bile or by watching the respiration of animals with which Rutherford, assisted by the late Dr. Vignal, was carrying on his experiments on cholagogues and the secretion of bile. Early and late during our summer sessions were these men at work, and we students recognised in Rutherford a man of great physical energy, of strong intellectual power, and of untiring interest in the study and teaching of physiology. This general impression it was that explains the enthusiasm with which his assistants-of whom I remember Stirling, De Burgh Birch, Berry Haycraft, Anderson Stuart, Mc Cormack, Ashdown, Alexander, and Carlier-entered into the work of the department.

He was

mannerisms-in fact, perhaps partly because of them-was
"Professor Rutherford with all his little peculiarities and
a great favourite with the students.
musician and an old secretary of the University Musical
a good
Society; and the present writer-a secretary of later date-
who had the pleasure of serving with him on the committee
of that society, recalls that it was during the time of
Rutherford's membership that this society was at its best.
Many old Edinburgh Musical Society men will have the
pleasantest recollections of his appearances in the music class-
room where, in the intervals of choral singing conducted by
Sir Herbert Oakley or the late Mr. G. O. Sinclair, or between
the organ solos of Professor Oakley, he would join some of the
groups of students and discuss with them the knotty points
connected with the work of the society, or encourage a nervous
musical lad. Who will ever forget the roar of applause which
always greeted his appearance at one of the old K. C's., as
slowly mounting the platform he would advance to the
piano, and with chest thrown forward, head well back,
eyelids half closed, after a few preliminary chords would
announce that he would sing
Then with wonderful voice and a dashing accompaniment
a little thing of his own"?
he would give "The Warrior's Pledge," a stirring song of
which both words and music were his own.

"Of his many kind and generous actions to students in difficulties probably no man will ever know, but many a man has gone to him when he has been in difficulty, and often, where more than advice was required, has come away not empty-handed; while several men who could now ill be spared from our ranks owe it to Professor Rutherford's kindliness and generosity that they have been able to complete their medical studies. Two instances at least have come to the personal knowledge of the present writer. During the period of his nervous

breakdown the students who had known Professor Rutherford before this illness came on could not understand the change which appeared to have taken place in him, but throughout it all they remained loyal to their old teacher and no one rejoiced more heartily than they on his restoration to health. Whoever may be appointed to succeed him must necessarily be a good man, for there are many able physiologists from amongst whom his successor will be selected, but whoever he may be, and whatever his qualifications, he can never exactly fill the place of Rutherford, at any rate in the estimation of his old pupils. He was a great landmark in the history of the University-a great teacher, a man who appeared to keep in sympathy with his pupils from his very earnestness in work and who, had he been less shy and had his mannerisms been fewer, might not have attracted the student as, considering the nature of his work, it was his good fortune to do. I have gone to him on all kinds of errands-to ask him to sing, to ask him to give prizes, to ask him to subscribe to the athletic club funds, to the Musical Society, to the Union, to come out to the University games, or to specially patronise some athletic function-and never once have I come away empty-handed or without feeling that his contribution was given or his presence promised because he took a real interest, not only in the work, but in the healthy amusements of the students. Some men exert one kind of influence for good, others another, but it will be easily seen that whatever weakness or foibles Rutherford may have had his interest in and desire for the welfare of his students were both genuine and deep.

To Dr. Sims Woodhead's words there remains little for us to add. From the time that Rutherford went back to Edinburgh as Professor of Physiology his life was his work, and the earnestness with which he threw himself into it was the common knowlenge of all, as it was the subject of common admiration. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1876, having then been for 16

years a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. he built up a large practice. He was one of the first anæsHis published works comprise a treatise entitled "The Outlines of Practical Histology," which was published in 1877; "The Action of Drugs on the Secretion of Bile," a book recording the results of his own elaborate investigations which was published in 1879; certain introductory addresses to his classes summarising the scope of modern physiology; and contributions to the Transactions of the Royal Society and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, to the Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, and to Our columns, where his excellent Lectures on Experimental Physiology" first appeared with full illustrations.

Professor Rutherford fell a victim to influenza. Some fortnight ago he was suffering from this insidious epidemic, but he had rallied and the sad issue was not in the least expected. On Monday evening, however, he experienced a relapse which terminated fatally.

CHARLES BADER, M.R.C.S. ENG., L.S.A.,

CONSULTING OPHTHALMIC SURGEON TO GUY'S HOSPITAL.

THE death of Mr. Charles Bader was announced in our columns last week. The regretted event took place on Monday, Feb. 13th, at his country house at Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, where he had lately passed most of his time.

Charles Bader was educated in his native land, Germany, and came to London in 1861 to be assistant ophthalmic surgeon to Mr. A. Poland who with Mr. J. F. France then had charge of the eye wards of Guy's Hospital. He was elected full ophthalmic surgeon to the hospital in 1873 but filled the post for nine years only, having left the hospital 17 years before his death which occurred at the age of 72. During his 20 years of service to Guy's Hospital he did excellent work for the special branch to which he was attached, raising it from a very small department to a position as high as that enjoyed by any special department of any metropolitan hospital. He was а man of great energy, a brilliant operator, and also most original in his methods, so that it is not surprising that for many years he had a very large private practice.

