353 Obituary _ ERIC BIDDLE MC, MBLOND. Dr. Eric Biddle, pathologist to the East Suffolk and I Ipswich Hospital, died on Aug. 21 at the age of 54, as the result of a motor-cycle accident. He took the Con- joint qualification at Guy’s in 1915 and joined the RAMC to serve with a field ambulance. In the course of this work he was awarded the MO aim promoted OU Lim rank of major. After demobilisa- tion he returned to Guy’s, where he held house-appoint- ments, took his London MB in 1922, and worked under Eyre as senior assistant bacteriolo- gist. " Eric Biddle," writes a student of those days, "was one of those people who give you the impression that the years make no difference to them. With his large bald head, square forehead, and thickset figure he had not changed in looks since the day in 1922 when he gave us our first lesson in practical bacteriology by showing us how to flame a platinum loop." For a time he acted as pathologist to the Devonshire Hospital, Buxton, before settling in 1927 at Ipswich where he quickly won a circle of friends far wider than most medical men achieve during busy lives. At the hospital his capable hands were full, for almost all the pathological work of Ipswich was done in his labora- tory. As transfusion officer he was a pioneer in the use of stored blood, which was used for all transfusions at his hospital even before 1939. He also won a reputation as a medicolegal expert and his handlirig of the laboratory procedures in several Yard-assisted police investigations proved his ability. An excellent witness, his urbanity and plain soundness would soothe counsel ruffled by technicalities or seeking to discredit the medical expert. Yet in the midst of these varied professional activities, which he enjoyed to the full, he found time to start the nurses’ music club for the hospital, and to do good work for the YMCA, while many of his colleagues leaned on his skill as an amateur photographer when preparing articles for the medical journals. During this war he acted as medical officer to the 9th Suffolk Home Guard and also interested himself in the signals and radio work of the unit. K.S., to whom we are indebted for some of this informa- tion, writes : " My affection was captured by this genial personality the day I went as a young-would-be patho- logist to do a summer vacation locum in his laboratories : later I was to discover the solid unimpeachable integrity which was the secret of his reputation. Biddle liked his fellow-men and had the art of understanding them ; he handled his medical staff with the same friendly con- fidence as he tackled his work, and achieved a happy spirit of collaboration without effort. There was no flustering or irritating him : he knew what was wanted and plainly sought to provide it. He worked hard and’ enjoyed his leisure, travelled far to attend society meet- ings,.dine, and discuss with his fellows current laboratory affairs, was abreast of advances in technique, keen for improvements, and likely as not to pull from his pocket a new device he had modelled and from his little attache case a bottle of hock over which it might the better be discussed. A man of ability, charm, and great warmth of affection, he will be missed both by his own hospital and by many pathologists throughout the southern counties." . . JAMES RODGER WATSON M D, BSCEDIN., D P H Dr. Watson, who died on August 1, was in practice in the West of Scotland for some forty years. A native of Falkirk, he was educated at George Watson’s College, Edinburgh, and later at Edinburgh University, where he graduated as MA, with honours in natural science, in 1891. He took his 6 Sc with honours in 1893, his MB, CM with honours in 1895, and his MD in 1898, and he also took the Cambridge DPH. The greater part of his life was spent at Hamilton in Lanarkshire, where his sound judgment and reliability won general respect, while his kindness and unassuming nature won affection. For many years he was ophthalmic surgeon under the education committee of -the county. More than one attempt was made by friends in authority to attract him to the path of scientific specialism, but he had early formed the opinion that the most useful work open to him was that of a conscientious general practitioner, and from this he never swerved. When in 1928 he retired to Gairloch, Dunbartonshire, he had leisure to enjoy his many interests. He took keen pleasure in botany, music (he played both ’cello and piano well), and photography-especially colour photography. His wife survives him. WILLIAM CRAMER PH D BERLIN, D SC EDIN., M R C S Dr. Cramer, formerly a member of the staff of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, died on August 10 in the United States, where he had been working since 1939. He was born in Germany, in the Rhineland, 67 years ago, and on leaving school he went to the University of Berlin, where he was trained as a chemist. After taking the de- gree of Ph D, he obtained an appointment in the university department of pharmacology. Here he met E. E. Bashford, with whom he formed a friend- ship which lasted till Bashford’s death in 1919.