Sir Stanley Davidson 1894-1981
 Sir
Stanley Davidson was a accomplished physician, skilled investigator and
the expert author and editor responsible for classic textbooks like the
Principles and Practice of Medicine. He was President of the College
for four years, 1953-1957. His portrait by Raeburn Dobson hangs in the
Davidson Room.
Sir Stanley had a stormy introduction to medicine. As a Cambridge undergraduate
he enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders at the start of World War I in
1914. Severely wounded in France in 1915, he spent the next two years
under hospital and convalescent care. Although his general health was
impaired, he resumed his medical studies and graduated in Edinburgh with
first class honours in 1919.
In 1928 he was appointed an assistant physician to the Royal Infirmary.
In 1930 he published with George Lovell Gulland a notable monograph on
pernicious anaemia, followed by numerous papers on vital staining of
erythrocytes, the classification of anaemias and their treatment. The
same year he went to Aberdeen as Professor of Medicine where he sought
no private practice, but devoted himself to whole-time hospital work,
teaching and research.
In 1939 he returned to Edinburgh to occupy the Chair of Medicine. His
investigative work was not confined to haematology but included rheumatic
disorders and important studies on nutrition. He was instrumental in
much of the upgrading, modernising and broadening of the hospital teaching
facilities within the Edinburgh area.
The interview was conducted by Angus Stuart is
split into 3 parts.
Part 1
Pre World War I student days at Edinburgh University
Edinburgh University as an imperial University
Pre World War I alcohol abuse in Edinburgh
With the Gordon Highlanders at Ypres in World War I
Seriously wounded in action
Dangers of post mortems
Part 2
Cambridge
Edinburgh
Aberdeen
Difficulties of teaching large medical classes
Sir Humphrey Rolleston
Leith Hospital
Vaccines for cancer
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh College Laboratory
Clinical work
Hugh Robson
David Flenley
John Richmond
Part 3
General practitioners and their pay
Jim Robson
Lord Horder
Ramsay Macdonald
Moray Golf Club
Lord Moran
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