Robert William Philip

Robert William Philip
Born (1857-12-29)29 December 1857
Govan, Renfrewshire
Died 25 January 1939(1939-01-25) (aged 81)
Edinburgh
Nationality British
Occupation Extra-Physician to H.M. the King in Scotland; Consulting Physician, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh; Professor of Tuberculosis, Edinburgh University
Years active 1887 - 1939
Known for Tuberculosis
Relatives

Sir Robert William Philip Kt MD LLD FRCPE FRCP FRSE FRCSE[1][2] (29 December 1857 – 25 January 1939) was a pioneer in the treatment and control of tuberculosis. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, Edinburgh in 1889 and knighted in 1913[3]

The son of Rev George Philip, he was educated at the Royal High School and the University of Edinburgh. He married Elizabeth Motherwell[1] in 1888, and Edith McGaw in 1938.[1] For much of his life, he lived in Charlotte Square.[4] 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]

Work on Tuberculosis

Robert William 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. He founded the first tuberculosis dispensary clinic in Edinburgh at 13 Bank Street[8] on the 25th November 1887.

In 1894 he founded the Royal Victoria Hospital at Craigleith House in 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 TB treatment was recognised and adopted by government and the first similar clinic in England opened at Paddington.

He was knighted in the 1913 New Year's Honours list,[9] took a chair in tuberculosis at Edinburgh University in 1917.[1] He was president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh from 1918 to 1922.[10] In 1927 he was president of the British Medical Association.[10] In 1955 his work was recognised on a Belgium Stamp[11]

Academic offices
Preceded by
William Russell		 President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
1918–1923 		Succeeded by
George Lovell Gulland

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Royal College of Physicians Obituary
  2. ↑ Whitaker's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage 1921
  3. ↑ "Fellows of the Royal Society in Edinburgh" (PDF). p. 245.
  4. ↑ Commemorative stone plaque at 45 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
  5. ↑ Glasgow Herald Obituary
  6. ↑ Scottish Second General Hospital Information
  7. ↑ Family Search record of grave
  8. 1 2 History of Craigleith House
  9. ↑ "The New Year Honours." Times London, England 1 Jan. 1913: 7+. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 5 Feb. 2016.
  10. 1 2 Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh Obituary
  11. ↑ Belgium Stamp from 1955

External links

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