Commemorative Plaques Consideration To: BDJ FEATURE Ruth Doherty, 1 2 Managing Editor, R

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Commemorative plaques consideration to: BDJ FEATURE Ruth Doherty, 1 2 Managing Editor, R. Bairsto and S. Gelbier* British Dental Journal, The Macmillan Building, 4-6 Crinan Street, London, N1 9XW Email: [email protected]

Earlier this year English Heritage, the BDA Museum and The Lindsay Society for the History of Dentistry unveiled a plaque to Lilian Lindsay (1871‑1960). This paper outlines the history and administration of the blue plaque scheme and celebrates the contributions made by dentists who have been commemorated with plaques.

THE BLUE PLAQUE SCHEME Fig. 1 Lilian Murray with family and friends in the Commemorative plaques are a common garden at 3 Hungerford sight on buildings in London and other Road. (far right Lilian Murray, sitting on Uncle cities, towns and villages across the UK. Frank’s knee). Reproduced There are at least 300 plaque schemes that with courtesy of the BDA exist in the UK at the present time.1 Such Museum schemes are run by a range of different bodies and organisations including local authorities, civic societies and local history groups. Best known of these is the London-wide blue plaque scheme, which has been administered by English Heritage since 1986 and works alongside other plaque initiatives run by groups and by the Society of Arts (Royal Society of funding in recent years, however, have led bodies such as Westminster City Council Arts) in 1866. The Society went on to English Heritage to suspend nominations and the City of London Corporation. In put up 35 plaques in London. The first to the blue plaques scheme and to reduce total there are around 1,800 plaques in two blue roundels were erected in 1867 to its advisory role while it secures alterna- the capital, 880 of which belong to the commemorate the birthplace of Lord tive ways of funding the scheme. English Heritage scheme.1 Byron and the residence of Napoleon III.1 The idea of placing memorial tablets In 1901 the administration of the scheme THE CASE FOR LILIAN LINDSAY on the houses of illustrious historical passed to London County Council (LCC). Lilian Murray was born at 29 Hungerford figures was first mooted in the House of The LCC was responsible for creating the Road, Lower Holloway, in north London Commons in 1863 by the politician and familiar blue plaque design that was first on 24 July 1871. Figure 1 depicts Lilian reformer William Ewart (1798‑1869).2 used in the 1940s and in establishing Murray with family and friends in the From the outset, the aim of the scheme formal selection criteria in 1954. Upon garden at 3 Hungerford Road, sitting on was to celebrate the link between the per- the disbanding of the LCC in 1965, the her uncle’s knee. She attended Camden son and the building and to encourage the administration of the scheme passed to School for Girls, founded by Frances Mary preservation of houses of historic interest. Greater London Council (GLC) and after Buss, and then won a two-year scholar- The initial proposal received widespread the abolition of the GLC in 1986 to English ship to North London Collegiate School support and the scheme was established Heritage. As custodian of the scheme, in Camden where Miss Buss was head- English Heritage has erected 360 plaques mistress. She wanted Lilian to become 1Head of Museum Services at the British Dental Association Museum, 64 Wimpole Street, London, in the capital and has also taken on an a teacher of deaf and dumb people but 2 W1G 8YS. [email protected]; Unit for the History of advisory role, offering guidance on com- Lilian declined, adamant that she wanted Dentistry, KCL Dental Institute, floor 18, Dental Tower, Guy’s Hospital, St Thomas’s Street, London SE1 9RT memorative plaques to numerous groups, to become a dentist. Buss was enraged

*Correspondence to: Professor Stanley Gelbier societies and organisations across the and ensured her scholarship was not Email: [email protected] country. Severe cuts to its government extended and so Lilian left the school.