Mr. Bader was a man of many interests outside his profession, a fact which accounts to some extent for the pleasure which SO many of his patients took in his society. He was a good athlete, and could box and fence better than most men. Since his retirement from the active staff of Guy's Hospital, particalarly of late years, he was much interested in the raising of stock, and bred large quantities of sheep and horses on his Norfolk property at Stoke Ferry where he died.

thetists appointed to the Leeds Infirmary and discharged the anxious duties of that responsible office in a manner which won for him the respect and admiration of those with whom he worked. Unfortunately, however, an attack of influenza followed by pleurisy cut short his onward progress. After passing through a prolonged illness it was thought best for him to seek a milder climate and he undertook a voyage to the Cape, intending to settle there. On the outward journey, however, his strength began to fail and on landing symptoms developed themselves which compelled him to obtain advice, which was to the effect that he ought to return home at once. A week later found him again on board; a very rough voyage hastened the end and he was landed at Southampton in a dying condition. His relations met him and there was little more than time to say farewell, for two days later he died. Those who knew Charles Dixon's sterling honest upright character feel that they have lost a friend whose memory will remain.

SAMUEL LEONARD CRANE, M.D. PENN., M.R.C.S. ENG.,
C.M.G.

THE death is announced on Jan. 25th of Dr. Samuel Leonard Crane. The deceased was born in 1830, graduated as M.D. of the University of Pennsylvania in 1850, and became a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1855. He was Surgeon-General of Trinidad from 1871 to 1893, superintendent medical officer for Jamaica from 1893, and a member of the Legislative Council from 1894. In 1888 he was made a Companion of St. Michael and St. George.

DEATHS OF EMINENT FOREIGN MEDICAL MEN.-The deaths of the following eminent foreign medical men are announced :-Dr. Karl Schönlein, of the Naples Zoological Station. He was born in 1858 and studied in Halle. He was afterwards assistant to Professor Fick in Würzburg and for a couple of years acted as Professor of Physiology in the University of Santiago, Chili. Since 1892 he had been in charge of one of the divisions of the Naples Zoological Station. His published papers dealt principally with the physiology of the nervous and muscular systems. -Dr. Joseph Finger, Emeritus Professor of Medicine in Lemberg, at the age of 80 years.-Dr. Denis Monier, Professor_of Biological Chemistry in the University of Geneva. --Dr. Wolfhügel, Professor of Hygiene and Bacteriology in the University of Göttingen.-Dr. Thomas, formerly Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Rheims Medical School.Dr. Leon Pluymers, Assistant in the University of Liége.— Dr. Joseph Ritter von Maschka, formerly Professor of WILLIAM THOMSON CRABBE, F.R.C.S. EDIN. Forensic Medicine in the German University of Prague, a By the death of Mr. William Thomson Crabbe, which post which he held from 1858 to 1891. He was exceedingly occurred on Feb. 13th, Birmingham has lost one of her best-popular both with students and with the laity and was at known medical men. Mr. Crabbe was educated at Edinburgh, taking the L.R.C.P. and L.M. in 1865 and the F.R.C.S. in 1872. He practised for some time near Edinburgh, but finally made up his mind to devote himself entirely to medical mission work. He commenced 'this first of all at Aberdeen, but in 1876 accepted an offer to go to Birmingham as the head of the newly-founded Medical Mission in that city. There his work was so successful that soon it became necessary to provide further accommodation. In the spring of 1896 Mr. Crabbe's health began to fail and he took a six months' holiday, visiting Egypt and the Holy Land-a proceeding which greatly benefited his condition. He continued his work until December, 1898, when he was taken suddenly ill. He underwent an operation with the result of obtaining relief, but he gradually got weaker and died on Feb. 13th. He leaves a widow and three sons, two of whom are members of the medical profession.

CHARLES ARTHUR DIXON, M.R.C.S. ENG.,
L.R.C.P. LOND.

By the death of Mr. Charles A. Dixon on Feb. 6th at the age of 30 years the medical profession in Leeds has sustained a severe loss, his career from early student days down to the time of his enforced retirement from active work having been one of great promise. His good work at the hospital under the late Mr. McGill gave him an early reputation in medical circles and in later years

various times elected to important and honourable posts by bis professional and professorial colleagues. He was in his seventy-ninth year.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.-Mr. H. K. Lewis will publish immediately the Lumleian_Lectures, “On the Principles which Govern Treatment in Diseases and Disorders of the Heart," by Sir R. Douglas Powell, Bart., M.D. Lond. The same publisher has also in the press a new work by Mr. J. W. Taylor, F.R.C.S. Eng., on "Extra-Uterine Pregnancy," also a work by Dr. Maro Tuchmann "On the Exploration of the Urethra and Bladder." Both of these works will be fully illustrated.

VACCINATION LITERATURE.-At the meeting of the Cirencester Board of Guardians held on Feb. 15th it was stated that an answer had been received from the Local Government Board in reply to a letter from the guardians asking whether they had power to incur the expense of purchasing and distributing literature in favour of vaccination. The Local Government Board wrote that, assuming this literature to consist of pamphlets and leaflets and to be issued by some responsible authority on the subject, the Board would have no objection to the guardians incurring reasonable expense in obtaining the same and distributing it

in the union.

letter to Dr. Bond, the medical officer of the union and The guardians decided to send a copy of the honorary secretary of the Jenner Society, asking him to send the necessary pamphlets for distribution.