James Cantlie
Encyclopedia
Sir James Cantlie was a Scottish
physician
. He was a pioneer of First Aid, which in 1875 was unknown: even the police had no knowledge of basic techniques such as how to stop serious bleeding and applying splints. He was influential in the study of tropical diseases.
He was born in Banffshire
and took his first degree at Aberdeen University, carrying out his clinical training at Charing Cross Hospital
, London.
In 1877 Cantlie became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
and Assistant Surgeon to Charing Cross Hospital
; in 1886 he became Surgeon at Charing Cross. In 1888 he resigned to take up a position in Hong Kong
. While in the colony, he co-founded the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, which later grew into the University of Hong Kong. One of his first pupils at the College was the future Chinese leader Sun Yat Sen. Cantlie's work in Hong Kong included investigations into leprosy
and into various tropical disease
s; in 1894 he encountered an outbreak of plague.
In 1896 poor health - caused by his untiring work as a teacher, researcher and practicing doctor - forced Cantlie to return to London. Later that year, Sun visited him, and was kidnapped by the Imperial Chinese secret service. Sun was imprisoned in the Chinese Legation, and would have been shipped back to China and executed had it not been for Cantlie, who led a media campaign which not only succeeded in releasing Sun but left Sun a hero in Britain
.
Cantlie was involved in the setting up of the Journal of Tropical Medicine in 1898, and the founding of London School of Tropical Medicine
in 1899. He was a founder in 1907 of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
. During the early years of the twentieth century, and particularly during the First World War (1914–1919), Cantlie's work centred on the provision and training of ambulance
services.
On his death he was buried in St Johns church, Cottered, Herts
.
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...
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...
. He was a pioneer of First Aid, which in 1875 was unknown: even the police had no knowledge of basic techniques such as how to stop serious bleeding and applying splints. He was influential in the study of tropical diseases.
He was born in Banffshire
Banffshire
The County of Banff is a registration county for property, and Banffshire is a Lieutenancy area of Scotland.The County of Banff, also known as Banffshire, was a local government county of Scotland with its own county council between 1890 and 1975. The county town was Banff although the largest...
and took his first degree at Aberdeen University, carrying out his clinical training at Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital is a general, acute hospital located in London, United Kingdom and established in 1818. It is located several miles to the west of the city centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham....
, London.
In 1877 Cantlie became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
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...
and Assistant Surgeon to Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital is a general, acute hospital located in London, United Kingdom and established in 1818. It is located several miles to the west of the city centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham....
; in 1886 he became Surgeon at Charing Cross. In 1888 he resigned to take up a position in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. While in the colony, he co-founded the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, which later grew into the University of Hong Kong. One of his first pupils at the College was the future Chinese leader Sun Yat Sen. Cantlie's work in Hong Kong included investigations into leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
and into various tropical disease
Tropical disease
Tropical diseases are diseases that are prevalent in or unique to tropical and subtropical regions. The diseases are less prevalent in temperate climates, due in part to the occurrence of a cold season, which controls the insect population by forcing hibernation. Insects such as mosquitoes and...
s; in 1894 he encountered an outbreak of plague.
In 1896 poor health - caused by his untiring work as a teacher, researcher and practicing doctor - forced Cantlie to return to London. Later that year, Sun visited him, and was kidnapped by the Imperial Chinese secret service. Sun was imprisoned in the Chinese Legation, and would have been shipped back to China and executed had it not been for Cantlie, who led a media campaign which not only succeeded in releasing Sun but left Sun a hero in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Cantlie was involved in the setting up of the Journal of Tropical Medicine in 1898, and the founding of London School of Tropical Medicine
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a constituent college of the federal University of London, specialising in public health and tropical medicine...
in 1899. He was a founder in 1907 of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was founded in 1907 by Sir James Cantlie and George Carmichael Low. Sir Patrick Manson, the Society's first President is generally acknowledged as the father of tropical medicine. He passed the presidency on to the Nobel laureate Sir Ronald Ross ,...
. During the early years of the twentieth century, and particularly during the First World War (1914–1919), Cantlie's work centred on the provision and training of ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
services.
On his death he was buried in St Johns church, Cottered, Herts
Cottered
Cottered is a village and civil parish west of Buntingford and east of Baldock in the East Hertfordshire District of Hertfordshire in England. It has a population of 634....
.