James Little (physician)
Encyclopedia
Dr. James Little was an eminent Irish medical practitioner. After spending an early part of his career as a ship's surgeon, surviving a shipwreck, he became chief physician at the Adelaide Hospital
in Dublin and Regius Professor of Physic
at the University of Dublin
.
, the son of Archibald Little and his wife Mary, daughter of Richard Coulter. He was educated first at The Academy, Cookstown
, Co. Tyrone and afterwards at The Royal School, Armagh
. On leaving school, he became apprenticed to Dr. John Cohan, Physician to the Armagh Fever Hospital and was also a pupil of Dr. Alexander Robinson, Surgeon to the Armagh County Infirmary. In his diary, now held in the library of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
(RCPI), he records the decision to enter the medical profession:
In November 1853, he entered the School of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
(RCSI), attending the hospital practice of the Royal City of Dublin Hospital, and also the clinics at the Whitworth and Richmond Hospitals. In 1856, he obtained the diploma of Licentiate
of the RCSI (L.R.C.S.I.) After he was qualified, he was placed in charge of the Armagh County Infirmary, under Dr. Robinson and Dr. James Cuming, the then leading physician of Belfast.
on 20 March 1857, on board the SS Vera, bound for Calcutta. In the diary, Dr. Little records his experience as a ship surgeon and the long periods of unemployment where he lived at the Officers Club in Calcutta.
In February 1858, he set sail from Calcutta, on board the SS Ava
en route for Suez
; the ship was carrying several refugees from the Indian rebellion
, including Lady Julia Inglis, daughter of Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford
and the wife of Major-General Sir John Eardley Inglis
, who commanded the British troops at the Siege of Lucknow
. After calling at Madras on 13 February, the Ava departed for Suez; her captain, Captain Kirton, had been instructed to land at Trincomalee
with about £5,000 of Government treasure. Unfortunately, Kirton steered a course which took the boat onto rocks off Pigeon Island
, about 12 miles from Trinconmalee.
Little's diary records his experience during the shipwreck, describing spending a night in an open boat before landing on shore the next morning. He then spent some time in a tent on the beach while the crew attempted to recover what they could from the wreck.
where he obtained his M.D. in 1861. He then spent two years in private practice in Lurgan
followed by a year of post-graduate study on the Continent, after which he moved to Dublin, where he set up a medical practice. For many years he enjoyed an enormous and lucrative practice, and was described as "the favourite consultant in all quarters of Ireland".
In Dublin, he became closely associated with Dr. Alfred Hudson (1808–1880), who recognised Little's ability and was instrumental in his being appointed physician to the Adelaide Hospital
, where he was a clinical teacher for a period of forty-six years until shortly before his death. (In 1882, Little presented an address to students on the inauguration of the Hudson Scholarship at the Adelaide Hospital.)
He soon gained a reputation for his teaching, and was described as a "brilliant and attractive lecturer on the practice of medicine". He became chairman at the Ledwich School of Medicine and later at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
In 1896, he was one of the delegates at a meeting with the Chief Secretary for Ireland
, Gerald Balfour, at Dublin Castle
to discuss the grievances of Irish Poor-law medical officers.
Although he published no major works, Little contributed to various medical journals. In May 1885, he published an essay "On the form of pneumonia prevalent in Dublin" in the Transactions Of The Royal Academy Of Medicine In Ireland, which was reprinted in the Dublin Journal of Medical Science in September 1885.
, proposing a resolution in favour of the project.
In 1897 he was appointed Crown nominee for Ireland on the General Medical Council
. He took an active part in its proceedings and at one point came close to being elected as the President of its Council.
He was an active member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, serving in several offices, including two years as Registrar of the College; "in all matters of difficulty his wise counsels were highly esteemed by the College". He served as President of the College for two years from 1886 to 1888, and "steered its course with unfailing dignity, hospitality, and consummate tact". He also served as President of The Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.
In 1898, he succeeded Sir John Banks, K.C.B., as Regius Professor of Physic
in the University of Dublin
, retaining this office until his death, taking a prominent part in the conduct of the Final Examinations in Medicine.
