Douglas Maclagan
Encyclopedia
Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan PRSE FRCPE FRCSE FCS
FRSSA (born 17 April 1812, Ayr
- 5 April 1900, Edinburgh
) was a Scottish
surgeon, toxicologist and scholar of medical jurisprudence
.
He served as president of 5 learned societies: the Royal Medical Society
(1832), the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
(1859-61), the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
(1884-7), the Royal Society of Edinburgh
(1890-5), and the Royal Scottish Society of Arts
(1900).
His son was the physician and anthropologist Robert Craig Maclagan.
, who would become Archbishop of York
; and of the engineer and soldier Sir Robert Maclagan.. Douglas was educated at the Royal High School
and the University of Edinburgh
, graduating in 1833. He subsequently toured hospitals in London and in continental Europe with James Young Simpson
.
at the Extramural School of Medicine. Maclagan was a close friend of toxicologist Robert Christison
, and he developed an interest in toxicology
and forensic medicine.
He is known for his discovery of ocular citrosis
.
FCS
-Companies, groups and organizations:* the New York Stock Exchange stock trading symbol for Fairchild Semiconductor, an American semiconductor company based in San Jose, California* FCS Control Systems, a Dutch aerospace company...
FRSSA (born 17 April 1812, Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
- 5 April 1900, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
surgeon, toxicologist and scholar of medical jurisprudence
Medical jurisprudence
Medical jurisprudence, or forensic medicine in the broad sense , now embraces all matters which may bring the physician into contact with the law...
.
He served as president of 5 learned societies: the Royal Medical Society
Royal Medical Society
The Royal Medical Society is the oldest medical society in the United Kingdom . Known originally as 'the Medical Society' when it was established in 1737, it was granted a Royal Charter in 1778...
(1832), the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...
(1859-61), the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh was established in the 17th century. While the RCPE is based in Edinburgh, it is by no means just a Scottish professional body - more than half of its 7,700 Fellows, Members, Associates and Affiliates live and practice medicine outside Scotland, in 86...
(1884-7), the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
(1890-5), and the Royal Scottish Society of Arts
Royal Scottish Society of Arts
The Royal Scottish Society of Arts is a learned society in Scotland, dedicated to the study of science and technology. It was founded as The Society for the Encouragement of the Useful Arts in Scotland by Sir David Brewster in 1821 and dedicated to "the promotion of invention and enterprise"...
(1900).
His son was the physician and anthropologist Robert Craig Maclagan.
Early life
Douglas was the son of distinguished Scottish physician David Maclagan (1785-1865) and Miss Whiteside. He was the elder brother of William Dalrymple MaclaganWilliam Dalrymple Maclagan
William Dalrymple Maclagan PC was Archbishop of York from 1891 to 1908, when he resigned his office, and was succeeded in 1909 by Cosmo Gordon Lang, later Archbishop of Canterbury...
, who would become Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
; and of the engineer and soldier Sir Robert Maclagan.. Douglas was educated at the Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
and the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, graduating in 1833. He subsequently toured hospitals in London and in continental Europe with James Young Simpson
James Young Simpson
Sir James Young Simpson was a Scottish doctor and an important figure in the history of medicine. Simpson discovered the anaesthetic properties of chloroform and successfully introduced it for general medical use....
.
Surgery and medicine
On his return to Scotland, Maclagan was appointed Assistant Surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. He lectured on materia medicaMateria medica
Materia medica is a Latin medical term for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing . The term 'materia medica' derived from the title of a work by the Ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides in the 1st century AD, De materia medica libre...
at the Extramural School of Medicine. Maclagan was a close friend of toxicologist Robert Christison
Robert Christison
Sir Robert Christison, 1st Baronet FRSE FRCSE FRCPE was a Scottish toxicologist and physician who served as president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh , as president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh , and as president of the British Medical Association .Christison was...
, and he developed an interest in toxicology
Toxicology
Toxicology is a branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms...
and forensic medicine.
He is known for his discovery of ocular citrosis
Ocular citrosis
Ocular Citrosis is a common infection of the eye generally resulting from periodic exposure to acidic substances, such as citrus fruit. It was first documented by Scottish physician Douglas Maclagan in 1860.-Causes:...
.
University of Edinburgh
Maclagan was appointed to the Chair of Medical Jurisprudence and Public Health at the University of Edinburgh in 1862, retiring in 1897.Publications
- A probationary essay on carbuncle (1833)
- Nugae canorae medicae: lays by the poet laureate of the New Town Dispensary (1850)
See also
- Public healthPublic healthPublic health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...