From the Archives

" medical brethren who have fallen on difficult times, and ... their widows and orphans, so often left without even the necessities of life ". Dr Hunter referred to the great financial depression and how it has affected the medical fraternity. The fund distributed grants of £2267 [approx. £140 400 today] to 69 widows, 17 orphans and 8 doctors in Northern Ireland in the previous year. Each county had its own individual treasurer, whose contact details were given. The modern reader is liable to forget that in 1934, all doctors were essentially small businessmen – not all were successful. Immediately after this was an obituary for one of the most successful, Sir William Whitla. Born in Monaghan in 1851, he came to Belfast as an apprentice to a leading firm of dispensing chemists and decided to read medicine. He qualified in 1877, when he obtained his MD with 1st class honours and a gold medal. He was appointed resident medical officer and superintendent of the Royal Hospital. His exceptional ability both as a physician and administrator soon became evident and he " quickly revolutionised the working of the whole institution ". After his term in the Royal, he went into practice in Belfast and soon established an extensive general practice. Prof Gordon invited him to assist at all his private operations and then he was appointed as Physician to the Royal hospital. This gave him an opportunity to demonstrate his ability as a clinical teacher, and he soon attracted a large clinical class. His book, " Materia Medica and Therapeutics " was a pronounced success and reflected his initial training as a dispensing chemist as well as his medical training. After the resignation of Prof. Seaton Reid, he was appointed Chair of Materia Medica in Queens College and produced a further remarkable book – " The Dictionary of Treatment ". This textbook sold widely both in the UK and America. Many honorary degrees were conferred upon him. A further textbook, " A Dictionary of Medicine " soon followed. The Medical Institute, the home of the Ulster Medical Society, contained a bronze plate with the following inscription: " This Building Was Erected, Equipped and Presented to the Ulster Medical Society by Sir William Whitla, MD ". The cost of the building exceeded £6000 [approx. £570 000 today]. When people tried to thank him, he simply replied, " I owe it to …