Halliday Sutherland
"A born writer, especially a born story-teller. Dr. Sutherland, who is distinguished in medicine, is an amateur in the sense that he only writes when he has nothing better to do. But when he does, it could hardly be done better." G.K. Chesterton.
Tuberculosis in Edwardian Britain
Since the inception of this website earlier in the year, the “Press Kit” section has been “under construction”, but no longer: today I uploaded the first fact sheet: Tuberculosis in the Early Twentieth Century.
As the name suggests the section is to provide fact sheets for journalists providing facts about Halliday Sutherland and aspects of his life, referenced to credible sources.
The picture shows the German doctor, Dr Robert Koch who in 1882 identified Tubercle Bacillus as the bacteria that caused tuberculosis. It is hard to understate the importance of this discovery. Although tuberculosis had been identified as a condition since ancient times (for instance, in ancient Egypt), until Koch’s discovery the cause and cure of the disease was a fantasy. The discovery gave new impetus and energy in the fight against the disease.
Sir Robert Philip – instigator of the “Edinburgh System for the treatment and cure of tuberculosis – related this story to indicate the apathy that existed in the field until Koch’s discovery:
On returning to Edinburgh in 1882 and indicating my purpose to devote attention especially to the subject of tuberculosis, the remark of the honoured professor of medicine was: “Don’t think of such a thing. Phthisis is worn to a thin thread. The subject is exhausted. [British Medical Journal 2nd July 1930, page 3830]
Halliday Sutherland was a student of Sir Robert Philip and was inspired to implement his work.