Donald Hunter (physician)
Encyclopedia
Donald Hunter CBE
FRCP
(February 11, 1898 -December 11, 1978) was a British physician
and author of a classic text on occupational medicine, The Diseases of Occupations.
. His father was George Hunter, a deputy engineer
in the General Post Office. He entered The London Hospital in 1915 but left in World War I
to become a surgeon
probationer RNVR in HMS Faulkner in the Dover
Patrol. After the war, he returned to The London Hospital and qualified in 1920.
Following a series of house appointments, he became first assistant to Lord Dawson of Penn
(1864–1945) and then was appointed Assistant Physician to The London Hospital in 1927. He completed his MD
degree in 1922 and FRCP
in 1929.
Hunter became curator
to the Medical School Museum in 1933, and during his 30 years in office collected specimens said to ‘represent almost all that is worth having in morbid anatomy’. He later became Director of the Medical Research Council’
s Department for Research in Industrial Medicine at The London Hospital. In 1925 he married Mathilda Bugnion, daughter of a Lutheran Pastor
from Lausanne
, Switzerland. They had four children, two of whom became doctors.
In 1935 he gave a series of lectures to the Derby
Medical Society on occupational diseases. These lectures were followed by other publications, often jointly with colleagues. These all culminated in his 1955 book The Diseases of Occupations which became a classic "as soon as it was published". It was said that he wrote all 1000 pages by getting up at 5 a.m. for 18 months. It has been criticized as "perhaps lacking in balance" and being "sometimes irrelevant" but "always entertaining and gaining immeasurably from its readability and its impact on the medical profession."
There followed a Penguin Book
Health in Industry published in 1959. Hunter was founder Editor
of the British Journal of Industrial Medicine
.
. There is also a Donald Hunter House in London which provides accommodation for students.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
FRCP
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
(February 11, 1898 -December 11, 1978) was a British physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and author of a classic text on occupational medicine, The Diseases of Occupations.
Life and works
Hunter was born in the East End of LondonEast End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
. His father was George Hunter, a deputy engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
in the General Post Office. He entered The London Hospital in 1915 but left in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to become a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
probationer RNVR in HMS Faulkner in the Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
Patrol. After the war, he returned to The London Hospital and qualified in 1920.
Following a series of house appointments, he became first assistant to Lord Dawson of Penn
Bertrand Dawson, 1st Viscount Dawson of Penn
Bertrand Edward Dawson, 1st Viscount Dawson of Penn, GCVO, KCB, KCMG, PC, FRCP was a physician to the British Royal Family and President of the Royal College of Physicians.-Early life and education:...
(1864–1945) and then was appointed Assistant Physician to The London Hospital in 1927. He completed his MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree in 1922 and FRCP
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in 1929.
Hunter became curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
to the Medical School Museum in 1933, and during his 30 years in office collected specimens said to ‘represent almost all that is worth having in morbid anatomy’. He later became Director of the Medical Research Council’
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
s Department for Research in Industrial Medicine at The London Hospital. In 1925 he married Mathilda Bugnion, daughter of a Lutheran Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
from Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Switzerland. They had four children, two of whom became doctors.
In 1935 he gave a series of lectures to the Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
Medical Society on occupational diseases. These lectures were followed by other publications, often jointly with colleagues. These all culminated in his 1955 book The Diseases of Occupations which became a classic "as soon as it was published". It was said that he wrote all 1000 pages by getting up at 5 a.m. for 18 months. It has been criticized as "perhaps lacking in balance" and being "sometimes irrelevant" but "always entertaining and gaining immeasurably from its readability and its impact on the medical profession."
There followed a Penguin Book
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
Health in Industry published in 1959. Hunter was founder Editor
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
of the British Journal of Industrial Medicine
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Occupational and Environmental Medicine is a monthly-published journal which covers the titular topics of occupational and environmental medicine. It contains studies and articles concerting topics related to human health and environmental topics...
.
Memorials
Hunter's memory is preserved not only by his book but also by a Donald Hunter Room at the Royal College of PhysiciansRoyal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
. There is also a Donald Hunter House in London which provides accommodation for students.