ROGER ALAN BIRDWOOD, M.D.,

Subject: ROGER ALAN BIRDWOOD, M.D., Mon Apr 15, 2013 8:28 pm

"Medical Superintendent of Metropolitan Infectious Hospitals.
WE regret to announce the death, at the age of 72, of Dr.
Roger Alan Birdwood, who was for maniy ears a medical
superintendent of various hospitals in the infectious service
of the Metropolitan-Asylums Board.

He was born on October 14th, 1851, at Bombay, where
his father, General Clhristopher Birdwood, was Deputy
Comiimissary-General, one of his brothers beinig the late
Sir George Birdwood, I.M.S. He was educated at the
Dollar Academy; School for Sons of Missionialries, Blackheath;
King's College, London; Peterhouse, Cambridge;
and Guy's Hospital. He took the diploma of M.R.C.S. in
1877, and graduated M.D.Cantab. in 1889. In 1889 lie first
joined the service of the Metropolitan Asylums Board as
assistant medical officer to the small-pox hospital at
Hampstead, where he reemained for a few months. He
then went out to South Africa to serve as civil surgeon
in the Galeka and Zulu campaigns, in whiclh he gained a
medal and clasp. On his return to England he first acted
as house-surgeon to the Gravesend Infirmary, where he
secured the provision of a separate ward for children, and
then rejoined the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and remained
in its service until his retirement in 1915.

In June, 1884, he was appointed medical superintendent of
the small-pox hospital ships, a post whichi lie held until
1892, when he was transferred to the South-Western Fever
Hospital at Stockwell. At the time of hiis appointmenit
only convalescent small-pox patients were remiioved out of
London; he urged the removal of all cases direct from their
homes to the ships, on the grouud that this measure would
result in a diminution of the inciden-ce of the disease.
This proposal was objected to by experts, who maintained
that the patients would die on their w-av to the hospital,
that small-pox would not be prevenited, and that it was
impracticable. The managers, however, in 1886 adopted
Dr. Birdwood's proposal, the wisdom of which was amply
proved by its successful results. He also carried out
changes in the dietary of smnall-pox patients which resulted
in a reduced mortality and expenditure.

In August, 1892, Dr. Birdwood was entrusted with the
work of planning, opening, and furnishing the Nortli-
Eastern Fever Hospital at Tottenham, which was erected
in the course of a few weeks at a time of great pressuire.
After serving there as medical superintendent for five years
he superintended the opening and equipment of the Park
Fever Hospital at Hither Green, where lie remainied until
his retirement in 1915. On several occasions Dr. Birdwood's
advice was sought by the Board in connexion with special
matters, and it was on his initiative that the Board's
hospitals were first utilized for medical instruction. In
recognition of his long and valuable services the Board
granted his request that a term of five years should be
added to his actual period of service in computing his
superannuation allowance.

Dr. Birdwood wrote a paper in Guy's Hospital Reports
for 1891 entitled " A theory of small-pox," in which he
maintained that the disease was a skin niveosis and not a
blood zymosis, but otherwise did niot miake anv contributions
to literature.

In private life Dr. Birdwood was a courteous and affable
gentleman of a retiring disposition, his chief recreation
being gardening".

Subject: Roger Allan Birdwood , M.D. Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:22 am

Roger Allan Birdwood is listed in Mack & Shad as ' Civil Surgeon ' was entitled to the Medal and Clasp 78 -79 .
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