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John William Talent, M.D., C.M. (Edin), M.R.C.S., D.P.H.
PUBLIC H E A L T H , J a n u a r y , 1953
OBITUARY CltARLES PORTER, M.D., C.M., B.SC. (P.H.), EDIN., M.R.C.P. (EDIN.), Barrister-at-Law T h e Society has to m o u r n the death on D e c e m b e r 15th, at the age of 79, of one of its senior Past-Presidents, D r . Charles Porter, for 29 years Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone Metropolitan Borough. Dr. Porter graduated at E d i n b u r g h in 1898, took his B.Sc. in public health in 1900 and proceeded M . D . in 1902. After a period at F r e i b u r g University and various hospital appointments, he became an Assistant Medical Officer in Sheffield and later in Leeds, whence be was appointed M . O . H . for Fin~bury Metropolitan Borough. I n 1910 he was appointed to St. Marylebone, where he remained until his retirement in 1939, t h o u g h , as mentioned below, he served three other L o n d o n b o r o u g h s during and after the war. T h r o u g h o u t his career he was engaged for part of his time in teaching public health and he was lecturer on this subject at the Middlesex Hospital medical college for m o s t of his period in St. Marylebone. His first well-known book, " Sanitary Law and Practice," was written in collaboration with Dr. W. Robertson, of Edinburgh. His later book dealing with public health law in question and answer, with Dr. James F e n t o n as co-author, and in its m o s t recent edition with Dr. J. G r e e n w o o d Wilson as editor, has also served several generations of public health students and medical officers. Dr. Porter took a very active part in this Society and in the Royal Sanitary Institute, having been President of the former for 1933-34 and chairman of council, R.S.I., from 1931 to 1933. But here he will be best r e m e m b e r e d as a formidable debater for m a n y years in the Council and as the honorary editor of this j o u r n a l for 10 years f r o m 1925. As an editor, he showed his individuality by his comments, always recognisable by their style, and short introductions to special articles. A l t h o u g h he d r o p p e d out of the Society's Council before h i s retirement f r o m St. Marylebone, he kept up his active association w i t h the R.S.I. to the end. His experience in public health matters was in m u c h d e m a n d by Governmental and other bodies on m a n y of which he served, including the General N u r s i n g Council and the Q u e e n ' s Institute. After his official retirement in 1939, he was b r o u g h t back into harness as acting M . O . H . of Greenwich for the duration of the war. T h e n in 1946 he became temporary M . O . H . Paddington, and finally he served a year f r o m August, 1948, to July, 1949, in Bethnal Green. By that time his health was deteriorating and for three winters he sought the s u n overseas in Egypt and S o u t h Africa, but, owing to his election in 1952 as Master of the Worshipful C o m p a n y of Plumbers, he decided to stay in England during his period of office. M e m b e r s will recall that he and Mrs. Porter attended the Annual D i n n e r of the Society in October last. T h e early wintry weather, h o w ever culminating in the great L o n d o n fog last m o n t h , was a great strain and he passed away in the Middlesex Hospital after a short illness. T h e Society's sympathies are extended to Mrs. Porter and to his children by his first w i f e - - a s o n , w h o is in general practice, a n d three daughters. DUNSTAN BREWER, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.P.H. We regret to record the death on N o v e m b e r 30th, in his 78th year, of Dr. D u n s t a n Brewer, for m a n y years Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer for the Borough of Swindon. Brewer was b o r n in London, a son of an architect and a greatn e p h e w of the Brewer of the " Dictionary of Phrase and Fable." H e graduated f r o m St. M a r y ' s and University College in 1897 and took the D . P . H . in 1904. After spells as house officer in the M.A.B. hospitals, S.M.O. in the West Riding and M . O . H . of East Gloucestershire sanitary districts he was appointed M . O . H . a n d S.M.O. of Swindon, where he spent the rest of his career till