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In 1860 the Royal College of Surgeons as Macleod’s mechanic and was now of England awarded the first qualifica- a dental surgeon at the hospital. The tion in dental surgery – the Licence in couple formed an attachment but Lilian Dental Surgery (LDS). In 1881 the census on qualification had financial as well recorded 214 women working as ‘den- as family commitments so she returned tists’, however, none were qualified. to London to practise at 69 Horney Lilian was determined to become a Rise, in Upper Holloway. She set up her qualified dentist and so was appren- first practice with a loan for rent and ticed to a dentist for three years, taking one hundred pounds for her equipment. a preliminary examination before she ‘I bought a dental engine for £3, a lathe Fig. 2 Lilian Lindsay in the BDA library at 23 Russell Square c.1923. Reproduced with registered as a dental student. In her and a vulcanizer. The dental chair cost courtesy of the BDA Museum autobiography, reprinted in the British £14!’3 After ten years she had repaid her Dental Journal (BDJ) in 1991, she states debts and Lilian and Robert were married ‘this was hard work but I had started on in the local church, St Luke’s, Hillmarton the road to dentistry and must not turn Road, in 1905. They moved back to back. After one or two defeats I managed Edinburgh and set up a practice together to pass, and to visit the Registrar of the at 2 Brandon Street. General Medical Council who told me A turning point came in 1920 when the next step must be to enter a dental Robert was appointed secretary of the school and suggested the National Dental British Dental Association (BDA), in which Hospital (NDH) in Great Portland Street’.3 capacity he was to play a vital part in In 1892 she applied to the National the negotiations towards the Dentists Dental Hospital where the Dean, Henri Act of 1921. The couple moved to a flat Weiss, would not allow her to enter the above the BDA headquarters at 23 Russell building, suggesting she might distract Square (Fig. 2). The association started a the men. Her interview was conducted small library and Lilian Lindsay became in the street as he leaned out of the its honorary librarian. In 1921 the library window. Lilian was refused admission consisted of 360 books and by 1951 there to the NDH but Weiss suggested she were 10,000.5 It was at this point that apply to Edinburgh Dental Hospital and she started collecting dental objects and Fig. 3 Oil painting of Lilian Lindsay commissioned by the BDA using contributions School. Here she was accepted by the ephemera, which became the foundation collected from members and painted by Dean, William Bowman Macleod, but of the BDA museum collection. Kathleen Williams in 1942. Photographed by some of his colleagues were unhappy Lindsay was a prolific writer and Filip Gierlinski and reproduced with courtesy of the BDA Museum about accepting women. The treasurer, charismatic speaker. Her first paper was Sir Henry Littlejohn, tried to dissuade published in 1912 while she was practis- her even after accepting her fees, saying ing and a further 60 between 1925 and ‘I am afraid, Madam, you are taking the 1957. Her most important works include bread out of some poor fellow’s mouth.’4 A short history of dentistry6 and her Lilian was a talented student, gaining scholarly translation of the second edi- the Wilson Medal for dental surgery and tion of Pierre Fauchard’s Le chirurgien pathology, and the medal for materia dentist, 1746.7 medica and therapeutics in 1894. In 1895 On the death of her husband in 1930 Lilian Murray became the first qualified Lilian dedicated even more time to her British woman dentist, gaining the LDS work and the BDA. She became subedi- with honours from the Royal College of tor for the BDJ in 1931, an office she Surgeons of Edinburgh. was to hold for over 20 years. In 1933 The Royal College of Surgeons in she became the first woman branch England persisted in barring women president and in 1946 the first female Fig. 4 Plaque design 2013. Reproduced with permission from English Heritage from sitting its LDS examinations, twice president of the BDA. voting against the proposal. Finally in Lindsay gained many honours 1908, it agreed to admit women to all its and awards and was delighted to be the Edinburgh college awarded Lilian examinations and four years later Lily appointed CBE in 1946. She received an honorary FDS. The RCS England also Fanny Pain, later Harwood (1889‑1974) the degree of Doctor of Laws (hon- honoured her with the John Tomes Prize became the first woman to gain an LDS ouris causa) from the University of in 1945 and Colyer Gold Medal in 1959. from the English College. Edinburgh in 1946 and a Higher Dental At the Royal Society of Medicine she was On her first day at dental school, Lilian Diploma from the Royal College of the C E Wallis lecturer in 1933, president met Robert Lindsay who had worked Surgeons, Edinburgh in 1946. In 1959 of the odontological section in 1945

