Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Annandale, Thomas

by D'Arcy Power

ANNANDALE, THOMAS (1838–1907), surgeon, born at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 2 Feb. 1838, was second son of Thomas Annandale, surgeon, by his wife E. Johnstone. Annandale was educated at Bruce's academy in Newcastle, and was afterwards apprenticed to his father. Continuing his professional studies at the Newcastle Infirmary, he matriculated in 1856 at Edinburgh, and graduated M.D. in 1860 with the highest honours, receiving the gold medal for his thesis 'On the Injuries and Diseases of the Hip Joint.' He was appointed in 1860 house-surgeon to James Syme [q. v.] at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and was Syme's private assistant from 1861 to 1870. In 1863 he was admitted F.R.C.S. Edinburgh, and became a junior demonstrator of anatomy in the university under Prof. John Goodsir [q. v.]. He was also appointed in 1863 a lecturer on the principles of surgery in the extramural school of medicine, and gave there a course of lectures yearly until 1871, when he began to lecture on clinical surgery at the Royal Infirmary. Annandale was admitted a M.R.C.S., England, on 15 July 1859, and F.R.C.S. on 12 April 1888; in 1864 he won the Jacksonian prize for his dissertation on 'The malformations, diseases and injuries of the fingers and toes, with their surgical treatment' (Edinburgh 1865). Appointed assistant surgeon to the Royal Infirmary at Edinburgh in 1865, and acting surgeon there in 1871, he became regius professor of clinical surgery in the university of Edinburgh in 1877, in succession to (Lord) Lister, who then migrated to King's College, London. He was made honorary D.C.L. of Durham in April 1902, and was surgeon-general to the Royal Archers, his Majesty's bodyguard in Scotland, from 27 May 1900 until his death. He joined the corps as an archer in 1870.

Annandale died suddenly on 20 Dec. 1907, having operated as usual at the Royal Infirmary on the previous day. He was buried in the Dean cemetery, Edinburgh. He married in 1874 Eveline, the eldest daughter of William Nelson, the publisher, of Edinburgh, and had a family of three sons and three daughters.

A bust, executed by W. G. Stevenson, R.S.A., is in the lecture theatre of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Annandale, who began to practise surgery when it was an art left it a science. He kept himself abreast of all the incidents of the change and combined the good points of each period. He was keenly interested in university matters and especially in the welfare of the students. He was prominent at the Students' Union and in the Athletic Club. 'The Annandale gold medal in clinical surgery' was founded in his memory at Edinburgh university.

Annandale published (all at Edinburgh), in addition to the work named and many separate papers in professional periodicals:

1. 'Surgical Appliances and Minor Operative Surgery,' 1866.
2. 'Abstracts of Surgical Principles,' 6 pts. 1868-70 (3rd ed 1878).
3. 'Observations and Cases in Surgery,' 1875.
4. 'On the Pathology and Operative Treatment of Hip Disease,' 1876.

[Brit. Med. Journal, 1908, i. 60 (with portrait); Lancet, 1908, i. 70; Scottish Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. xxii. 1903, p. 68 (with portrait); Edinburgh Medical Journal, vol. xxiii. n.s., 1908, p. 1; information from Mr. J. W. Dowden, F.R.C.S. Edin.]

D’A. P.