DEC. 29, 1956 OBITUARY MEDICALBRITISHJOURNAL 1551 was distinguished by the practical humanity of his outlook, for many years. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, and his work being always carried out conscientiously, capably, a son, Dr. C. S. France, who carries on the family practice and with good humour, so that the cliche, " He was very in Wigan. popular with both patients and staff," was indeed true in A. K. W. writes: I had the privilege of working with his case. His obscure and painful fatal illness, bravely Dr. C. F. France in the last 10 years of his active partici- borne, has come as a shock to his many friends working pation in general practice. His tall, stooping, spare figure, in the chest service of the North-west Metropolitan Region. formally clothed in black, his rather abrupt manner, and and deep sympathy from them goes out to his widow and his patent kindly affection for his patients were all charac- daughter.-W. E. S. teristic of the Victorian family doctor at his best. The death occurred on November 26 at his home at Flight Lieutenant NATHAN GEE died suddenly at Singapore Hamilton, Lanarkshire, of Dr. J. HUME PATTERSON, who on*December 5 at the age of 30. Nathan Gee was born on was county medical officer of health for Lanarkshire for September 19 and was educated at Christ's College, Finchley, some years between the wars. He was 85 years of age. and at St. Catherine's College, Cambridge. From Cam- Joseph Hume Patterson, who was born on August 10, 1871, bridge he went on to Guy's Hospital and qualified M.R.C.S., took the Scottish triple qualification in 1907 and forthwith L.R.C.P. in 1951, taking the degrees of M.B., B.Chir. in the entered the Scottish public health service. His first appoint- following year. After holding house appointments at the ment was that of senior assistant bacteriologist to Glasgow general hospitals at Ipswich and Margate, he joined the Corporation, and in 1908 he joined the county staff as R.A.F. and had volunteered to stay in the Service after bacteriologist for Lanarkshire. Four years later he took his period of national service was completed. the D.P.H. of the Scottish Royal Colleges, and became A. M. A. writes: Nat Gee's vitality and his great personal senior assistant county medical officer, and in 1925 was charm won him a wide circle of friends, who will find his appointed county medical officer in succession to the late sudden death from poliomyelitis a grievous loss. He parti- Dr. John T. Wilson. During the first world war he served cularly delighted in, and excelled at, outdoor sports, while in the R.A.M.C. in German East Africa, where he organized his boundless enthusiasms for clinical work gave promise of a laboratory service and had general control of the public future success in the career in Canada which he was already health of the area. After the war he was elected F.R.F.P.S. planning after demobilization. He married in 1953, and in 1920, and up to the time of his retirement from the post deep sympathy will be felt for his widow and son and for of county medical officer in 1936 he examined in pathology his parents and sister. for the F.R.F.P.S. and in public health for the D.P.H. at Edinburgh and Glasgow. After his retirement from the staff of the county council he was appointed professor of The obituary of Dr. Louis FINDLAY was printed in the public health in St. Mungo's College, Glasgow, a post he Journal of November 24 (p. 1243). filled with distinction for some ten years. He was an F. M. and J. M. write: May we, two refugee doctors, add enthusiastic golfer and a life member of the Hamilton Golf a few lines to the obituary of this lovable, cheerful, and Club. Predeceased by his wife in 1940, he is survived by most loyal of friends ? It is almost exactly 22 years since a married daughter. we first met in a Flemish youth hostel, and we have been able to watch his brilliant career ever since, from the holiday camp for diabetic children in Surrey to Great Dr. MARGARET H. MUTCH (Mrs. JOHN MCCOLL) died with Ormond Street and a year's work in the U.S.A. These were tragic suddenness at her home in Dundee on December 3, the beginnings of a life's work devoted to refugees of all at the early age of 33 and less than five months after her nationalities, creeds, and colours. We remember his friend- marriage. Margaret Helen Mutch, a daughter of the manse, ship with the late Miss Simmonds, the dietitian at Hammer- was born