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a dentist. Table 1 shows Lilian Lindsay’s Table 1 Lilian Lindsay’s various addresses and suitability for commemorative plaque various addresses and the reasons for Address of Lilian Lindsay Verification/suitability for plaque their consideration. Born at 29 Hungerford Road As a result it was agreed that the House demolished in 1871 most suitable place for a plaque in her Lived at 81 Hungerford Road Home from 1872‑1892 and site of plaque honour would be at the renumbered (renumbered and now 3) 3 Hungerford Road, Islington, which had Edinburgh Dental School Unknown address while a student been her home from 1872 until 1892 Practised and lived here between 1896‑1905 when she left to study in Edinburgh. 69 Hornsey Rise, London House demolished In June 2010 the Blue Plaques Panel 2 Brandon Street, Edinburgh Practised and lived here between 1906‑1919 approved the proposed site of the From January 1920–1937. The BDA moved from Russell Square in March plaque and English Heritage began the Flat above the BDA at 1935 but the Dentists Registers records this address for Lilian Lindsay 23 Russell Square negotiations to gain consent for the until 1937. 23 Russell Square is now part of SOAS, University of London plaque from the owners of the property. Unconfirmed exact address. English Heritage can find no evidence she Flat in Hill Street near BDA lived at 13 Hill Street. Dentist Register states 13 Hill Street as address at 13 Hill Street from 1938‑1959 PLAQUE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE Flat in Lower Richmond Road, 1939‑1945 Putney Once all the necessary consents were Flat at 21 Robert Adam Street, 1948. Address taken from voting paper in BDA library in place, the plaque was designed and W1 London manufactured; a process that takes at Purchased by Robert and Lillian in 1928 for their retirement. Lilian lived Greendoors, 54 Church Street, there from 1945‑1960 until her death, along with her two sisters Evelyn least two months. The design of blue Orford, Suffolk and Mary plaques has gradually evolved since the 26 Wolverton Avenue, Place of death outset of the scheme in the 1860s. The Kingston upon Thames first plaques were made of encaustic ware plaques and intended to be blue, and president of the history of medicine case, which involved identifying and but blue proved to be difficult and section in 1950. In 1938 Lindsay became verifying all of her former addresses in expensive to manufacture, and so the president of the British Society for the London. Post office directories, census plaques were more often than not brown study of orthodontics. records, electoral registers, maps and in colour. The design included the name Lilian Lindsay died on 31 January 1960, street renumbering plans were some of of the Society of Arts worked into the aged 88. It is clear that she was a remark- the official sources consulted during the pattern around the edge. In 1901 the able woman and that her life is worthy of course of the research, as well as the London County Council continued commemoration (Figs 3 and 4). BDA’s own extensive archives. Lilian’s with the roundel, but introduced exact whereabouts in the years following a laurel wreath border and ribbon THE PROCESS FOR GETTING the BDA’s move to 13 Hill Street proved embellishments to the standard plaque A PLAQUE particularly difficult to pinpoint. The design and experimented with different In 2004 an application was made to authors continued to try to find evidence colours and materials. English Heritage by Professor Stanley of Lindsay living at 13 Hill Street. In 1921 the London County Council Gelbier, later joined by the Lindsay Evidence was obtained from someone produced a detailed report on the Society for the History of Dentistry, to who worked in the BDJ office at the time design and material of the plaques commemorate Lilian with a blue plaque. that Lindsay actually lived further along with the intention of improving their After careful consideration her name the street. However, no official records appearance, longevity, suitability and was shortlisted by the Blue Plaques could be found by English Heritage to cost effectiveness. Blue was chosen as Panel – which advises English Heritage support this claim. the principal colour as it was deemed on all new plaques suggestions – at its One of the key tasks was to determine to stand out the best against London’s meeting in October 2004. Her name was which addresses had survived and would buildings. In 1923 Royal Doulton was added to the shortlist of suggestions be suitable for commemoration. It turned commissioned to produce the first glazed awaiting detailed historical investiga- out that 69 Hornsey Rise, where Lindsay ware plaques. In 1938, the modern tion by one of the historians in the Blue first practised, had been demolished, plaque design was created by a student Plaques Team. Due to the popularity of as had her birthplace address at at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. the blue plaques scheme and the limited 29 Hungerford Road. But her childhood This design omitted the wreath and number of plaques that are erected each address at 3 (formerly 81) Hungerford ribbon motif and simplified the layout. year, it takes several years for a sugges- Road, Lower Holloway, was still Carters Tile Company in Poole took tion reaches the top of the shortlist. standing. It was a promising contender over the manufacture of plaques when In 2010 Susan Skedd, Blue Plaques for a plaque as it had been her family Doulton moved out of London in 1956.1 Historian at English Heritage, started the home for many years and it was while Since 1981 manufacture has been carried detailed research into Lilian Lindsay’s living there that she decided to train as out by independent craftspeople.

