Douglas James Guthrie

Most surgeons are satisfied with success in a single career. A fortunate few achieve success in two. Douglas Guthrie, a son of the Manse from Fife, could truly be said to have enjoyed such success. After a clinical career as an ear, nose and throat surgeon making particular contributions to paediatric aspects of ENT practice, he went on to a second, perhaps even more successful career as a medical historian. His publication “A History of Medicine”, proved to be one of the most popular texts ever written on the subject. He promoted the development of the study of the history of medicine founding the Scottish Society for the History of Medicine and was a founder member of the British Society of the History of Medicine.

Douglas James Guthrie was born in Dysart, Fife, the son of a Minister. After education at Kirkcaldy High School and the Royal High School of Edinburgh, he graduated in medicine with honours from Edinburgh in 1907. The award of the McCosh Travelling Scholarship allowed him to pursue postgraduate studies in Berlin, Hamburg, Jena and Vienna. As was common at that time, he went into General Practice for six years before entering specialist training. He graduated MD in 1909 and was elected Fellow in 1914. During the First World War he served with the Royal Army Medical Core and thereafter was Commandant of Royal Flying Corps Hospitals. Returning to Edinburgh he was appointed to the extramural school of medicine and ENT surgeon to The Royal Hospital for Sick Children. His interest in speech disorders in childhood resulted in a pioneering book “Speech in Childhood” published in 1935. His eminence as an ENT surgeon was recognised by his election as President of the Section of Otology of The Royal Society of Medicine.

Retirement from practice allowed his career as a medical historian to blossom. From 1945 to 1956 he was Lecturer in the History of Medicine at Edinburgh University succeeding his close friend, John Comrie.

In 1945 his magnum opus “History of Medicine” was published. This was reviewed in the observer by John Bernard Shaw who pronounced it “most readable, unique and well worth the price”. It went on to be published in German, Spanish, Italian and American editions and remains a popular work. It has since been described as the most readable, literary and witty history of the profession ever written. Yet at the same time Guthrie managed to retain accuracy and academic credibility.

His book “Janus in the doorway” the Roman god depicted as having two faces, one looking back and one looking forward, was an eclectic collection of his papers and lectures.

His other published works included a biography of Lister –“Lord Lister his life and doctrine”- and histories of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and of Extramural Medical Education in Edinburgh.

To further his researches Guthrie travelled widely and this resulted in his election as Chairman of the Council of The Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

He founded the Scottish Society for the History of Medicine and became its Honorary President. He was also President of the section of the History of Medicine of The Royal Society of Medicine and President of the British Society for the History of Medicine which he had helped to found.

His lasting contribution was popularising interest in medical history through books which remain both readable and authoritative.