HEROISM IN MEDICINE.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 97, 22 October 1881, Page 4

HEROISM IN MEDICINE.

» The Queen has been graciously pleased to confer the decoration ot the Albert Medal of tho first-class (for gallantly in saving Jife) upon David Lowson, M.D,, of Huddersfield, nnder tho following circumstances : — On 12tli Novomber, 1880, Vr. Lowson was called in to attend the child of Police-constable Higgiubottom, of Huddersfield, who was snffermg from laryngio diphtheria. He performed tho operation of tracheotomy, butsuffocativo attaoks supervened, and on visiting tho child next morning ho found ib in a livid Btato, and breathing only with great difficulty. Seeing that tho only chance of saving the child's life lay in sucking tho tube clear, he at once, at imminont risk to himself, applied his lips to the tube and sucked out the accumulated mucus, thereby affording immediate relief to tho pationt. Throughout the day he continued, by means of a pipette, to suck out the mucus from tho trachea. Notwithstanding his heroic efforts, tho child unfortunately died on the th ; rd day after the operation. Dr. Lowson's heroism was rewarded by a severe attack of diphtheria, with which he was seized in a few days. Other dangerous illness supervened, compelling him eventually to abandon his profession and to retire from a lucrative partnership.