In 1900, during the visit of Queen Victoria to Dublin, Dr. Little escorted her daughter, Princess Christian, around the Adelaide Hospital.
When the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland held its annual meeting in Dublin in 1909, Dr. Little occupied the position of president.
He also took a prominent part in the celebrations held in 1912 to commemorate the bicentenary of the Medical School of Trinity College, Dublin
.
He was awarded the honorary degrees of M.D.(Hon.Causa) from the University of Dublin and (in 1901) LL.D.(Hon.Causa) from the University of Edinburgh, and was appointed "Honorary Physician-In-Ordinary to H.M. The King
in Ireland".
He was a member of several Gentlemen's club
s, including the Dublin University Club, the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, and the Kildare Street Club
in Dublin, and the Junior Carlton and the Athenaeum
in London.
in January 1917, his close friend Dr. Walter G. Smith said:
In January 1922, six years after his death, a bronze plaque with a portrait in bas-relief was erected in the entrance Hall of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
by the Members and Fellows. The plaque, the work of Oliver Sheppard
, R.H.A., was unveiled on 17 January in the presence of a "large and distinguished company", with the President of the College, Sir James Craig in the chair. At the unveiling, the Provost of Trinity spoke of "the respect and esteem in which Trinity College had ever held its professor of physic", and said that Dr. Little was "a good man as well as a great physician".
Adelaide Hospital
The Adelaide Hospital was a general and teaching hospital in Dublin, Ireland until it became part of the new Tallaght Hospital in 1998.-History:...
in Dublin and Regius Professor of Physic
Regius Professor of Physic (Dublin)
The Regius Professorship of Physic is a Regius Professorship in Medicine at the University of Dublin, Trinity College. The seat dates from at least 1637, placing it amongst the oldest academic posts at the university...
at the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
.
Early life
Little was born in NewryNewry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, the son of Archibald Little and his wife Mary, daughter of Richard Coulter. He was educated first at The Academy, Cookstown
Cookstown
Cookstown may refer to either of the following:*Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland*Cookstown, Ontario, Canada*Cookstown, New Jersey, United States...
, Co. Tyrone and afterwards at The Royal School, Armagh
The Royal School, Armagh
The Royal School, Armagh is a co-educational voluntary grammar school in the city of Armagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. It was one of a number of free schools created by King James I of England in 1608 to provide an education to the sons of local merchants and farmers during the plantation...
. On leaving school, he became apprenticed to Dr. John Cohan, Physician to the Armagh Fever Hospital and was also a pupil of Dr. Alexander Robinson, Surgeon to the Armagh County Infirmary. In his diary, now held in the library of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland , was founded in 1654 and is a postgraduate medical organisation comprising Members and Fellows...
(RCPI), he records the decision to enter the medical profession:
1853 – for some years past my attention has been directed to the medical profession – I now quietly sat down and made up my mind to go to it – a family council was held & the best bargain made for me to go to Dr. Cohan as an apprentice – so I went over to Armagh and was installed as his apprentice – I should certainly not have had the courage to do so were it but that it had already been agreed that he was to allow me to go to Dublin in the following November and I hope that Aunt's kindness will make the nine months bearable.
In November 1853, he entered the School of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...
(RCSI), attending the hospital practice of the Royal City of Dublin Hospital, and also the clinics at the Whitworth and Richmond Hospitals. In 1856, he obtained the diploma of Licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
of the RCSI (L.R.C.S.I.) After he was qualified, he was placed in charge of the Armagh County Infirmary, under Dr. Robinson and Dr. James Cuming, the then leading physician of Belfast.
Ship's surgeon
From March 1857, he spent three years as ship's surgeon with the P. & O. Steam Packet Company, on voyages to and from India. His first voyage left SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
on 20 March 1857, on board the SS Vera, bound for Calcutta. In the diary, Dr. Little records his experience as a ship surgeon and the long periods of unemployment where he lived at the Officers Club in Calcutta.