- In 1903 Bash- ford became the first director of the newly founded Imperial Cancer Research Fund, and one of his earliest appointments to the scientific staff was Cramer, who took up his duties in the laboratories at the old Examination Hall on the Embank- ment in 1904. He stayed with Bashford during the first’ critical and fruitful four years of the Fund’s history, when the foundations of experimental cancer research were laid. During this period he learned from Bashford and J. A. Murray all that was then known about cancer, microscopic anatomy, the distribution of cancer in the vertebrate kingdom, the autonomous nature of new growths, the methods of grafting of tumours, and so on- and gained thereby a clear intellectual grasp of the pro- blems which confront the investigator bent ’on solving one of the most intricate of all medical problems. In 1908 he was appointed to the staff of the physiology department in Edinburgh, under Sharpey-Schafer, as lecturer in chemical physiology. In Edinburgh he became interested in the clotting of blood, in lipoids, and in the interaction of glands of internal secretion. Des- pite these new interests, he continued researches in cancer ; he estimated, for example, the water-content of rapid- and slow-growing tumours, the lipoid-content of tumours, and the effects of varying percentages of oxygen in the air breathed on the rate of growth of tumours. In 1914 Cramer’s position in Edinburgh became some- what uncomfortable. He had been aggressively German in his outlook, and this was not forgotten when national passions were aroused by the German invasion of Belgium which opened the war of 1914-18. His difficulties, however, were solved by the generosity of Murray, who had succeeded Bashford as director of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. With the consent of his com- mittee, Murray appointed Cramer to the scientific staff ; and through Sir Thomas Barlow and Lord Balfour he secured his naturalisation as a British subject in 1915. During the war he qualified in medicine by passing the Conjoint examination. Between 1915 and 1939 Cramer worked tirelessly at cancer research. All branches of the subject came alike to him ; statistics, carcinogenesis, X rays or radium, viruses and hormones-all interested him and gave scope to his restless curiosity and his ingenuity in invent- ing hypotheses and explanations. He became known by his writings to all cancer workers throughout the civilised world, and for many years he interpreted cancer research to readers of The Lancet as a contributor to our editorial
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Obituary_ ERIC BIDDLE
MC, MBLOND.Dr. Eric Biddle, pathologist to the East Suffolk and
I Ipswich Hospital, died on Aug. 21 at the age of 54, asthe result of a motor-cycle accident. He took the Con-joint qualification at Guy’s in 1915 and joined theRAMC to serve with a field ambulance. In the course of
this work he was awarded theMO aim promoted OU Lim rank
of major. After demobilisa-tion he returned to Guy’s,where he held house-appoint-ments, took his London MB in1922, and worked under Eyreas senior assistant bacteriolo-gist. " Eric Biddle," writes astudent of those days, "was oneof those people who give youthe impression that the yearsmake no difference to them.With his large bald head,square forehead, and thicksetfigure he had not changed inlooks since the day in 1922when he gave us our first lessonin practical bacteriology byshowing us how to flame a
platinum loop." For a time he acted as pathologist tothe Devonshire Hospital, Buxton, before settling in 1927at Ipswich where he quickly won a circle of friends farwider than most medical men achieve during busy lives.At the hospital his capable hands were full, for almost allthe pathological work of Ipswich was done in his labora-tory. As transfusion officer he was a pioneer in the useof stored blood, which was used for all transfusions athis hospital even before 1939. He also won a reputationas a medicolegal expert and his handlirig of the laboratoryprocedures in several Yard-assisted police investigationsproved his ability. An excellent witness, his urbanityand plain soundness would soothe counsel ruffled bytechnicalities or seeking to discredit the medical expert.Yet in the midst of these varied professional activities,which he enjoyed to the full, he found time to start thenurses’ music club for the hospital, and to do good workfor the YMCA, while many of his colleagues leaned onhis skill as an amateur photographer when preparingarticles for the medical journals. During this war heacted as medical officer to the 9th Suffolk Home Guardand also interested himself in the signals and radio workof the unit.