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Manufacture is undertaken by the and the London University where he mixing and pouring of a thick clay slip studied the structure and diseases into a casting mould. When sufficiently of the teeth. In 1830 he started as a dry the cast is removed and the outline chemist in Store Street, Bloomsbury, but of the inscription and border are piped soon decided to return to dentistry. In onto the face of the plaque. The plaque is 1834 he was appointed surgeon dentist then fired at 1,230 °C and glaze applied: to the Metropolitan Hospital (now the white for the lettering and border, Royal Free) and established a large and which are in low relief and blue for the prestigious practice at Gower Street. background. The plaque is then fired a Robinson embarked on many different second and final time at a slightly lower ventures throughout his life with great Fig. 5 Plaque to commemorate James Robinson temperature. The slightly domed design energy. He founded the first dental ensures that the plaque is self-cleaning journal in Britain, the British Quarterly and requires virtually no maintenance. Journal of Dental Surgery which The back is partially hollowed out to appeared in 1843 and Forceps. Although reduce the weight and to facilitate both were short-lived they established fixing to buildings. After firing, a plaque the periodical as the forum for the dental measures nineteen inches in diameter profession to share its ideas. and is about two inches thick.1 Robinson was deeply committed to Lilian Lindsay will only be the third improving the education and status of dentist to have been honoured by the the dental profession. He believed that blue plaques scheme in London and will dentistry as a profession should be self- take her place alongside James Robinson governing with its own incorporated and Sir Edwin Saunders. Curiously, body awarding diplomas. He was heavily there is no plaque to Sir John Tomes involved with dental politics at the time (1815‑1895) who is considered to be the and was the first president of the College father of the BDA. He was considered of Dentists in 1856. He was integral to the for a plaque by the GLC in 1979, but foundation of the National Dental Hospital. there was no suitable surviving building During Robinson’s day, many Fig. 6 Portrait of James Robinson. Reproduced with courtesy of the BDA Museum to commemorate. Tomes was born in individuals administered anaesthetic Weston in Avon in Gloucestershire agents in the decade 1835‑1845. On and was apprenticed to an apothecary 16 October 1846, at Massachusetts of a chauffeur Frederick Churchill while in Evesham before studying at Kings General Hospital in Boston, the first a medical student called William Squires College and Middlesex Hospital Medical public demonstration of ether anaesthesia gave an ether anaesthetic.8 School. From 1840 to 1850 he lived took place. The anaesthetist was William Robinson wrote to the Medical Times and practised at 41 Mortimer Street Morton and the surgeon was John on 28 December 1847 reporting details (now in Cavendish Place), Marylebone, Warren; the operation was the removal of of his experiments so far in which he and between 1850 and 1873 he lived a lump under the jaw of Gilbert Abbott. predicted the far reaching effects of and worked at 37 Cavendish Square. In Present in the room was another surgeon, anaesthesia.9 He continued to trial his both instances the original buildings no Jacob Bigelow, who wrote a letter to techniques and to demonstrate them to a longer exist. On his retirement in 1876 a friend in London that described the wide variety of audiences. He devised his he moved to Upwood Gorse in Caterham, process. This letter was carried on the own apparatus for administering ether Surrey, which is outside the geographical mail boat SS Arcadia, which docked in and these received the widest publicity. remit of English Heritage’s blue plaque Liverpool in mid-December 1846. His observations formed the basis for scheme. On 19 December 1846 in both the first book on anaesthesia which was Dumfries and London, ether anaesthetics published in March 1847 entitled A JAMES ROBINSON (1813‑1862) were given. Few details are available treatise on the inhalation of the vapour In 1991 a blue plaque to James about the Dumfries anaesthetic, but of ether.10 In this he presented 25 of Robinson, the pioneer of anaesthesia and it is believed that the patient had his own case studies and details of his dentistry, was erected at 14 (formerly 7) been run over by a cart and required apparatus and method. Within a few Gower Street, Bloomsbury, which was an amputation of his leg; it is also weeks inhalation anaesthesia became his practice address from 1842 until his believed that he died. At the home of generally accepted in Britain mainly due death (Fig. 5). The son of a naval captain, an American botanist, Francis Boott, to the efforts of James Robinson. Robinson was born in Hampshire in 1813 James Robinson removed a tooth of a James Robinson withdrew from the (Fig. 6). At the age of 14 he was articled Miss Lonsdale under ether anaesthesia. forefront of anaesthesia by April 1847 to a surgeon in London and after his Two days later at University College after only four months. Why he did so is apprenticeship he entered Guys Hospital Hospital, Robert Liston amputated the leg not clear but he moved on to other areas

