BACTERIOLOGICAL CHAIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18510, 22 March 1922, Page 8

BACTERIOLOGICAL CHAIR

DR CHAMPTALOUP’S SUCCESSOR. FORMER CANTERBURY STUDENT CHOSEN. Hie University Council hod _ before it yesterday the question of choosing a successor to the late Dr Champtaloup. Professor of Bacteriology and Public Health, who died last December.^ The first matter decided related to a cablegram placed in the hands of the registrar stating that a _ doctor at Home, who recently paid a visit_ to the dominion, was posting an application. It was decided that, the application _ not being to liand, and the council having no official cognisance of it, it could not be considered. The council then went into committee to deal with the four applications received. The elimination method was resorted to, and the choice eventually fell upon Dr Peter MacCallum, assistant clinical pathologist at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The new professor, who is 36 yews of age, is a New Zealander, being a Christchurch boy, educated at Christ’s College and Canterbury College, where he graduated M.Sc. in 1908, and M.A. in 1909, in which year he was chosen as the Canterbury candidate for the Rhodes Scholarship. He is a married man, his wife being formerly Miss B. D. Cross. M.A., the first lady D.So. of the New Zealand University. At Christ’s College Dr MacCallum was a very successful student, winning an entrance scholarship and two Somes Scholarships. He entered Canterbury College m 1904 with a Gamack Scholarship, won an exhibition in biology, and graduated M.Sc. with second-class honours in zoology, taking; hie M.A. degree the following year. From 1910 to 1914 he attended the Edinburgh University. Here he was Tons Dunlop' Scholar in physiology, and during his course he won 14 class medals, including first place in his year in pathology, under Professor Greenfield. Fie took a special course of bacteriology under Dr "W. E. Carnegie Dickson, and fater acted as student-demonstrator in bacteriology under Professor James Ritchie. He was house physician in the skins department of tho Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, under Dr Norman Walker. In 1914 he graduated M. 8., Ch.B., with first-class honours, won the Buchanan Scholarship in midwifery and gynaicologjy, and Beaney Prize m anatomy, surgery, and clinical surgery. Ho was house physician in the gynaecological wards of the Edinburgh Royallnfirmary for six months, under Dr H. Freeland Barbour. The call to arms found Dr MacCallum ready, and he had four years and a-haif distinguished service with the R.A.M.L. / He was Adjutant of the 56th Field Amr hulance. 18th Division, and was awarded the Military Cross (Ypres, 1917) and twice mentioned in dispatches. Then he became surgeon to the 2nd Scottish General Hospital, 1919, and was temporarily clinical pathologist. . With regard to public health, Dr Mac- - Callum’s experience of practical sanitation and hygiene in France was considerable, involving the work of instruction of units, and the direction and inspection of sanitary measures imposed by field conditions. At the university he attained distinction in the final examination, which included that in public health, and though he has not sat for ; a special diploma in public health be is studying with that purpose, and hopes shortly to secure it. After demobilisation Dr MacCallum made itvhis aim to fit himself for a professorship in pathology and bacteriology, and with that end in view, took up the appointment of assistant lecturer in pathology in the University of Edinburgh under Professor Lorrain Smith, F.H.S., and assistant pathologist at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. These positions he held for a year, and during this period he also assisted Professor James Ritchie, co-author with Professor Muir of the “Text Book of Bacteriology.” as a, demonstrator in the class of bacteriology. The positions of senior assistant pathologist and assistant clinical pathologist at- the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary became vacant, and his application resulted in his being given the choice of the two positions. He« chose the bacteriological appointment, and- has, since October. 1920. been working under Dr W. R. Logan, M.D., F.R.C.P., gaining necessarily a large experience of bacteriological and serological work, for few bacteriological appointments afford wider sedge,' the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary being the largest hospital in the United Kingdom. Dr -MacCallum's qualifications as a teacher •re.,good. He was science master at Christ’s College for a year and for another year at the Waitaki Boys’ High School. He latjer held the position of clinical tutor in medicine ttf’’ Professor J. C. Meakins, instructing a class of 30 in physical examination. and side room work. His present lectureship in pathology involves daily lecturing and practical demonstration to a class of 60; He has also had sonjo experience of public lecturing on bacteriology in connoption with the Alliance of Honour, while his duties in the R.A.M.C. included a good deal of lecturing on medical subjects. In the matter of research Dr MacCallum, though he has published nothing, has not been idl£. During the latter six months of jjiir’'lectureship he lias been engaged in research on the subject of phagocytosis in pergicious anffimia, and the experimental prediction of anemia in rabbits by means of Ricim During the past six months, also, he Jlas been engaged, in association with a colleague, on an extensive investigation of the? Action of salts on the haemolytic system of t&e \siassermann Test, and the mechanism of action. The first part of this investigation is approaching completion. Dt> MacCallum's testimonials are excellent: Professor Lorrain Smith states among othef things that when acting as his assistant h© was an effective teacher and that bis woefc was much appreciated by the students. Professor Logan states: —‘‘Dr MacCallum has held the post of first assistant clinical pathologist to the Royal Infirmary, Edinburg, since October. 1920. The Department of Clinical Pathology undertakes all the reporting work for the Rojwl Infirmary, with tho exception of tlie liistblogical specimens. The examinations coma chiefly under the category of bacteriology and serology in the widest sense of these terms, with a small number which would bo classed as chemical. The work i« unuritaally extensive because of the arrangement between tho Board of Health and Corporation of Edinburgh and the Infirmary. which results in the covering by this department of nearly all the venereal pathology of Edinburgh and of a wide surrounding district. Hie reports issued vary in npjmber between 1500 and 1900 a month. Thei work is divided between the three clinnal pathologists, of whom Dr MacCallum is ofie.' Dr MacCallum has therefore added to his already extensive pathological equipment a very sound knowledge of bacteriology in all its branches. His observations are not only careful and accurate, but they show the evidence of his wide experience in the other branches of pathology, in medicine, and in pure science. In addition to his routine work he has continued his research on pernicious anaemia, and has also been engaged on an important investigation into' the various factors at work in the Wassermann reaction. Ho is a man of high character, and has had a good athletic career. Ho takes a keen interest in the welfare of the students, and lias ungrudgingly given much time and trouble to coaching the present university Rugby team; the results have been excellent. There is no doubt he is well capable of the organisation and direction necessary in such a post as that for which he is at present applying. I fedl sure that if ho is successful in his application he will very quickly prove himself a most valuable member of the professorial staff.” Dr Benham has given notice to rescind the motion appointing Ur MacCallum. This will.be considered at a special meeting d the council to be held at an early date.