K.S., to whom we are indebted for some of this informa-tion, writes : " My affection was captured by this genialpersonality the day I went as a young-would-be patho-logist to do a summer vacation locum in his laboratories :later I was to discover the solid unimpeachable integritywhich was the secret of his reputation. Biddle liked hisfellow-men and had the art of understanding them ; hehandled his medical staff with the same friendly con-fidence as he tackled his work, and achieved a happyspirit of collaboration without effort. There was noflustering or irritating him : he knew what was wantedand plainly sought to provide it. He worked hard and’enjoyed his leisure, travelled far to attend society meet-ings,.dine, and discuss with his fellows current laboratoryaffairs, was abreast of advances in technique, keen forimprovements, and likely as not to pull from his pocketa new device he had modelled and from his little attachecase a bottle of hock over which it might the better bediscussed. A man of ability, charm, and great warmthof affection, he will be missed both by his own hospitaland by many pathologists throughout the southerncounties."
.
. JAMES RODGER WATSONM D, BSCEDIN., D P H
Dr. Watson, who died on August 1, was in practice inthe West of Scotland for some forty years. A native ofFalkirk, he was educated at George Watson’s College,Edinburgh, and later at Edinburgh University, wherehe graduated as MA, with honours in natural science, in1891. He took his 6 Sc with honours in 1893, his
MB, CM with honours in 1895, and his MD in 1898, andhe also took the Cambridge DPH. The greater part ofhis life was spent at Hamilton in Lanarkshire, wherehis sound judgment and reliability won general respect,while his kindness and unassuming nature won affection.For many years he was ophthalmic surgeon under theeducation committee of -the county. More than oneattempt was made by friends in authority to attracthim to the path of scientific specialism, but he had earlyformed the opinion that the most useful work open tohim was that of a conscientious general practitioner,and from this he never swerved. When in 1928 heretired to Gairloch, Dunbartonshire, he had leisure toenjoy his many interests. He took keen pleasure inbotany, music (he played both ’cello and piano well), andphotography-especially colour photography. His wifesurvives him.
WILLIAM CRAMERPH D BERLIN, D SC EDIN., M R C S
Dr. Cramer, formerly a member of the staff of theImperial Cancer Research Fund, died on August 10 in theUnited States, where he had been working since 1939.He was born in Germany, in the Rhineland, 67 years ago, and on leaving school he went to the University of Berlin,where he was trained as a
chemist. After taking the de-gree of Ph D, he obtained anappointment in the universitydepartment of pharmacology.Here he met E. E. Bashford,with whom he formed a friend-ship which lasted till Bashford’sdeath in 1919.- In 1903 Bash-ford became the first directorof the newly founded ImperialCancer Research Fund, and oneof his earliest appointments tothe scientific staff was Cramer,who took up his duties in thelaboratories at the old Examination Hall on the Embank-ment in 1904. He stayed with Bashford during the first’critical and fruitful four years of the Fund’s history, whenthe foundations of experimental cancer research werelaid. During this period he learned from Bashford andJ. A. Murray all that was then known about cancer,microscopic anatomy, the distribution of cancer in thevertebrate kingdom, the autonomous nature of newgrowths, the methods of grafting of tumours, and so on-and gained thereby a clear intellectual grasp of the pro-blems which confront the investigator bent ’on solvingone of the most intricate of all medical problems. In1908 he was appointed to the staff of the physiologydepartment in Edinburgh, under Sharpey-Schafer, aslecturer in chemical physiology. In Edinburgh hebecame interested in the clotting of blood, in lipoids, andin the interaction of glands of internal secretion. Des-pite these new interests, he continued researches incancer ; he estimated, for example, the water-content ofrapid- and slow-growing tumours, the lipoid-content oftumours, and the effects of varying percentages of oxygenin the air breathed on the rate of growth of tumours.
