Robert William Philip

Robert William Philip
LLD FRCPE FRCP FRSE FRCSE
Photograph of the grave of Robert William Philip, Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh
The grave of Robert William Philip, Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh
Born (1857-12-29)29 December 1857
Govan, Renfrewshire
Died 25 January 1939(1939-01-25) (aged 81)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Nationality Scottish
Occupation Extra-Physician to H.M. the King in Scotland
Consulting Physician, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh
Professor of Tuberculosis, University of Edinburgh
Years active 1887 - 1939
Known for the treatment of tuberculosis
Relatives
  • Elizabeth Motherwell (wife) (m.1888)[1]
  • Edith McGaw (wife) (m.1938)
  • Alexander Philip, calendar reform, cousin
40 to 45 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh

Sir Robert William Philip Kt FRCPE FRCP FRSE FRCSE[1][2] (29 December 1857 – 25 January 1939) was a Scottish physician and pioneer in the treatment and control of tuberculosis.

Life

Philip was born on the 29 December 1857, the son of Margaret Josephine Robertson (1822-1908) and Reverend George Philip DD (1819-1904), the minister of the Union Church in Govan.[3]

He was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh, going on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a MB CM in 1882 and receiving his doctorate (MD) in 1887. In 1889 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Sir Thomas Grainger Stewart, Sir William Turner, Robert Flint and David James Hamilton. He served as the Society's Vice President from 1927 to 1930.

In 1888 he married Elizabeth Motherwell,[1] and Edith McGaw in 1938.[1] He lived for much of his life at 45 Charlotte Square,[4] one of Edinburgh's most exclusive addresses.

During World War I, he held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Scottish Second General Hospital in the Royal Army Medical Corps.[5][6]

He died in 1939 and is buried in Grange cemetery in Edinburgh.[7] The grave lies on the main eastern path, not far from the entrance. His wife Edith Josephine McCaw lies with him. His parents lie nearby against the north-facing embankment.

Family

His first wife, Elizabeth Motherwell from County Sligo died in 1937 and is buried in Dean Cemetery.

Work on tuberculosis

Philip qualified to practise in 1882, the same year that Robert Koch discovered the tuberculosis bacillus. The focus of his work over the coming years was the implementation of his vision for coordinated treatment of tuberculosis. On 25 November 1887 he founded and opened the first tuberculosis dispensary clinic in Edinburgh at 13 Bank Street.[8] In 1890 he was appointed to the honorary staff of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and progressed to become a full time physician. He lectured at the extramural school, lecturing on diseases of the chest to the Edinburgh College of Medicine for Women as well as lecturing on this topic to the classes at Edinburgh University. [9]

His most noteworthy student was Halliday Sutherland who continued his crusade against tuberculosis.[10]

In 1894 he founded the Victoria Hospital for Consumption at Craigleith House, Craigleith Road, Edinburgh as a sanitorium, designed to work in conjunction with the dispensary clinic. Prior to the discovery of medication to treat tuberculosis, his focus was to isolate patients from family and friends and offer sun, fresh air and exercise.[8]

By 1912 the integrated approach to tuberculosis treatment was recognised and adopted by the Government with the first similar clinic opening in Paddington, London.

In 1917 he became the chair in tuberculosis at University of Edinburgh.[1] He was president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh from 1918 to 1922.[11] In 1927 he was president of the British Medical Association.[11]

Honours and awards

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1889.[12] He was knighted in the 1913 New Year's Honours list.[13][14]

In 1955 his work was recognised on a Belgium Stamp[15]

In 1966, Royal Victoria Hospital TB Trust gifted £3,000 to the Royal College of Physicians to provide a lectureship as a memorial to Sir Robert Philip for the advancement of medical and surgical science with reference to TB and allied diseases, the prevention of these diseases and the care and treatment of people suffering from them.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Royal College of Physicians Obituary
  2. ↑ Whitaker's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage 1921
  3. ↑ Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
  4. ↑ "Robert William Philip stone plaque". openplaques.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  5. ↑ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  6. ↑ "The Wartime Memories Project - The Great War - The 2nd Scottish General Hospital, Edinburgh". www.wartimememoriesproject.com. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  7. ↑ Family Search record of grave
  8. 1 2 "Craigleith House". www.craigleithhill.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  9. ↑ "Obituary Sir Robert Phillip". Br Med J. 1 (4074): 251–254. 4 February 1939. doi:10.1136/bmj.1.4074.251. ISSN 0007-1447.
  10. ↑ https://hallidaysutherland.com/about-this-site/
  11. 1 2 Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh Obituary
  12. ↑ "Fellows of the Royal Society in Edinburgh" (PDF). Royal Society of Edinburgh. p. 245.
  13. ↑ "Gale - Enter Product Login". find.galegroup.com. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  14. ↑ Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
  15. ↑ Belgium Stamp from 1955
Academic offices
Preceded by
William Russell		 President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
1918–1923		 Succeeded by
George Lovell Gulland
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