The jubilee of anaesthetic midwifery : an inaugural address to the Glasgow Gynaecological and Obstetrical Society, on Tuesday 19th January, 1897 / by A.R. Simpson.

  • Simpson, Alexander Russell, Sir, 1835-1916.
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The jubilee of anaesthetic midwifery : an inaugural address to the Glasgow Gynaecological and Obstetrical Society, on Tuesday 19th January, 1897 / by A.R. Simpson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    descriptions of his preparations and drawings, but also in the composition of his lectures. On one occasion he had written, at the request of his chief, part of a lecture dealing with microscopic observations which were then quite novel. His young enthusiasm led him to write strongly of the importance of these researches, and of the light which the use of the microscope was likely to throw on various pathological problems. It was only ready in time for the professor to take into the class-room without previous perusal. Several times as he read the lecture to the class he looked up from his paper to glower at his assistant; and when they got to the side-room he shook his fist in his face, saying, I don't believe one word of it. But though Thomson was sceptical as to the value of the instrument that was to revolutionise his science, he had the shrewdness to recognise the rare gifts of his young assistant, and when he was unable to conduct his course in the session 1837-38, he got Simpson appointed as interim lecturer. Becomes Obstetrician. He it was who first pointed out that in the sphere of mid- wifery Simpson would find the most fitting field for the exercise of his faculties; and, through the kindness of Dr. Moir, I can show you the note with which he furnished the student graduate when he advised him to get the profit of another course of the lectures of his colleague. Professor Hamilton. It reads:— My Dear Sir,—I beg leave to introduce to you the bearer of this note, Dr. James Simpson, an old pupil of your own, who has acted as my amanuensis for a long time. He is desirous to attend your lectures this winter, and I shall feel particularly obliged to you if you will have the goodness to give him a ticket for that purpose, and shall be happy in an opportunity at any time of obliging you in a similar manner.—Yours faithfully, John Thomson. 80 George Street, 19th November, 1S33. It was thus not till he had been for more than a year a graduate that he set himself earnestly to master midwifery, and busy though he necessarily was with pathology, by the time he had to read a dissertation to the Royal Medical Society m November, 1835, he produced a work on Diseases of the nacenta, which is still a classic. In 1838 he began an