Obituary
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1296 Obituary NORMAN LOWTHER EDSON B.Med.Sc., M.B.N.Z., Ph.D.Cantab. Dr. N. L. Edson, emeritus professor of biochemistry at the University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand, died on May 12 in his home town of Auckland at the age of 66. He entered the University of Otago from Auckland Grammar School with a junior scholarship, and was the first student to graduate, in 1927, in the newly established degree of B.MED.SC. When he gradu- ated M.B. in 1931, it was with distinction, and the award of the medical travelling scholar- ship. He went in 1933 as a research student to Emmanual College, Cambridge, and gained a Beit Memorial Fellowship and a PH.D. degree in the de- partment of biochemistry. Ed- son began his research under Dr. Joseph Needham, F.R.S., but was later more influenced by H. A. (now Sir Hans) Krebs, who had recently come to the department from Germany. He returned to Dunedin in 1937 as the first lecturer in biochemistry in the University of Otago, but he gave this up in 1940 to become director of a biochemical laboratory for research in tuberculosis and cancer which had been established by the Travis Research Trust. He was back on the teaching staff again in 1944, however, as an associate professor in charge of chemical physiology. In 1949 an independent chair of biochemistry was established with Edson as its first holder. Professor Edson set the highest of academic standards and established the new discipline on sound foundations in New Zealand soil. His personal research, which was devoted principally to the metabolism of bacterial polyols, was not voluminous, but of distinguished quality. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1948. He had a remarkably retentive and accurate memory which made him a singularly valuable member of a number of faculties, notably those of medicine and of science, and of the university’s professorial board. His thinking was clear and incisive, and his often shrewd judgments were delivered quietly, with a kindly if penetrating wit. To students who did not know him well his essential warmth and humanity were sometimes concealed behind a screen of cigarette smoke and a slightly cynical air, so that he was regarded as a somewhat sinister figure, self-effacing; but, he was, in fact, always approachable, and never pompous. Many probably had no idea how much he really knew about them, how much he approved of them or cared for their welfare, or of the many occasions when he championed them behind the scenes. To those who came to know him better it soon became clear that his students were of para- mount importance to him. He was also very fond of music, and extremely well-read. From current events the world over to ancient history, even theology, there was no topic he could not illuminate with some new insight or whim- sical comment. He had an unrivalled knowledge of the social history of science and medicine in New Zealand, and his activities extended beyond the university. He was a member of the Medical Research Council of New Zealand in its early years, and was perhaps best known overseas for the report of Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies, pub- lished in 1957, for which he was largely responsible. But most of those who were privileged to know and to work with Professor Edson would say that he really devoted his life to the development of biochemistry in the University of Otago. It is some measure of his achievement that what began as a department in the Medical School with service commitments to dentistry, home science, and physical education, had grown by the end of his tenure to become one of the major departments of the faculty of science, second only to chemistry in the number of its advanced students. Ill-health forced him to retire a little early, two- and-a-half years ago, and deprived him of the happy period of retirement which he so richly deserved, and to which he had been looking forward. He leaves a widow, two sons, and a daughter. J. R. R. CHITRA RAO M.B.Madras, M.R.C.O.G. Dr. Chitra Rao, locum consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist to the West Cumberland hospital group, died on April 21 at the age of 47. Dr. Rao graduated M.B. at Madras University in 1945. Early in her postgraduate days she developed an interest in obstetrics and gynaecology, and after holding several junior posts in her own university hospital, she worked for 9 years as assistant surgeon to the Corporation of Madras Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme. She then came to England to continue her specialist studies and gained first the D.OBST. and then the M.R.C.O.G. After holding a succession of registrar posts, she worked in a number of centres in the north of England in the capacity of locum consultant obstetrician and gynxcologist; she had only recently moved to West Cumberland. She became very attached to Eng- land, and particularly to the northern counties. She had made many friends-a result of her natural ability to establish happy relationships with everyone she met, in whatever sphere of life. She had many interests outside medicine-in particular, music and literature-and she derived great pleasure from entertaining her friends. Her cheerful manner and acceptance of life’s rebuffs were an example to all who knew her. Prof. F. W. ROGERS BRAMBELL, who was professor of zoology at University College of North Wales at Bangor for nearly 40 years until his retirement in 1968, died on June 6 at the age of 69. His early work was devoted to the study of reproductive physiology, and in 1930 he published his first book, The Development of Sex in Vertebrates. Later, he turned his attention to immunology, and his last book, Transmission of Passive Immunity from Mother to Embryo, was published shortly before his death. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1949 and was Royal Medal- list in 1964. He was chairman of the Technical Committee on the Welfare of Animals which in 1965 reported on con- ditions in intensive-farming systems. In 1966 he was appointed C.B.E. Appointments APPLETON, P. J., M.B. Lond., F.F.A. R.C.S.: consultant aneesthetist, Southampton area. FISHER, ANTHONY, M.B. Wales, F.F.A. R.C.S.: consultant anaathetist, United Oxford Hospitals. FLANNERY, J. F., M.B. Belf., F.R.C.S.: consultant urologist, Guy’s Hospital, London. GILLIVER, B. E., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.PATH. : consultant heematologist, West Dorset area. THOMAS, G. D., M.B. Lond., F.F.A. R.C.S.: consultant anaathetist, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport. WILLS, DILYS, M.B., B.sc. Wales, D.M.R.D.: consultant radiologist, Neath General Hospital, Glamorgan.
Transcript of Obituary
1296
Obituary
NORMAN LOWTHER EDSON
B.Med.Sc., M.B.N.Z., Ph.D.Cantab.
