Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Moxon, Walter
MOXON, WALTER, M.D. (1836–1886), physician, son of an inland revenue officer who was remotely related to Edward Jenner [q. v.], the discoverer of vaccination, was born 27 June 1836, at Midleton, co. Cork. After education in a private school he obtained a situation as a clerk in a merchant's office in London, and by work out of hours succeeded in passing the matriculation examination of the university of London. He gave up commerce and entered Guy's Hospital in 1854. While there he passed the several degree examinations with honours and graduated in the London University, M.B. 1859, M.D. 1864. He was appointed demonstrator of anatomy before he took his degree and held the office till 1866, when he was elected assistant physician to Guy's Hospital, as well as lecturer on comparative anatomy. In 1864 he read at the Linnean Society a paper on 'The Anatomy of the Rotatoria,' in 1866 published in the 'Journal of Microscopic Science' a paper on 'Peripheral Terminations of Motor Nerves,' and in 1869 one on 'The Reproduction of Infusoria' in the 'Journal of Anatomy and Physiology.' He was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians of London in 1868, and in 1869 lecturer on pathology at Guy's Hospital. He contributed many papers to the 'Transactions of the Pathological Society,' published 'Lectures on Analytical Pathology' and edited in 1875 the second edition of Dr. Wilks's 'Lectures on Pathological Anatomy.' He was next appointed lecturer on materia medica, and so great was his expository power that his lectures on this jejune subject were crowded. In 1873 he became physician to Guy's Hospital, and in 1882 lecturer on medicine. He was the author of (Lancet, 30 Aug. 1884) a biography of his colleague, Dr. Hilton Fagge, and wrote many papers in the 'Guy's Hospital Reports,' 'Medico-Chirurgical Review,' and 'British Medical Journal.' In 1881 he delivered the Croonian lectures at the College of Physicians 'On the Anatomical Condition of the Cerebral and Spinal Circulation.' He married in 1861, lived first at Hornsey and then at Highgate, having consulting rooms in Finsbury Circus, London. He was a fluent and emphatic speaker and always commanded attention in the College of Physicians. He died 21 July 1886, poisoned by a dose of hydrocyanic acid which he drank in his rooms at Finsbury Circus after visiting his mother's grave at Finchley and while depressed by a delusion that he was developing symptoms of an incurable illness. A medal to commemorate his attainments in clinical medicine is awarded every year by the College of Physicians.
[Memoir in British Medical Journal, 7 Aug. 1886; Lancet, 1886, vol. ii.; extract from Records at Guy's Hospital by Dr. J. C. Steele; Guy's Hospital Reports; General Index to Pathological Transactions; Medico-Chirurgical Society of London Transactions, 1887; personal knowledge.]