SIR LINDO FERGUSON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22293, 20 June 1934, Page 4

SIR LINDO FERGUSON

HONOURED BY UNIVERSITY COUNCIL DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SCHOOL Ur James Fitzgerald presented the iollowing motion to the meeting of the University Council yesterday afternoon: — “ That Sir Lindo Foransom dean of the medical faculty, be appointed director ot the Otago Medical School.” Moving his motion. Dr Fitzgerald said: “ 1 would draw councillors’ attention to the fact that this is the fiftieth year since Sir Lindo Ferguson inaugurated the special departments of eye, oar. throat, and nose in the Dunedin Hospital. During the whole of that time he has given out-patient and clinical instruction to our medical students. He was appointed lecturer in ISS6, and professor in 1909. thus specially serving the council for a period of 4S years—23 years as lecturer and 25 years as professor. Dr Scott died in 1914, and Sir Lindo Ferguson was appointed dean in 1914. so that, he has been dean of the medical faculty for 20 years. I believe 1 am the oldest medical practitioner at present practising in Dunedin who can-speak of Sir Lindo for the greater part of this long period. 1 can speak ot him from the student’s point of

view, as he was my first teacher m ophthalmology, and I 9a n bear testimony to his ability as' a teacher. He in those days walked from his home to the Hospital. We students frequently met him—the eminent specialist—in Princes street immaculately and elegantly dressed —frock coat, silk hat. after-lunch cigar.— (Laughter.) How we looked forward to the time when we would wear a frock coat and silk hat and smoke similar cigars. How the fragrance lingered with us tor a long time after he passed. He drives a motor car now, and, I think, does not smoke so many Havanas. - . “ I am not exaggerating when I say his reputation is Dominion-wide—is Austra-lian-wide, and he is respected in Great Britain and on the Continent. And I may say without betraying a confidence that his opinion in regard to a recent case in which we are all interested has been upheld by the highest authorities in Britain! I think I am correct in saying he performed the first tonsil and adenoids operation in the southern hemisphere. Now in regard to his connection with our council and the school, I am sure you will all agree with me as to his work for the school. He was appointed dean of the faculty in 1914, and the war years were very strenuous years With men going away from our Hospital the work had to be kept going. The filling of hospitals, the sending away of our young graduates to the front, and the establishing of the New Zealand Medical Corps in collaboration with General Henderson entailed a tremendous amount or strenuous work, vision and foresight. He then tackled the curriculum, which badly wanted improving. He visited Australia, America, Cairo, Home, Geneva, and Pans, examining the schools. He also visited the important schools in London and the provinces, Scotland and Ireland, consulting with the authorities as to the difficulties in connection with our school in Dunedin. “ He returned full of information and as a result of his wise foresight and statesmanship the Medical School in Dunedin is known and respected the - world over, and one of the latest recognitions is that the primary examination for physiology and anatomy required for the English Fellowship is to be held in Dunedin in October. Who would have dreamed of this 50 years ago? ' This we owe in great measure to Sir Lindo Ferguson. “Most of you know the interest taken by Sir Lindo in the 'new Medical School buildings in King street. Few really know the time and thought and scientific knowledge he put in over the plans to perfect the new school. “ I have purposely gone into some detail in regard to Sir Lindo Fergusons career and now would draw the council s attention to Sir Lindo’s grasp—comprehensive any subject coming before the council or committee. N.o matter what the subject, whether the dull, everyday character of works, the brighter subject of finance, or any subject scientific, cultural, or academic. The council without him would indeed be at a lose. “As chairman of the Medical Committee I am brought frequently into contact with Sir Lindo talking over Medical School matters. We frequently differ, but I flatter myself and am proud to think that despite differences we can still be friends. For many years, since 1924, I think, when at the late Dr .Cameron’s request Sir Lindo Ferguson was asked to put in a report as to the pressing needs of the Medical School, he has stressed the necessity of having a director for the Medical School and during the years since he has never lost sight of the necessity. He insists that the position should be dean of the medical faculty and director of the school. He says it would strengthen his hands to have that position and would make for belter management of the school. I am in agreement with him. As dean he is merely chairman of the medical faculty. As director lie would have more influence in working for efficiency. I can quite visualise occasions when a director might deal with matters which need not come before the council but which might be smoothed over and put right by a director acting with firmness and tact.

“At times there may arise situations where the spirit of sweet reasonableness is apparently absent —situations where one department might not see eye to eye with another department, and we must have co-operation and team .work among our staff to ensure the harmonious carrying on of our school. A director would carry more weight than a dean in tactfully but firmly dealing with such situations. I conceive and am firmly persuaded that these situations could better be dealt with than in bringing such matters before the council. Again the director would have the vision in regard to future policy that, perhaps, the dean would not. Other special schools have their directors—mining, dental, and Home Science. Why should the main special school not ha-'-e its director? As chairman of the Medical Committee I would welcome the appointment. “One more point. I may say that T kqow the dean of the medical faculty lias sacrificed his practice tor the'sake of the Medical Sfhool. How many would have done that? Few, 1 think. Further, he has carried on his professorship (and you all know what his salary has been). “ I speak feelingly when I look back and think about my old teachers in the Otago University—Shnnd. Sale, M'Gregor, Rlack, Scott. Brown, Mannsell. Batchelor. They are no longer here. They all are gone into the land of shadows. All, save one. Sir Lindo is the only one of my teachers who is left, and I am proud to bo chairman- of the Medical Committee of the Uuniversity of which Sir Lindo is dean of the medical faculty. He is the doyen of the profession in New Zealand. He is dean of our medical faculty.” Mr L. D. Ritchie said he intended to support the motion. They would realise that the council would always be the supreme authority. He might say that he was not always in accord with the views of Sir Lindo Ferguson, but that fact bad made no difference whatever in their relations, showing the great breadth of outlook ol Sir Lindo. His

vision, foresight, sagacity, and ability bad been proved throughout the years. The chancellor (Mr W. J. Morrell) said that he thought the council would have been willing to make this appointment before, and one reason why it was not was that they had such a very high sense of Sir Lindo Ferguson’s work as dean, and that ho had practically been the director of the Medical School. He yielded to no one in his gratitude to Sir Lindo Ferguson for the work he had done for them for so many years. Ho bad identified himself with the school, and the school had identified itself with him. Dr K. J. T. Bell said that Sir Lindo Ferguson had been regarded as the director, although he had not had the title. He suggested that the time was coming when they would have to consider the general Question of setting aside a man who would undertake the whole of the administrative work. Sir James Allen said he had always thought that Sir Lindo Ferguson had held the position of director. They had directors in the' other departments, and he could not understand why they did not have a director of the Medical School. The motion was carried unanimously, j It was stated that the position regarding any future appointment of a director could be considered when the occasion arose.