Stanley Davidson

Biography

Sir Stanley Davidson was the author and editor responsible for classic textbooks like the Principles and Practice of Medicine. He was President of the College for four years, 1953-1957. As a Cambridge undergraduate Davidson enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders at the start of World War I in 1914. Severely wounded in France in 1915, he spent the next two years under hospital and convalescent care. Although his general health was impaired, he resumed his medical studies and graduated in Edinburgh with first class honours in 1919.

In 1928 he was appointed an assistant physician to the Royal Infirmary. In 1930 he published with George Lovell Gulland a notable monograph on pernicious anaemia, followed by numerous papers on vital staining of erythrocytes, the classification of anaemias and their treatment. The same year he went to Aberdeen as Professor of Medicine where he sought no private practice, but devoted himself to whole-time hospital work, teaching and research. In 1939 he returned to Edinburgh to occupy the Chair of Medicine. His investigative work was not confined to haematology but included rheumatic disorders and important studies on nutrition. He was instrumental in much of the upgrading, modernising and broadening of the hospital teaching facilities within the Edinburgh area.

Transcription

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Details

• Date of interview: 1973
• Archive reference: OBJ/ORA/1/10
• Interviewer: Angus Stuart