his retirement in 1939. Brewer's appearance and m a n n e r of speaking will be well r e m e m b e r e d by those w h o recall his interventions in health congress discussions. It is perhaps not generally k n o w n that for nearly 30 years he was a regular contributor to the editorial columns in our contemporary T h e M e d i c a l O f f i c e r , Where his original statements have caused general interest. His contributions emanated f r o m a m i n d with a catholic range of interests and a highly enquiring disposition combined with a keen sense of observation. He personally supervised the keeping of the records of children's health during his long period in S w i n d o n and with this intimate knowledge of the medical histories he could apply his personal source of information w h e n new theories of health and disease were u n d e r discussion. He was also the medical superintendent of the Borough Isolation Hospital a n d there agaiix kept personal contact with infectious diseases in
63 their changing manifestations. H e was pre-deceased by his wife but during his last years f o u n d a h a p p y h o m e with his daughter and clerical son-in-law in the Midlands. SIR DAVID MUNRO, K.C.B., C.I.E., LL.D., IV~.B., F.R.C.S. (EDIN.) Sir David M u n r o , whose death in his 75th year occurred on N o v e m b e r 8th, was for m a n y years a m e m b e r - o f the Society, which he joined as an early m e m b e r of the Services G r o u p in 1921 w h e n he held the rank of A i r - C o m m o d o r e . H e was b o r n in Hertfordshire in 1878 and joined St. A n d r e w s University at the age of 14, remaining there for six years ; thence he graduated in medicine at E d i n b u r g h University in 1901 and joined the Indian Medical Service. H e served in a hospital ship and in France, Palestine and Mesopotamia in the first world war and was created C.I.E. in 1917. He transferred to the R.A.F. in 1919 and in 1921 was appointed Director of R.A.F. Medical Services, a post which he held till 1930. He was created C.B. in 1924, K.C.B. in 1930 and was H o n o r a r y Surgeon to the King f r o m 1925 to 1930. O n retirement from the R.A.F. in 1930 he was appointed by the M.R.C. as Secretary of the Industrial Health Research Board and he gave valuable administrative service there until 1942. Meantime he had been appointed Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of S u p p l y where he supervised the health of workers in the Royal Ordnance factories. One of his final posts came with his election by the students to be Rector of St. A n d r e w s University, which office he held from 1939 to 1946. A m o n g s t his other interests was the L o n d o n School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, for which he was vice-chairman of the Board of Management. T h e story of M u n r o ' s career will give some idea of the multiplicity of his interests and he will be r e m e m b e r e d by m a n y m e m b e r s of the Society as a m a n of forceful and pleasant personality with a great f u n d of experience. He is survived by his widow, a s o n , a daughter and grandchildren, to w h o m we express our sympathy. JOHN WILLIAM TALENT, M.D., C.M. (EDIN.), M.R.C.S., D.P.H. We regret to record the death at G r a n g e - o v e r - S a n d s on October 17th last, in his 89th year, of Dr. J. W. Talent, w h o was Medical Officer of Health for the Borough of A s h t o n - u n d e r - L y n e f r o m 1909 until 1935. Dr. Talent graduated in medicine at E d i n b u r g h University in 1886 w h e n he was awarded the Buchanan Scholarship. After a short period as a ship's s u r g e o n he took up private practice in Ashton, then in 1909 he took the D.P.H., Manchester, and was appointed M . O . H . for the Borough. He was M . O . H . during all the formative years of the" public health services and played a conspicuous part in the affairs of the N o r t h - W e s t e r n Branch, of w h i c h he- was at one time President, and in all the life of the town. D u r i n g his years of retirement he was able to enjoy his hobbies of botany and music. H e was elected a fully paid Life M e m b e r of the Society w h e n he gave up his post. He is survived by his widow, a son and a daughter, to all of w h o m we express our s y m p a t h y in their loss.