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Fig. 8 View rear of Fairlawns, site of the plaque. Reproduced with courtesy of the BDA Museum

Fig. 7 Garden party at Fairlawns in 1886. Reproduced with courtesy of the BDA Museum of interest. Tragically, James Robinson he met Alexander Nasmyth and in 1846 died on 4 March 1862 as a result of a took over his practice at 13A George gardening accident. Street, Hanover Square. Shortly after this he was appointed surgeon dentist to EDWIN SAUNDERS (1814‑1901) Queen Victoria and her family. He served Edwin Saunders was the son of a book them for over 40 years and was awarded publisher and from an early age he a knighthood in 1883.12 showed great aptitude for all things Saunders played an important part in mechanical. He toyed with the idea of the development of dentistry between engineering but took an opportunity to the 1850s and 1870s. He campaigned be apprenticed to Mr Lemaile in dental with Sir John Tomes and other leading Fig. 9 Portrait of Edwin Saunders. Reproduced mechanics. He started by giving lectures dentists for regulation within the with courtesy of the BDA Museum on dental mechanics and was soon profession and the establishment of the giving lectures at St Thomas Hospital. In BDA. In 1886 he was elected president 1836 he set about to study the eruption of the association and hosted a garden of children’s teeth, particularly those party at his home, Fairlawns (the site of children who illegally worked in of the plaque) (Figs 7 and 8). He was factories. Children aged under nine were instrumental in the foundation of the not allowed to work in factories as a Odontological Society, which was formed result of the 1802 Factory Act. However, at his Mayfair home in 1856. He was the parents were often financially desperate society’s treasurer and then president. for their children to work and frequently A portrait of Saunders is illustrated in lied about their children’s ages. Saunders Figure 9. He was a trustee of the Dental published the results of his survey in The Hospital of London and as a generous Fig.10 Edwin Saunders’ dental instrument teeth, as a test of age with reference to benefactor enabled its move from Soho set. Photographed by Filip Gierlinski and reproduced with courtesy of the BDA Museum factory children.11 This was presented to Square to Leicester Square. Figure 10 members of parliament. displays Saunder’s instrument set. In 1840 Saunders founded the London The blue plaque to Saunders was OTHER PLAQUES TO DENTISTS: Institute for the Diseases of the Teeth in erected in 1997 by English Heritage FRANK HARRISON (1859–1912) Windmill Street, Tottenham Court Road. on the gate pier of his former home at Research has revealed the whereabouts Its purpose was to provide treatment to Fairlawns, 89 Wimbledon Park Side. It of two plaques commemorating dentists the poor and for students to gain some is a substantial detached house built elsewhere in the country. The first is experience under the supervision of by Saunders in 1853 to designs by the installed on a semi-detached stucco experience practitioners. The institution architect Rawlinson Parkinson. It was house dating from about 1825 at was the first of its kind in Europe. his permanent home from 1894 until his 297 (previously 289) Glossop Street in While working on cleft palate research death in 1901. Sheffield. The plaque commemorates