In 1914 Cramer’s position in Edinburgh became some-what uncomfortable. He had been aggressively Germanin his outlook, and this was not forgotten when nationalpassions were aroused by the German invasion of Belgiumwhich opened the war of 1914-18. His difficulties,however, were solved by the generosity of Murray, whohad succeeded Bashford as director of the ImperialCancer Research Fund. With the consent of his com-mittee, Murray appointed Cramer to the scientific staff ;and through Sir Thomas Barlow and Lord Balfour hesecured his naturalisation as a British subject in 1915.During the war he qualified in medicine by passing theConjoint examination.Between 1915 and 1939 Cramer worked tirelessly at
cancer research. All branches of the subject came aliketo him ; statistics, carcinogenesis, X rays or radium,viruses and hormones-all interested him and gavescope to his restless curiosity and his ingenuity in invent-ing hypotheses and explanations. He became known byhis writings to all cancer workers throughout the civilisedworld, and for many years he interpreted cancer researchto readers of The Lancet as a contributor to our editorial
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columns and a valued adviser. Experience of his speci-alty had widened rather than narrowed his outlook, andas a senior worker he displayed a tolerance of new ideas-indeed a friendliness towards them-that might not havebeen expected from his generally prickly manner towardsassociates. He retained a mind which kept its freshness,and it was characteristic of him that as a professionalinvestigator of cancer he should publish, in 1928, a bookentitled Fever, Heat Regttlation, Climate, and the Thyro-adrenal Apparatus which made stimulating reading forworkers in all these subjects. His interest in endocrineactivities naturally fused with his interest in carcino-genesis, and his last signed contribution to these columnswas on the hormonal relationship between the ovary andthe adrenal gland, and its significance in the etiologyof mammary cancer. That was in January, 1939, and afew months later, shortly before the outbreak of war, hewas on his way to make a new home in the United Statesand to continue his studies at the Barnard Free Skin andCancer’Hospital at St. Louis.
Dr. Cramer leaves a widow and two sons, the elder ofwhom is an officer in the British Army.
JAMES THOMAS WILSONM A CAMB., M B EDIN., F R S
AUSTRALIA, that great treasury of peculiar fauna,has provided inspiration - for many outstanding anato-mists. Prof. J. T. Wilson, who has just died at the age _.of 84, spent over 30 years there before he left, at the ageof 59, to take the chair of anatomy at Cambridge. Muchof the following account of his life we owe to the Journal
of anatomy which in 1941cieciicatecl a, volume to himon his 80th birthday. He wasbopn at Moniaive, in Dum-friesshire, in 1861, the son ofa Scottish schoolmaster. Ayouthful interest in naturalscience was fostered by hisfather’s taste for astronomy,and by the conversation of aneighbour, Dr. Grierson, an
authority on local antiquities,birds, -beasts, and plants.Wilson took his medical train-ing at Edinburgh. University ;and after qualifying and holdinga house-appointment at theRoyal Infirmary, he signed onas ship’s surgeon to a cargo-boat, to sail the China seas fora year and read philosophy.
On his return to Edinburgh he was appointeddemonstrator in anatomy by his former teacher,William Turner, and worked in the university depart-ment of anatomy for nearly a year. In 1886, when stillonly 25, he was invited to become demonstrator at thenewly founded medical school of Sydney University.He accepted ; four years later he was appointed the firstChallis professor in anatomy there, and in the same yearbecame the first overseas member of the AnatomicalSociety. He had a lively mind, avid for the opportuni-ties now before him ; in the following years he collab-orated with the physiologist C. J. Martin (now SirCharles Martin) in a study of the sense organs in thesnout of platypus ; he also made new observations onearly human embryos and on the anatomy of mono-tremes and marsupials. In addition, he held manyadministrative appointments, becoming a director of thePrince Alfred Hospital and its secretary for three years,president of the Linnean Society of New South Wales,trustee of the Australian Museum, fellow of thq-uni-versity senate, and dean of the faculty of medicine.He was a keen soldier, too, holding a commission in theNSW Scottish Rifles for 9 years, and commanding theAustralian Intelligence Corps from 1907 to 1912 ; duringthe 1914-18 war he was given the task of organisingcensorship in the State.
