42 Obituaries

OBITUARIES.

ROBERT ALEXANDER LUNDIE, M.B., C.M., F.R.C.S.E. now far Many, from Edinburgh, who were students here in the- either in seventies, Arts, Science, Divinity, or Medicine, will share the keen regret with which his professional brethren heard of Dr. R. A. Lundie's sudden on death 18th December from the results of a bicycle accident. Among the many brilliant students attending the University in these years there were few who surpassed him in strength of character, vigorous intelligence, and width of interests, and not many who stood so high as he did in the estimation of his fellows and for whom a career of future eminence was so confidently predicted. Robert Alexander Lundie was born in Birkenhead in 1855, the elder son of the Rev. Dr. R. H. Lundie, a well-known minister of the Presbyterian Church of England, who took a leading part in social work in Liverpool. His mother, who survives him, is a daughter of the late Charles Cowan of Westerlea, Member of Parliament for the City of Edinburgh. Having received his early education in the Upper School of Lundie entered Liverpool College, Edinburgh University at the age of from sixteen, and, that time onward, paid all his expenses out of the bursaries and scholarships which he gained. In most of his classes a he took distinguished place; and, as illustrating his varied interests, it may be mentioned that, amongst other honours, he gained in his course Arts the first prize for Latin Verse, the third for Logic*, the first medal in Natural Philosophy, and a medal and prize in. Mathematics. In 1875 he graduated as M.A. with First-Class Honours in Mathematics. From the Arts classes he passed to those of Science, and in these also he was one of the foremost men of his year. He won medals and other honours in Botany, Chemistry, and Geology, and gained the Robert Wilson Memorial Prize as the best student in Senior Chemistry and the Falconer in was Fellowship Geology. It expected by many of his in friends these days that he would make a career and a name for himself in science, or possibly as an explorer. In 1877 he took the degree of B.Sc., qualifying for it doubly?in Mathematics and in the Natural Sciences. At this time, like many other sons of the manse who have ultimately the joined ranks of medicine, he had thoughts of entering the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, and became a student in the New College. There he was associated in close companionship with Henry Drummond,. Robert W. David Barbour, Patrick, George Adam Smith, and many others who became his life-long friends. Edinburgh Medical Journal, Vol. XXII. No. 1.

Dr. R. A. Lundie. Obitticiries 4S

After one year spent at the College, however, he felt that his life- work lay in another direction, and he returned to the University to- study medicine. Although he did not take quite so distinguished a place in the medical classes as he had done in those of the other faculties, he continued to be a very enthusiastic and successful student. Having graduated M.B. and C.M. in 1880, he acted as House Physician to Dr. Brakenridge and as House Surgeon to Professor Chiene in the Eoyal Infirmary, and he was also one of the Presidents of the Royal Medical Society. In 1881 Lundie decided to devote himself to medical practice irr Edinburgh, but his plans were delayed by a serious attack of typhoid fever, after which he made two voyages to South Africa as a ship's surgeon. On his return he settled down in the Grange district of Edinburgh, in which locality he has spent thirty-seven strenuous years in general practice. During twenty-two of these years he was associated with his friend Dr. E. H. Blaikie as Assistant Medical Officer to the Longmore Hospital for Incurables. In 1884 he was married to Annie, daughter of Mr. Charles Henry Moore, who soon became a friend of his friends, and to whose watchful care and sympathetic comradeship in all his varied interests he owed his singularly happy home life. In the same year he became a Fellow of the Eoyal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. During the earlier years of his practice Lundie made a thorough study of the subject of ophthalmology, to which his scientific attain- ments specially inclined him. For several years he was private assistant to Dr. Argyll Eobertson, and he acted for some time as Assistant Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Eoyal Hospital for Sick Children. He also wrote at least one valuable paper on an ophthalmologica! subject. After Dr. Eobertson's death he had some thought of devoting himself entirely to this branch of medicine, but he finally decided to continue in general practice, the human interest of which had great attractions for him, and for which his kind heart and ready sympathy fitted him in no ordinary degree. Not many men in large practice are able to keep themselves so well informed as he did in regard to the recent advances in scientific medicine. As illustrating his keen insight and enterprise, it may be recalled that he was one of the first in Scotland to make use of the thyroid treatment of myxoedema, and that he discovered for himself (in July 1892) the important fact that the remedy could be as efficaciously given by mouth as by subcutaneous injection. This, it was afterwards found, had been discovered shortly before by Professor Howitz of Copenhagen, Dr. Hector Mackenzie of London, and Dr. E. L. Fox of Plymouth, but, at the time when Lundie made his observations, their experience had not been published?in this country, at least. 44 Obituaries