near Inveraray, on March 6, 1923, and was smith Hospital; his love of Mozart; his genius for getting on educated at St. Leonard's School for Girls and at St. with strangers, gaining their respect, then their trust and Andrews University, where she graduated M.B., Ch.B. in affection. Can we. who owe everything to Louis Findlav 1945. After graduation she held resident posts in Hull, and his father, speak on behalf of countless thousands from York, Birmingham, and at Ballochmyle Hospital, Ayrshire. the camps of Germany, Italy, and the Middle East ? We She obtained the D.C.H. of the English Royal Colleges in shall never forget him. 1948. After two years as medical registrar at Victoria Hos- pital, Kirkcaldy, she was appointed in 1952 to the Tuber- G. R. H. writes : By Louis Findlay's death, so soon after culosis and Chest Unit, Bangour General Hospital, West that of his colleague Norman Begg, the World Health Lothian, leaving there to get married last July. While Organization loses another devoted British servant in whom at Bangour she was especially interested in children, and was the health problems left by the war evoked unsuspected and responsible for much of the early B.C.G. work in the coun- remarkable talents as an inernational health administrator. ties of West and Mid-Lothian, where she will long be His gentle manner and quiet twinkling humour clothed an remembered. She was a good clinician, wise beyond her incisive mind and a capacity for shrewd judgment and firm years, and beloved and trusted by her patients. Invariably decision. His calm heroism in the face of a long illness she undertook the hard work and responsibility entrusted aroused deep admiration in his friends and deep grief as to her with cheerful competence. Blessed with good looks they realized what the outcome would be. He was a very and an attractive personality, Margaret Mutch made friends warm and lovable man. wherever she went, and her loss is a very personal one to all her former colleagues. The sympathy of all who knew her is extended to her husband, parents, and brother in their The Services deep sorrow.-G. J. S. Dr. C. F. FRANCE died at his home at Wigan on Decem- Lieutenant W. B. Shardlow, R.A.M.C., has been mentioned in ber 4 at the age of 87. Charles Frederic France was born dispatches in recognition of services in Cyprus. Major-General E. P. N. Creagh, C.B., late R.A.M.C., has been on June 13, 1869, and was educated at Clifton College and appointed Colonel Commandant, Royal Army Medical Corps, in at Owens College, Manchester. He qualified in 1893 and succession to Major-General J. M. Macfie, C.B., C.B.E., M.C., soon afterwards settled in Wigan, where he was to prac- tenure expired. tise for over 50 years, delaying his retirement until the end Colonel J. B. Forsyth, T.D., R.A.M.C., T.A., has been ap- of the second world war. He held office as vice-chairman pointed Honorary Colonel 52 (L) Division, R.A.M.C., T.A., in of the Wigan Division of the B.M.A. and sat as a county succession to Major-General J. M. Macfie, C.B., C.B.E., M.C., magistrate from 1909 to 1939, being chairman of his rota tenure expired. 1552 DEC. 29, 1956 MEDICAL NOTES IN PARLIAMENT Medical Notes in Parliament Universities and Colleges Burns and Scalds UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Mrs. L. JEGER (Holborn and St. Pancras, South, Lab.) In Congregation on October 18 the degree of M.Ch. was con- con- ferred on B. V. McEvedy. asked the Minister of Health on December 17 what The Board of the Faculty of Medicine has co-opted Dr. Janet sultations he had had with the British Medical Association M. Vaughan, Principal of Somerville College, for a further -regarding the desirability of making burns and scalds which statutory period of two years from Michaelmas Term, 1956. needed medical attention notifiable by general practitioners In Congregation on November 3 the degree of B.M. was ,and hospitals to medical officers of health. Mr. R. H. conferred on R. H. Martin. TURTON said he had no power to make burns and scalds Dr. A. H. T. Robb-Smith has been appointed Curator of the notifiable, but exchange of information between those re- Botanic Garden until the first day of Michaelmas Term, 1959, sponsible for treatment and prevention of home accidents in succession to the late Dr. A. Quinton Wells. -might be arranged by local agreement and was being In Congregation on November 24 the degree of B.M. was con- encouraged. ferred on J. D. C.