In February 1858, he set sail from Calcutta, on board the SS Ava
SS Ava (1855)
The SS Ava was a 1,613 GRT British steamship, constructed in 1855 by the Tod & McGregor shipyard in Glasgow. Described as "an iron screw barque with one funnel", she was operated by the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company on the China mail service and was named after Ava, the ancient...
en route for Suez
Suez
Suez is a seaport city in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez , near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, having the same boundaries as Suez governorate. It has three harbors, Adabya, Ain Sokhna and Port Tawfiq, and extensive port facilities...
; the ship was carrying several refugees from the Indian rebellion
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
, including Lady Julia Inglis, daughter of Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford
Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford
Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford PC KC FRS was a British jurist and Conservative politician. He was twice Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.-Early life:...
and the wife of Major-General Sir John Eardley Inglis
John Eardley Inglis
Major-General Sir John Eardley Wilmot Inglis , was a British Army officer.He was born in Nova Scotia, the son of John Inglis, the third bishop of that colony. In 1833 he joined the 32nd Foot, in which all his regimental service was passed...
, who commanded the British troops at the Siege of Lucknow
Siege of Lucknow
The Siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defense of the Residency within the city of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief attempts had reached the city, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from the Residency, which was abandoned.Lucknow was the capital of...
. After calling at Madras on 13 February, the Ava departed for Suez; her captain, Captain Kirton, had been instructed to land at Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
with about £5,000 of Government treasure. Unfortunately, Kirton steered a course which took the boat onto rocks off Pigeon Island
Pigeon Island National Park
Pigeon Island National Park is one of the two marine national parks of Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal town in Eastern Province. The island's name derives from the Rock Pigeon which has colonized it. The national park contains some of the best...
, about 12 miles from Trinconmalee.
Little's diary records his experience during the shipwreck, describing spending a night in an open boat before landing on shore the next morning. He then spent some time in a tent on the beach while the crew attempted to recover what they could from the wreck.
Later career
After spending three years with P & O, Little returned to Ireland and studied at the University of EdinburghUniversity 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...
where he obtained his M.D. in 1861. He then spent two years in private practice in Lurgan
Lurgan
Lurgan is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town is near the southern shore of Lough Neagh and in the north-eastern corner of the county. Part of the Craigavon Borough Council area, Lurgan is about 18 miles south-west of Belfast and is linked to the city by both the M1 motorway...
followed by a year of post-graduate study on the Continent, after which he moved to Dublin, where he set up a medical practice. For many years he enjoyed an enormous and lucrative practice, and was described as "the favourite consultant in all quarters of Ireland".
In Dublin, he became closely associated with Dr. Alfred Hudson (1808–1880), who recognised Little's ability and was instrumental in his being appointed physician to the Adelaide Hospital
Adelaide Hospital
The Adelaide Hospital was a general and teaching hospital in Dublin, Ireland until it became part of the new Tallaght Hospital in 1998.-History:...
, where he was a clinical teacher for a period of forty-six years until shortly before his death. (In 1882, Little presented an address to students on the inauguration of the Hudson Scholarship at the Adelaide Hospital.)
He soon gained a reputation for his teaching, and was described as a "brilliant and attractive lecturer on the practice of medicine". He became chairman at the Ledwich School of Medicine and later at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
In 1896, he was one of the delegates at a meeting with the Chief Secretary for Ireland
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
, Gerald Balfour, at Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
to discuss the grievances of Irish Poor-law medical officers.
Publications
In 1868, he was appointed editor of the Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science. As editor, Little introduced a series of half-yearly reports on the progress in various branches of medicine, including Medicine, Surgery, Hygiene, Therapeutics and Obstetrics. These reports now provide a very valuable summary of the history of developments in the respective branches of medicine. From January 1872, Little changed the journal from a quarterly to a monthly publication under the title, Dublin Journal of Medical Science. His tenure as editor ended in 1875, when he was replaced by Dr. John William Moore.Although he published no major works, Little contributed to various medical journals. In May 1885, he published an essay "On the form of pneumonia prevalent in Dublin" in the Transactions Of The Royal Academy Of Medicine In Ireland, which was reprinted in the Dublin Journal of Medical Science in September 1885.