He was also the first in Edinburgh, and one of the very first in this to country, perform successfully an emergency operation for perforated ulcer. This gastric operation, which was performed in 1894 in a house on a private servant girl who was not able to be removed to has been hospital, frequently referred to, with good reason, as a very remarkable achievement for a general practitioner. Although never a fluent speaker, Lundie frequently took part in the of proceedings various medical societies, and contributed a number of on papers medical and surgical subjects which were models of lucid and logical statement. One of the best of these was the admirable summary with which he opened the Discussion on the Treatment of Myxoedema in the Medico-Chirurgical Society on 15th February 1893. His abounding energy found further outlet in medical politics, and he was an active and useful member of many committees and associa- tions. At the beginning of the war he was Chairman of the Edinburgh and Leith Division of the British Medical Association, and at the time of his death he was Treasurer and President-Elect of the Edinburgh branch of the same body. He always retained his keen interest in pure science, and he con- tributed two original papers to the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. One of these (read on 20th December 1897) was "On the Passage of Water and Other Substances through India-rubber Films"; and a the other, written year later in collaboration with Dr. Cargill Knott, dealt with the obscure subject of "Dew-Bows." Both of these communications aroused much interest when they were delivered, and are still as regarded authoritative. For many years he has acted as Examiner in Physiology to the Koyal College of Surgeons. In the intervals of his busy practice he found time to write occasional on papers scientific subjects for lay publications such as Chambers' Journal. He also was responsible for a large proportion of the medical articles in Chambers' Encyclopedia, the editor of which, Dr. David Patrick, was one of his oldest and most intimate friends. Lundie was widely read in general literature and had a retentive memory, especially for poetry. Those of his friends who accompanied him on botanical and geological excursions or fishing expeditions will recall how Browning, Lowell, and Bret Harte, the Border Ballads, and the a Ingoldsby Legends shortened many long day's tramp over the hills. Since 1914 he has thrown himself with his usual tireless energy into all sorts of war work in a way that would have tried the strength of a many younger man. He acted as Convener of the Edinburgh and Leith Medical Emergency Committee, as Chairman of the Edinburgh and Leith Local Medical War Committee, and served on several other Boards. He also undertook extra hospital work and looked after for many patients colleagues who had gone on foreign service. Obituaries 45-

He took a hearty interest in the work of the Grange United Free Church, of which he was an elder for about thirty years, and also in many charitable and philanthropic causes. Some years ago he spent much unavailing energy in endeavouring to persuade the authorities of some of the Presbyterian Churches in Edinburgh to keep their and doors open on week-days for rest private prayer. Only a few weeks before his death he had the great sorrow of losing his only son, Captain (Acting Major) R. C. Lundie, D.S.O., an able and gallant officer in the Royal Engiueers who had won high distinction in France. It is not for us to say what Robert Lundie's death means to his wife, to his only daughter, and to his aged mother, nor is it easy to write of what it means to the many who had the privilege of knowing him well. At every stage of his career his strong steadfast character and eager friendliness drew other men to him, and they remained his friends for life. Though many of them have latterly seen him but seldom, they always found the old ties as close as ever in spite of new interests, new friends, and new associations. Principal Sir George " Adam Smith?a fellow-student of New College days?writes: He was dearly loved by his friends; and 011 the occasions I have met him since?alas ! too few?I have never failed to be profited by our inter-

. as course. . . We shall always remember him one devoted to the service of his fellow-men from his earliest days till his death, as a very hard, thorough, accurate, and unselfish worker, and as the kindest and most gentle of friends." Robert Lundie was a man of strong and unselfish character, who warmly appreciated the good in others and ever thought little of him- self. He has left behind a host of friends who will always feel that they are better men for having known him. How happy is he bora and taught That serveth not another's will; Whose armour is his honest thought, And simple truth his utmost skill!

This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise or fear to fall; Lord of himself, though not of lands, And having nothing, yet hath all. J. T.