Dr. N. L. Edson, emeritus professor of biochemistryat the University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin,New Zealand, died on May 12 in his home town ofAuckland at the age of 66.He entered the University of Otago from Auckland
Grammar School with a juniorscholarship, and was the firststudent to graduate, in 1927,in the newly established degreeof B.MED.SC. When he gradu-ated M.B. in 1931, it was with
distinction, and the award ofthe medical travelling scholar-ship. He went in 1933 as a
research student to Emmanual
College, Cambridge, and gaineda Beit Memorial Fellowshipand a PH.D. degree in the de-partment of biochemistry. Ed-son began his research underDr. Joseph Needham, F.R.S.,but was later more influenced
by H. A. (now Sir Hans) Krebs, who had recently come tothe department from Germany. He returned to Dunedin in1937 as the first lecturer in biochemistry in the Universityof Otago, but he gave this up in 1940 to become director of abiochemical laboratory for research in tuberculosis andcancer which had been established by the Travis ResearchTrust. He was back on the teaching staff again in 1944,however, as an associate professor in charge of chemicalphysiology. In 1949 an independent chair of biochemistrywas established with Edson as its first holder.
Professor Edson set the highest of academic standards andestablished the new discipline on sound foundations inNew Zealand soil. His personal research, which wasdevoted principally to the metabolism of bacterial polyols,was not voluminous, but of distinguished quality. He waselected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in1948. He had a remarkably retentive and accurate memorywhich made him a singularly valuable member of a numberof faculties, notably those of medicine and of science, andof the university’s professorial board. His thinking wasclear and incisive, and his often shrewd judgments weredelivered quietly, with a kindly if penetrating wit. Tostudents who did not know him well his essential warmthand humanity were sometimes concealed behind a screenof cigarette smoke and a slightly cynical air, so that he wasregarded as a somewhat sinister figure, self-effacing; but,he was, in fact, always approachable, and never pompous.Many probably had no idea how much he really knewabout them, how much he approved of them or cared fortheir welfare, or of the many occasions when he championedthem behind the scenes. To those who came to know himbetter it soon became clear that his students were of para-mount importance to him. He was also very fond of music,and extremely well-read. From current events the worldover to ancient history, even theology, there was no topiche could not illuminate with some new insight or whim-sical comment. He had an unrivalled knowledge of thesocial history of science and medicine in New Zealand, andhis activities extended beyond the university. He was amember of the Medical Research Council of New Zealandin its early years, and was perhaps best known overseas forthe report of Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies, pub-lished in 1957, for which he was largely responsible. But
most of those who were privileged to know and to workwith Professor Edson would say that he really devoted hislife to the development of biochemistry in the University ofOtago. It is some measure of his achievement that whatbegan as a department in the Medical School with servicecommitments to dentistry, home science, and physicaleducation, had grown by the end of his tenure to becomeone of the major departments of the faculty of science,second only to chemistry in the number of its advancedstudents. Ill-health forced him to retire a little early, two-and-a-half years ago, and deprived him of the happy periodof retirement which he so richly deserved, and to which hehad been looking forward.He leaves a widow, two sons, and a daughter.
J. R. R.
CHITRA RAO
M.B.Madras, M.R.C.O.G.
Dr. Chitra Rao, locum consultant obstetrician andgynaecologist to the West Cumberland hospital group,died on April 21 at the age of 47.
Dr. Rao graduated M.B. at Madras University in 1945.Early in her postgraduate days she developed an interest inobstetrics and gynaecology, and after holding several juniorposts in her own university hospital, she worked for 9 yearsas assistant surgeon to the Corporation of Madras Maternityand Child Welfare Scheme. She then came to England tocontinue her specialist studies and gained first the D.OBST.and then the M.R.C.O.G. After holding a succession ofregistrar posts, she worked in a number of centres in thenorth of England in the capacity of locum consultantobstetrician and gynxcologist; she had only recently movedto West Cumberland. She became very attached to Eng-land, and particularly to the northern counties. She hadmade many friends-a result of her natural ability to
establish happy relationships with everyone she met, inwhatever sphere of life. She had many interests outsidemedicine-in particular, music and literature-and shederived great pleasure from entertaining her friends. Hercheerful manner and acceptance of life’s rebuffs were an
example to all who knew her.
Prof. F. W. ROGERS BRAMBELL, who was professor ofzoology at University College of North Wales at Bangor fornearly 40 years until his retirement in 1968, died on June 6at the age of 69. His early work was devoted to the study ofreproductive physiology, and in 1930 he published his firstbook, The Development of Sex in Vertebrates. Later, heturned his attention to immunology, and his last book,Transmission of Passive Immunity from Mother to Embryo,was published shortly before his death. He was electedFellow of the Royal Society in 1949 and was Royal Medal-list in 1964. He was chairman of the Technical Committeeon the Welfare of Animals which in 1965 reported on con-ditions in intensive-farming systems. In 1966 he was
appointed C.B.E.
AppointmentsAPPLETON, P. J., M.B. Lond., F.F.A. R.C.S.: consultant aneesthetist,
Southampton area.FISHER, ANTHONY, M.B. Wales, F.F.A. R.C.S.: consultant anaathetist,
United Oxford Hospitals.FLANNERY, J. F., M.B. Belf., F.R.C.S.: consultant urologist, Guy’s
Hospital, London.GILLIVER, B. E., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.PATH. : consultant heematologist,
West Dorset area.
THOMAS, G. D., M.B. Lond., F.F.A. R.C.S.: consultant anaathetist, RoyalGwent Hospital, Newport.
WILLS, DILYS, M.B., B.sc. Wales, D.M.R.D.: consultant radiologist, NeathGeneral Hospital, Glamorgan.