BOOK REVIEWS Porter a n d F e n t o n ' s P u b l i c H e a l t h L a w i n Q u e s t i o n a n d A n s w e r . 5th Ed. By J. GREENWOODWILSON, M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.H., assisted by J. HINDLE FISHER, LL.B., D.P.A. (Pp. 342. Price 27s. 6d.). L o n d o n : H. K. Lewis & Co. There a p p e a r e d 42 years ago, when Public H e a l t h Law was m a i n l y S a n i t a r y Law, the first edition of P o r t e r a n d F e n t o n ' s " S a n i t a r y L a w in Question a n d A n s w e r , " a book tha~ became well k n o w n and well used in public health circles. B y 1939 it had passed t h r o u g h four editions a n d now, after the passage of a n o t h e r 13 years, a new a n d m u c h enlarged edition c a r r y i n g the title "' Public H e a l t h L a w in Question a n d A n s w e r " has been p u b l i s h e d - - o n this occasion under the a u t h o r s h i p of Dr. J. Greenwood Wilson, who as a Medical Officer of H e a l t h is as p r o m i n e n t in his generation as Charles P o r t e r a n d J a m e s F e n t o n were in theirs. In the task of compiling the new edition, Dr. Wilson h a s h a d the assistance of a solicitor colleague, Mr. J. Hindle Fisher, whose name is linked with the a u t h o r ' s on the title page. The question and a n s w e r m e t h o d of presentation, eminently suited to instruction b y word of m o u t h , has serious limitations in p r i n t in m a n y medical fields; b u t wi:h Public H e a l t h L a w the position is r a t h e r different. T h e great consolidating Acts of the thirties a n d sine2 h a v e eased the Public H e a l t h s t u d e n t ' s t a s k in some respects, b u t a g a i n s t this the e n o r m o u s expansion of new law which medical students, medical practitioners a n d social workers need a t least to be familiar with has added greatly to their b u r d e n of reading. So great, indeed, is t h e volume of recent legislation t h a t g r a d u a t e s specialising in Public H e a l t h are h a r d pressed to keep pace with it a n d are grateful to a n y o n e w h o u n d e r t a k e s the a r d u o u s a n d r a t h e r thankless t a s k of compiling a reliable
OBITUARY CltARLES PORTER, M.D., C.M., B.SC. (P.H.), EDIN., M.R.C.P. (EDIN.), Barrister-at-Law T h e Society has to m o u r n the death on D e c e m b e r 15th, at the age of 79, of one of its senior Past-Presidents, D r . Charles Porter, for 29 years Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone Metropolitan Borough. Dr. Porter graduated at E d i n b u r g h in 1898, took his B.Sc. in public health in 1900 and proceeded M . D . in 1902. After a period at F r e i b u r g University and various hospital appointments, he became an Assistant Medical Officer in Sheffield and later in Leeds, whence be was appointed M . O . H . for Fin~bury Metropolitan Borough. I n 1910 he was appointed to St. Marylebone, where he remained until his retirement in 1939, t h o u g h , as mentioned below, he served three other L o n d o n b o r o u g h s during and after the war. T h r o u g h o u t his career he was engaged for part of his time in teaching public health and he was lecturer on this subject at the Middlesex Hospital medical college for m o s t of his period in St. Marylebone. His first well-known book, " Sanitary Law and Practice," was written in collaboration with Dr. W. Robertson, of Edinburgh. His later book dealing with public health law in question and answer, with Dr. James F e n t o n as co-author, and in its m o s t recent edition with Dr. J. G r e e n w o o d Wilson as editor, has also served several generations of public health students and medical officers. Dr. Porter took a very active part in this Society and in the Royal Sanitary Institute, having been President of the former for 1933-34 and chairman of council, R.S.I., from 1931 to 1933. But here he will be best r e m e m b e r e d as a formidable debater for m a n y years in the Council and as the honorary editor of this j o u r n a l for 10 years f r o m 1925. As an editor, he showed his individuality by his comments, always recognisable by their style, and short introductions to special articles. A l t h o u g h he d r o p p e d out of the Society's Council before h i s retirement f r o