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Frank Harrison who practised at this GEORGE CUNNINGHAM address (Fig. 11). It was erected by (1852‑1919) the British Society of Dental and The second plaque known to be in Maxillofacial Radiology and unveiled existence is the brown plaque at 2 King’s by Keith Horner, Professor of Oral and Parade in Cambridge, which commemorates Maxillofacial Imaging at Manchester George Cunningham, ‘the father of UK University and President of the Society preventive dentistry’, who practised at this in July 2005.13 address from 1883 to 1919. Frank Harrison was born in Sheffield George Cunningham (Fig. 13) was in August 1859, the son of a dentist born in 1852 in Edinburgh. He studied Joseph Harrison. He received his medicine at university and lived in Paris. medical and dental training in Sheffield, Cunningham was one of three Englishman Fig. 11 Plaque to Frank Harrison. Photographed by Sam Smith Edinburgh and Charing Cross hospital to graduate from the New Harvard School in London. He gained his LDS in of medicine in 1876. He graduated as a 1881 from Edinburgh and returned to doctor of dental medicine (DMD) with Sheffield to set up in practice with his honours, which enabled him to gain his father. He was instrumental in setting LDS without further examination. After up the Dental Department of Sheffield Harvard he travelled around the USA Royal Hospital and the School of Dental visiting leading practitioners and became Surgery in 1898. His interests were imbued with the concept of conservative wide and varied and he lectured and dentistry. He returned to England and set published many books and papers. He up his own practice at 2 King’s Parade in published a book with Richard Denison Cambridge in 1883. Pedley entitled Our teeth in 1908 Cunningham continued to be an active (Fig. 12).14 He was a member of the figure in international dentistry and Representative Body of the BDA and attended many congresses throughout the President of the Midland Counties his life. Together with Charles Godon, branch and a frequent demonstrator of Cunnningham helped to set up an his innovations at BDA conference. international organisation of leading In 1896 the world was caught up with dentists – the Federation Dentaire Fig. 12 Our teeth, 1908 written by Richard Dennison Pedley and Frank Harrison. 18 the excitement of what was then termed International (FDI). Reproduced with courtesy of the BDA Library the new photography. Edmund Kells At the annual general meeting of the in New Orleans, Keonig and Walkhoff association in 1886 he read a masterly in Germany and Frank Harrison in paper ‘Dentistry and its relation to the the UK were all producing crude but state’.19 This was a devastating expose of recognisable ‘skiagrams’. It is difficult to the appallingly high number of incidents know who produced the first radiograph of dental disease in the armed services but Frank Harrison was certainly and the inadequacy of treatment. His the first in the world to discuss and attempts to galvanise the BDA and in reproduce them in his papers ‘X-rays in turn government into providing services the practice of dental surgery’15 and ‘The for the armed forces finally resulted in new photography and its application to the appointment of four dental surgeons dental practice’ published in the British to treat soldiers serving in South Africa Dental Journal in 1896.16. It was based in 1901.18 on his paper presented to the Midland Cunningham was also active in Counties branch of the BDA on 26 June workplace and industrial dentistry. in 1896. In it he explains the potential Cunningham co-authored the 1899 for the use of X‑rays, particularly in report to the Home Secretary on the Fig. 13 George Cunningham. Reproduced with courtesy of the BDA Museum the provision of artificial crowns, the use of phosphorus in the manufacture treatment of roots and in cases of of Lucifer matches.20 His detailed difficult eruption of teeth. He illustrates contribution involved visits to 25 main was known at the time as phossy jaw. his paper with glass lantern slides.17 match factories and the examination His examinations revealed the appalling It is interesting to note that Harrison’s of large numbers of workers’ mouths. dental condition of the working class BDJ obituary and appreciation makes no He concluded that fumes of yellow and he recommended compulsory reference to his contribution to dental phosphorus caused no harm but in an dental examinations, hygienic working radiology. He died abruptly at the age of unhealthy mouth could lead to chronic conditions and the provision of 52 years following a short illness. necrosis of the bones of the jaws, which mouthwashes and other facilities. The

