History of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons
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HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS by LEITH G. DOUGLAS, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C), F.A.C.S. Douglas, Leith G. History of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-9691397-0-5 1. Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. — History I. Title. RD118.A1D68 617'.95'06071 C83-098477-1 ©The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. 1983. All rights reserved. ISBN 0-9691397-0-5 Publisher: Anita Wood, Can Wood Communications, Ltd. Printed in Canada TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................. I PREFACE ................................................................................................................................. II CHAPTER I .............................................................................................................................. 1 CANADIAN PLASTIC SURGERY BEFORE THE PLASTIC SURGEONS ............................................. 1 CHAPTER II ............................................................................................................................. 9 THE FOUNDERS OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS ...................................... 9 CHAPTER III .......................................................................................................................... 19 FOUNDING OF THE SOCIETY THE EARLY YEARS: 1947-1959 ................................................... 19 CHAPTER IV .......................................................................................................................... 35 THE YEARS OF EXPANSION: 1960-1969 .................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER V ........................................................................................................................... 58 THE YEARS OF CONSOLIDATION: 1970-1979 ......................................................................... 58 CHAPTER VI .......................................................................................................................... 75 THE YEARS OF DECISION: 1980-…........................................................................................... 75 APPENDIX A ......................................................................................................................... 83 PRESIDENTS OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS ......................................... 83 APPENDIX B ......................................................................................................................... 84 HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS ........................ 84 APPENDIX C .......................................................................................................................... 85 MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS ............................................ 85 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 93 Foreword It is an honour to be invited to contribute the foreword to this excellent book, History of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, written by my capable and discerning colleague, Leith G. Douglas. To write the history of a happening, when most of the main characters in the drama are contemporary, is a difficult task. The presence of principals leads to accuracy on the one hand, but problems on the other. It can make it difficult for the author to interpret the reasons for, and the meaning of, events that have happened. Leith G. Douglas is eminently qualified to undertake the task of writing about the history of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. His undergraduate training at Dalhousie University sets the stage because that university has certain academic qualities which instill an interest in, and respect for history. The author's avocations have helped develop historical perspectives. These include an interest in military history, and collecting militaria, antique bibles and medical texts. He is a philatelist of note. This background qualifies Leith Douglas to gather historical data and interpret the role of these data in the development of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. His capacity for humanistic observation also qualifies the author to interpret the pooled thoughts of his colleagues about the future and to add his own opinions. Leith Douglas either knew, or studied under the majority of the founders of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He was, himself, a contributor to The Years of Expansion: 1960-1969. The Years of Consolidation: 1970-1979 is a formidable chronicle, meticulous in detail, about our younger colleagues and their contributions to the exciting new developments within plastic surgery, such as replantation surgery, microsurgery and craniofacial surgery. The Years of Decision: 1980... presents open comments and predictions on a number of subjects of concern to the specialty, such as advertising, cosmetic surgery, interfacing with other surgical specialties, and the influence of medico-legal actions on the practice of the specialty. Just as the past and the present of this, the youngest of surgical specialties, are almost beyond belief, so is the future of plastic surgery beyond knowing. The bottom line of the history of plastic surgery has been that of development and innovation. The future of the Society will depend on the training of a continuous supply of new innovators and developers, or as another plastic surgery historian, Frank McDowell, has referred to them — surgical giants. The breadth of detail in this book is impressive. It is good to be able to thank those that went before us and set the stage for the challenges and rewards of plastic surgery. I join Dr. Douglas' host of admiring colleagues in expressing appreciation for chronicling the past of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons and presenting us with a challenge for the future. William K. Lindsay, M.D. Professor and Chairman Division of Plastic Surgery Department of Surgery University of Toronto i Preface In the case of most organizations historical material accumulates over a period of years, usually in a somewhat haphazard way, until someone makes an effort to put it all together. By this time many valuable documents and accounts of personal experiences may have been irretrievably lost. Fortunately our Society has not suffered too badly in this respect. This is largely due to the efforts of Dick Farmer and, in the past few years, Jim Ross, in gathering, classifying and preserving memorabilia of the Society. I became its historian in 1980 and the next year, following a decision by the executive, was asked to be the coordinator for the writing of the history of the Society. Reid Waters, who was president at that time, played a major part in this decision. His subsequent help was invaluable in a great many ways. In the belief that the history of a professional society, particularly a small, close group such as ours, is best written by a member of that society, I have undertaken the task myself and accept responsibility for any shortcomings. It is appropriate that this history should be published coincident with the VIII International Congress of Plastic Surgery in Montreal. This is a big year for Canadian plastic surgery, since our country is acting as host for the first time. Chapter I presents a short description of the work of some of the surgeons of the nineteenth century who were practising at that time what we now call plastic surgery, and an account of some of those of the early twentieth century who preceded the plastic surgeons. The founders of the Society are introduced in Chapter II and their careers outlined. Chapter III traces the history of the Society from its beginning to the end of the 1950s. This is done in three sections. The first describes the business considered during the annual meetings and the social events held in connection with them. The second introduces the members who joined the Society during this period. The third gives an overview of conditions in the country as a whole, describing where and when different surgeons began their practices and to some extent what they were doing. The fourth chapter has a similar format and is concerned with the events of the 1960s. With the decade of the 1970s the influx of new members becomes too great to permit a personal note on each of them, so the chapter devoted to this decade contains only the equivalent of the first and third sections of Chapter III and gives particulars of only a few of the new members. The last chapter details the business and social events of the first three years of the 1980s in its first part. The second part contains some philosophical musings on what we have been and what we may become. The opinions of a number of our members are presented along with a few thoughts of my own. This book is, by definition, the history of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. It does not, therefore, attempt to describe in any way the art and science of plastic surgery itself or the changing state of the art in this country. Events are recorded only in relation to the affairs of the Society and its members. In the writing of a history it is obvious that the author must continuously strive for accuracy. The danger is not only in making an error, but in the fact that such a history acquires the sanctity of a gospel and errors that are introduced are perpetuated and may continue