m St. Marylebone, he kept up his active association w i t h the R.S.I. to the end. His experience in public health matters was in m u c h d e m a n d by Governmental and other bodies on m a n y of which he served, including the General N u r s i n g Council and the Q u e e n ' s Institute. After his official retirement in 1939, he was b r o u g h t back into harness as acting M . O . H . of Greenwich for the duration of the war. T h e n in 1946 he became temporary M . O . H . Paddington, and finally he served a year f r o m August, 1948, to July, 1949, in Bethnal Green. By that time his health was deteriorating and for three winters he sought the s u n overseas in Egypt and S o u t h Africa, but, owing to his election in 1952 as Master of the Worshipful C o m p a n y of Plumbers, he decided to stay in England during his period of office. M e m b e r s will recall that he and Mrs. Porter attended the Annual D i n n e r of the Society in October last. T h e early wintry weather, h o w ever culminating in the great L o n d o n fog last m o n t h , was a great strain and he passed away in the Middlesex Hospital after a short illness. T h e Society's sympathies are extended to Mrs. Porter and to his children by his first w i f e - - a s o n , w h o is in general practice, a n d three daughters. DUNSTAN BREWER, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.P.H. We regret to record the death on N o v e m b e r 30th, in his 78th year, of Dr. D u n s t a n Brewer, for m a n y years Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer for the Borough of Swindon. Brewer was b o r n in London, a son of an architect and a greatn e p h e w of the Brewer of the " Dictionary of Phrase and Fable." H e graduated f r o m St. M a r y ' s and University College in 1897 and took the D . P . H . in 1904. After spells as house officer in the M.A.B. hospitals, S.M.O. in the West Riding and M . O . H . of East Gloucestershire sanitary districts he was appointed M . O . H . a n d S.M.O. of Swindon, where he spent the rest of his career till his retirement in 1939. Brewer's appearance and m a n n e r of speaking will be well r e m e m b e r e d by those w h o recall his interventions in health congress discussions. It is perhaps not generally k n o w n that for nearly 30 years he was a regular contributor to the editorial columns in our contemporary T h e M e d i c a l O f f i c e r , Where his original statements have caused general interest. His contributions emanated f r o m a m i n d with a catholic range of interests and a highly enquiring disposition combined with a keen sense of observation. He personally supervised the keeping of the records of children's health during his long period in S w i n d o n and with this intimate knowledge of the medical histories he could apply his personal source of information w h e n new theories of health and disease were u n d e r discussion. He was also the medical superintendent of the Borough Isolation Hospital a n d there agaiix kept personal contact with infectious diseases in
63 their changing manifestations. H e was pre-deceased by his wife but during his last years f o u n d a h a p p y h o m e with his daughter and clerical son-in-law in the Midlands. SIR DAVID MUNRO, K.C.B., C.I.E., LL.D., IV~.B., F.R.C.S. (EDIN.) Sir David M u n r o , whose death in his 75th year occurred on N o v e m b e r 8th, was for m a n y years a m e m b e r - o f the Society, which he joined as an early m e m b e r of the Services G r o u p in 1921 w h e n he held the rank of A i r - C o m m o d o r e . H e was b o r n in Hertfordshire in 1878 and joined St. A n d r e w s University at the age of 14, remaining there for six years ; thence he graduated in medicine at E d i n b u r g h University in 1901 and joined the Indian Medical Service. H e served in a hospital ship and in France, Palestine and Mesopotamia in the first world war and was created C.I.E. in 1917. He transferred to the R.A.F. in 1919 and in 1921 was appointed Director of R.A.F. Medical Services, a post which he held till 1930. He was created C.B. in 1924, K.C.B. in 1930 and was H o n o r a r y Surgeon to the King f r o m 1925 to 1930. O n retirement from the R.A.F. in 1930 he was appointed by the M.R.C. as Secretary