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Fig. 14 George Cunningham at the Cambridge Dental Institute. Reproduced with courtesy of the BDA Museum

Fig. 15 John Clover’s portable regulating ether inhaler, c.1880. Photographed by Filip Gierlinski

report finally led to the prohibition of practitioners, three stand out which have the use of yellow phosphorus in the a connection with dentistry, notably manufacture of matches in 1906.18 those to Sir Harold Gillies, John Hunter But it is Cunningham’s dedication to and John Clover. Sir Harold Gillies preventive dentistry and promotion of (1882‑1960) was a pioneer plastic oral hygiene that he is most remembered surgeon. During the First World War as for. As a prominent member of the a result of disfiguring facial injuries he representative board’s school children’s began to reconstruct faces. During the committee ‘to conduct the collective Second World War he was responsible investigation as to the condition of the for plastic surgery units throughout teeth of school children’, he was aware the country. An English Heritage blue of the desperate need for preventive plaque was erected on his former home dental treatment and education of at 71 Frognal, Hampstead, in 1997. parents and children. The committee The plaque to commemorate John presented seven detailed reports between Clover (1825‑1882) was erected at 1891 and 1897 but no action followed. 3 Cavendish Place, Marylebone, Cunningham was disappointed but by Westminster City Council in Fig. 16 Illustration from John Hunter’s work not undeterred and he independently collaboration with the History of of 1773 showing the front view of the upper set up the Cambridge Dental Institute Anaesthesia Society. Clover was a and lower jaws of an adult with a full set in 1907 (Fig. 14). The clinic was the pioneer in anaesthetics. He carried on of teeth. Reproduced with courtesy of the BDA Library first of its kind and it aimed to provide James Robinson’s work and devised conservative treatment and oral health new means of administering ether and education. All extractions took place chloroform (Fig. 15). erected by Birmingham Civic Society at the local hospital. The clinic was The surgeon and anatomist John in 1958. It was re-sited in 1965 when designed with a playroom and garden.21 Hunter (1728‑1793) made a great the present building was opened. The In 1908 the clinic formed part of the contribution to our understanding tablet commemorates the centenary school dental service marking a turning of medicine and dentistry. His work of the Hospital, which was founded point in dental health services. The natural history of human teeth: in January 1858 as the result of the He was an early member of the explaining the structure, use, formation, inspiration and charitable endeavours BDA from its inception in 1880 and growth and diseases23 in 1773 accurately of Samuel Adam Parker, Dental Surgeon continued to be an active member, being described the structure of the teeth based and his associates. It was unveiled by instrumental in the formation of the upon his detailed observation of the the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor Eastern Counties Branch. The plaque was anatomy of the jaws and mouth (Fig. 16). of Birmingham, Alderman Donald erected by the Eastern Counties Branch The plaque was erected on his home at Johnstone on 7 June 1958. The current of the BDA in the 1980s.22 31 Golden Square. location of the plaque is unknown. It is not always an individual that This is by no means an exhaustive list OTHER MEDICAL FIGURES WITH is commemorated on a plaque as the of the commemorative plaques of interest CONNECTIONS TO DENTISTRY following example demonstrates. There is to the dental community and the authors Among the numerous plaques a commemorative plaque at Birmingham would be interested to hear of any others commemorating leading medical Dental Hospital. The metal plaque was spotted by readers of this paper.