In 1920 he began a new career at Cambridge. Underhis guidance the anatomy department was reorganised,fully staffed, adequately equipped, and enriched withan extensive library. He indulged his skill with tools indevising new apparatus, he practised photography, heworked strenuously, and he argued sonorously with a
devastating grasp of his subject and a gift of expression.He was president of the Anatomical Society in 192425. In 1934, at the age of 73, he retired; but he con-tinued to live in Cambridge, an emeritus professor withmany admirers to visit him, throughout his eleven yearsof retirement.
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Professor Wilson was married twice and has childrenin England and in Australia. His second wife diedlast year.The photograph is by Mr. F. J. Pittock, FRPS, department
of anatomy and embryology, University College, London.
THE LATE DR. CABOT
H. J. S. writes :. The news of Dr. Cabot’s death hasled me to read again the long letters that I receivedfrom him during the last fifteen years ; they are full oflife, pungent, bubbling with humour, and reveal anastonishing insight into current affairs. Universityeducation, medical services, military campaigns, politics ;all are handled with a sure touch and a prophetic accuracy which now seems uncanny. In a letter dated April 13,1940, for example, he told me what he thought would bethe outcome of the end-of-war election in Great Britain :this is perhaps not the place for a quotation dealingwith political matters, and it is sufficient to say that hisreasoned forecast was correct.
, Not only was Cabot often right, but he knew he wasright ; this is one reason why he was such an uncom-promising fighter. I was working at Ann Arbor at thetime when h was dismissed by the University ofMichigan because his plans for the reform of medicalteaching were not acceptable. He refused to resign,so he was ordered to leave. The tension was great;no-one could be neutral, one either believed in HughCabot-or hated him. One day, just after lunch, hesummoned every member of the department of surgeryto his room. He told us quietly and unemotionally howthe impasse had arisen ; he said that he would nottolerate a state of affairs in which senior men devotedso much of their time to private work that their hospitalduties and their teaching were neglected. For the goodof the school the offenders must change their ways,They had refused ; they had prevailed on the presidentand regents of the university to get rid of the man whowas called a dictator and a disturber of the peace. Icannot recall his exact words, but they were somethinglike this : " I have failed to get what I believe and know.to be right for this medical school. I could capitulate,but I will not. This is an awkward position, one inwhich I hope none of you will ever be placed. But if
you are, however uncomfortable it may be, stick to yourprinciples and don’t worry too much about the cost."With these words Dr. Cabot walked out of the room, andout of the university. Xt seemed to us that his pro-fessional life was ended ; but it was not so, for withina fortnight the Mayo brothers asked him to join themat Rochester in a position inferior only to their own.
His death was like his life. He and Mrs. Cabot weresailing off the New England coast ; a storm arose, andthey had to fight hard to bring their little ship to safety.It was strenuous work, and the strain proved.too muchfor Cabot’s heart, which for some years had been behav-ing erratically. A storm, a fight, a goal’to be achieved:,that was what he loved.
THE MATRON OF PRESTON HALL
Miss E. Lee, who died last week, had from its foundationbeen matron of the British Legion Village, near Maidstone.She helped the settlement to grow from a small sanatorium of70 beds to a flourishing village of more than 1000 people.
’ In the 1914-18 war she served in Salonica and was appointedARRC. Later she worked at Papworth as assistant matronand from there she went to Preston Hall in 1925. " Her readycooperation and her sympathetic understanding of the
problems of rehabilitation contributed largely to the successof the sanatorium and village," writes J. H. C. ’
" At all hoursof the day and night she was ready to help. and she labouredunremittingly for the patients and staff who found in her o,tireless and ardent friend.... Her gentleness and kindnesswere outstanding. In the course of a long and treasuredassociation with her I cannot recall that she ever spoke ill ofanyone. But though merciful she was a shrewd judge ofhuman nature and had a deep knowledge of life." .