of the Industrial Health Research Board and he gave valuable administrative service there until 1942. Meantime he had been appointed Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of S u p p l y where he supervised the health of workers in the Royal Ordnance factories. One of his final posts came with his election by the students to be Rector of St. A n d r e w s University, which office he held from 1939 to 1946. A m o n g s t his other interests was the L o n d o n School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, for which he was vice-chairman of the Board of Management. T h e story of M u n r o ' s career will give some idea of the multiplicity of his interests and he will be r e m e m b e r e d by m a n y m e m b e r s of the Society as a m a n of forceful and pleasant personality with a great f u n d of experience. He is survived by his widow, a s o n , a daughter and grandchildren, to w h o m we express our sympathy. JOHN WILLIAM TALENT, M.D., C.M. (EDIN.), M.R.C.S., D.P.H. We regret to record the death at G r a n g e - o v e r - S a n d s on October 17th last, in his 89th year, of Dr. J. W. Talent, w h o was Medical Officer of Health for the Borough of A s h t o n - u n d e r - L y n e f r o m 1909 until 1935. Dr. Talent graduated in medicine at E d i n b u r g h University in 1886 w h e n he was awarded the Buchanan Scholarship. After a short period as a ship's s u r g e o n he took up private practice in Ashton, then in 1909 he took the D.P.H., Manchester, and was appointed M . O . H . for the Borough. He was M . O . H . during all the formative years of the" public health services and played a conspicuous part in the affairs of the N o r t h - W e s t e r n Branch, of w h i c h he- was at one time President, and in all the life of the town. D u r i n g his years of retirement he was able to enjoy his hobbies of botany and music. H e was elected a fully paid Life M e m b e r of the Society w h e n he gave up his post. He is survived by his widow, a son and a daughter, to all of w h o m we express our s y m p a t h y in their loss.
BOOK REVIEWS Porter a n d F e n t o n ' s P u b l i c H e a l t h L a w i n Q u e s t i o n a n d A n s w e r . 5th Ed. By J. GREENWOODWILSON, M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.H., assisted by J. HINDLE FISHER, LL.B., D.P.A. (Pp. 342. Price 27s. 6d.). L o n d o n : H. K. Lewis & Co. There a p p e a r e d 42 years ago, when Public H e a l t h Law was m a i n l y S a n i t a r y Law, the first edition of P o r t e r a n d F e n t o n ' s " S a n i t a r y L a w in Question a n d A n s w e r , " a book tha~ became well k n o w n and well used in public health circles. B y 1939 it had passed t h r o u g h four editions a n d now, after the passage of a n o t h e r 13 years, a new a n d m u c h enlarged edition c a r r y i n g the title "' Public H e a l t h L a w in Question a n d A n s w e r " has been p u b l i s h e d - - o n this occasion under the a u t h o r s h i p of Dr. J. Greenwood Wilson, who as a Medical Officer of H e a l t h is as p r o m i n e n t in his generation as Charles P o r t e r a n d J a m e s F e n t o n were in theirs. In the task of compiling the new edition, Dr. Wilson h a s h a d the assistance of a solicitor colleague, Mr. J. Hindle Fisher, whose name is linked with the a u t h o r ' s on the title page. The question and a n s w e r m e t h o d of presentation, eminently suited to instruction b y word of m o u t h , has serious limitations in p r i n t in m a n y medical fields; b u t wi:h Public H e a l t h L a w the position is r a t h e r different. T h e great consolidating Acts of the thirties a n d sine2 h a v e eased the Public H e a l t h s t u d e n t ' s t a s k in some respects, b u t a g a i n s t this the e n o r m o u s expansion of new law which medical students, medical practitioners a n d social workers need a t least to be familiar with has added greatly to their b u r d e n of reading. So great, indeed, is t h e volume of recent legislation t h a t g r a d u a t e s specialising in Public H e a l t h are h a r d pressed to keep pace with it a n d are grateful to a n y o n e w h o u n d e r t a k e s the a r d u o u s a n d r a t h e r thankless t a s k of compiling a reliable