Appointments and honours
In 1877, he was present at the inaugural meeting in Dublin which established of the Dublin branch of the British Medical AssociationBritish Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
, proposing a resolution in favour of the project.
In 1897 he was appointed Crown nominee for Ireland on the General Medical Council
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
. He took an active part in its proceedings and at one point came close to being elected as the President of its Council.
He was an active member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, serving in several offices, including two years as Registrar of the College; "in all matters of difficulty his wise counsels were highly esteemed by the College". He served as President of the College for two years from 1886 to 1888, and "steered its course with unfailing dignity, hospitality, and consummate tact". He also served as President of The Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.
In 1898, he succeeded Sir John Banks, K.C.B., as Regius Professor of Physic
Regius Professor of Physic (Dublin)
The Regius Professorship of Physic is a Regius Professorship in Medicine at the University of Dublin, Trinity College. The seat dates from at least 1637, placing it amongst the oldest academic posts at the university...
in the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
, retaining this office until his death, taking a prominent part in the conduct of the Final Examinations in Medicine.
In 1900, during the visit of Queen Victoria to Dublin, Dr. Little escorted her daughter, Princess Christian, around the Adelaide Hospital.
When the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland held its annual meeting in Dublin in 1909, Dr. Little occupied the position of president.
He also took a prominent part in the celebrations held in 1912 to commemorate the bicentenary of the Medical School of Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
.
He was awarded the honorary degrees of M.D.(Hon.Causa) from the University of Dublin and (in 1901) LL.D.(Hon.Causa) from the University of Edinburgh, and was appointed "Honorary Physician-In-Ordinary to H.M. The King
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
in Ireland".
Personal life
In 1872, he married Anna, daughter of Robert Murdoch, who predeceased him in 1914. They had three children, two sons and a daughter.He was a member of several Gentlemen's club
Gentlemen's club
A gentlemen's club is a members-only private club of a type originally set up by and for British upper class men in the eighteenth century, and popularised by English upper-middle class men and women in the late nineteenth century. Today, some are more open about the gender and social status of...
s, including the Dublin University Club, the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, and the Kildare Street Club
Kildare Street Club
The Kildare Street Club was a gentlemen's club in Dublin, Ireland, at the heart of the Anglo-Irish Protestant Ascendancy.The Club remained in Kildare Street between 1782 and 1977, when it merged with the Dublin University Club...
in Dublin, and the Junior Carlton and the Athenaeum
Athenaeum Club, London
The Athenaeum Club, usually just referred to as the Athenaeum, is a notable London club with its Clubhouse located at 107 Pall Mall, London, England, at the corner of Waterloo Place....
in London.
Death
In July 1916, he began to have health difficulties and after six months of gradually failing health and strength, he died of heart failure on 23 December 1916, shortly before his eightieth birthday.Tributes
In Dr. Little's obituary, published in the British Medical JournalBritish Medical Journal
BMJ is a partially open-access peer-reviewed medical journal. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988. The journal is published by the BMJ Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association...
in January 1917, his close friend Dr. Walter G. Smith said:
In sum, there have been greater and more illustrious physicians, but none who excelled, and few who equalled, James Little in gaining the esteem and affection of his friends and patients, and his memory will ever be cherished by all who knew him. He was, in truth, the "beloved physician", and his motto with his patients was:
Aegroto dum anima est, spes est.
In January 1922, six years after his death, a bronze plaque with a portrait in bas-relief was erected in the entrance Hall of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland , was founded in 1654 and is a postgraduate medical organisation comprising Members and Fellows...
by the Members and Fellows. The plaque, the work of Oliver Sheppard
Oliver Sheppard
Oliver Sheppard RHA was an Irish sculptor, most famous for his 1911 bronze statue of the mythical Cuchullain dying in battle.-Family:...
, R.H.A., was unveiled on 17 January in the presence of a "large and distinguished company", with the President of the College, Sir James Craig in the chair. At the unveiling, the Provost of Trinity spoke of "the respect and esteem in which Trinity College had ever held its professor of physic", and said that Dr. Little was "a good man as well as a great physician".