Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Playfair, William Smoult
PLAYFAIR, WILLIAM SMOULT (1835–1903), obstetric physician, born at St. Andrews, where his family had long been prominent citizens, on 27 July 1835, was fourth of the five sons of George Playfair, inspector-general of hospitals in Bengal, by his wife Jessie Ross of Edinburgh. Lyon, first Lord Playfair [q. v. Suppl. I], and Sir Robert Lambert Playfair [q. v. Suppl. I] were two of his brothers.
After being educated at St. Andrews, he became a medical student at Edinburgh in 1852, graduating M.D. in 1856 and then working for some time in Paris. In 1857 he entered the Indian medical service, and was an assistant surgeon at Oude during the Mutiny. During 1859-60 he was professor of surgery at the Calcutta Medical College; but for reasons of health he retired, and after practising for six months in St. Petersburg, he returned in 1863 to London without definite plans, but was soon elected assistant physician for diseases of women and children at King's College Hospital. In 1872, on the retirement of Sir William Overend Priestley [q. v. Suppl. I], he was appointed professor of obstetric medicine in King's College and obstetric physician to King's College Hospital, posts which he vacated after twenty-five years' service in 1898, and was elected emeritus professor and consulting physician. In 1863 he became M.R.C.P., and in 1870 was elected F.R.C.P.
Playfair became one of the foremost obstetricians in this country, and was among the first to decline to hand over obstetric operations to general surgeons, and thus set obstetricians the example of operating on their own patients. He was a prolific writer with a clear and graceful style. He introduced into this country with much enthusiasm and success the Weir-Mitchell or 'rest-cure' treatment, which was soon widely adopted. In 1896 an action was brought against him by a patient for alleged breach of professional confidence which attracted much attention, and was notable for the enormous damages (12,000l.) given against him by the jury; this amount however was reduced by agreement to 9200l. on application for a new trial. Though opinion was much divided on the merits of the case, no stain was left on Playfair's professional character. He was physician accoucheur to the Duchess of Edinburgh and to the Duchess of Connaught, an hon. LL.D. of the Universities of Edinburgh (1898) and of St. Andrews (1885), an honorary fellow of the American and of the Boston Gynæcological Societies, and of the Obstetrical Society of Edinburgh. He was president of the Obstetrical Society of London (1879-80).
Playfair after an apoplectic stroke at Florence in 1903 died at St. Andrews, his native place, on 13 Aug. 1903, and was buried there in the new cemetery of St. Andrews, where his two distinguished brothers lie. A sum was collected to found a memorial to him in the new King's College Hospital at Denmark Hill, London. His portrait, painted by Fraulein von Nathusius, was presented by his widow to the Royal College of Physicians of London. Playfair married on 26 April 1864 Emily, daughter of James Kitson of Leeds and sister of the first Lord Airedale; he had issue two sons and three daughters.
Playfair was author of:
- ’Handbook of Obstetric Operations,' 1865.
- 'Science and Practice of Midwifery,' 1876; 9th edit. 1898, translated into several languages.
- 'Notes on the Systematic Treatment of Nerve Prostration and Hysteria connected with Uterine Disease,' 1881.
He was joint editor with Sir Clifford Allbutt, K.C.B., of a 'System of Gynæcology' (1896; 2nd edit, revised by T. W. Eden, 1906). He contributed to Quain's ’Dictionary of Medicine' (1882) the article on 'Diseases of the Womb,' and to H. Tuke's 'Dictionary of Psychological Medicine' (1892) the article on 'Functional Neuroses,' and wrote much for medical periodicals, including forty-nine papers for the 'Transactions of the Obstetrical Society.'
[Obstetrical Trans., London, 1904, xlvi. 80-86; Brit. Med. Journal, 1903, ii. 439; the Families of Roger and Playfair, printed for private circulation, 1872; information from Hugh Playfair, M.D.]