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ANOTHER MEMORIAL The authors wishes to thank Jane Biro and Dr Susan 11. Saunders E. The teeth a test of age, considered with Skedd from English Heritage, Shirley Zangwill from reference to the factory children addressed to the FOR LILIAN LINDSAY the BDA Eastern Counties Branch, Rita McLean from members of both houses of Parliament. The Lindsay Society for the history of Birmingham Civic Society and Professor Deborah London: Renshaw, 1837. White at Birmingham Dental Hospital and School. 12. The obituary of Sir Edwin Saunders. Br Dent J 1901; dentistry was formed in 1962 to promote Also to Peter Hirschmann and Dr Vivian Rushton 22: 200–203. 13. Hirschmann P. Frank Harrison (1859‑1912). interest, study and research into the for sharing their research regarding Frank Harrison. Dent Also to Melanie Parker for access to her research into Hist 2006; 43: 62–66. history of dentistry. It brings together the addresses of Sir John Tomes. Special thanks to 14. Denison Pedley R, Harrison F. Our teeth: how built up, how destroyed, how preserved. London: Blackie members of the dental profession, Margaret Murray and members of the Murray family for their kind help and access to the family archives. and Son, 1908. historians and other interested people 15. Harrison F. The ‘x-rays’ in the practice of dental 1. Cole E. Lived in London: blue plaques and the stories surgery. Br Dent J 1896; 17: 624–628. to research and discuss the history of behind them. London: Yale University Press, 2008. 16. Harrison F. The new photography and its application dentists and dentistry. 2. Rennison N. The London blue plaque guide. London: to dental practice. Br Dent J 1896; 17: 343–344. The History Press, 2009. 17. Figures K, Smith C. A profile of Frank Harrison: Each year the society hosts the Lilian 3. Cohen R, Cohen M. The autobiography of Lilian a pioneering Sheffield dentist from 100 years ago. Lindsay Memorial Lecture at the BDA Lindsay. Br Dent J 1991; 171: 325‑328. Br Dent J 2012; 213: 405–408. 4. Cohen R. Lilian Lindsay 1871-1960. Brighton; The 18. Davis C. George Cunningham: the man and his conference (www.bda.org/lindsaysociety). Southern Publishing company, 1973. message. Br Dent J 1969; 127: 527–537. It also organises an annual conference 5. Hillam C. The remarkable career of an accidental 19. Cunningham G. Dentistry and its relation to the heroine: Lilian Lindsay (1871-1960). Dent Hist 1997; state. Br Dent J 1886; 7: 49. with expert speakers from within and 32: 23‑39 20. Thorpe T E, Oliver T, Cunningham G. Reports on the outside the profession. Drawing on the 6. Lindsay L. A short history of dentistry. London: use of phosphorus in the manufacture of lucifer J Bale Sons and Danielsson Ltd, 1933. matches. London: Eyre and Spottiwoode, 1899. success of 2012’s anniversary conference 7. Fauchard P. The surgeon dentist or treatise on 21. Obituary of George Cunningham. Br Dent J 1919; this year’s meeting will take place in the teeth. Translated by Lilian Lindsay. London : 40: 217–223. Butterworth and Co Ltd, 1946. 22. Zangwill S. Onward the toothbrush brigade: George Maidstone between 4‑6 October. 8. Hillam C. James Robinson (1813‑1862) professional Cunningham, pioneer of preventive dentistry. History irritant and Britain’s first anaesthetist. Edinburgh: of Dentistry Newsletter 2001; 9: 21. Online article Further information about the Society Second Lilian Lindsay Memorial Lecture, 1996. available at http://historyofdentistry.co.uk/index_ and conference are available from Brian 9. Robinson J. Medical Times 1847; 15: 273–274. htm_files/2001Oct8.pdf (accessed August 2013). 10. Robinson J. A treatise on the inhalation of the 23. Hunter J. The natural history of human teeth: Williams, the honorary secretary, at vapour of ether, for the prevention of pain in explaining the structure, use, formation, growth and [email protected]. surgical operations. London: Webster and Co, 1847. diseases. London: J Johnson, 1771.

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