Meeting with Dr Robin Reid

Today I met with Dr Robin Reid, an editor of the 14th edition of Muir's textbook, and retired lecturer from the University of GLasgow who has an interest in the history of medical science. We talked about Muir, his textbook and the pathology department of the University. My thanks to Dr Reid for agreeing to talk to me, and lending me 'Pathology at the Western Infirmary: the First Hundred Years' which has proven to be a valuable resource.

MEETING WITH DR ROBIN REID – 18 NOV 15

EB: How did you get involved in editing the 14th edition of Muir’s Textbook?

RR: Muir was part of the pathology department until 1936, and the book was very much a departmental one. Muir was succeeded by Shaw Dunn, whose major scientific contribution was regarding nephritis during WWI. On his death, he was succeeded by Daniel Cappell, who in turn was succeeded by John Anderson. The role assumed by the Chair of Pathology was to write the textbook. Around the 8th edition it became a multi-author book, but the pathology chair remained the principle author. Pathology for a long time involved every aspect of the body, and in many ways was focussed towards generating vaccines to prevent all sorts of diseases. Muir was a lecturer in Bacteriology, and this is why – there was great drive to solve infections of the day with vaccines. Professor Carl Browning was also a lecturer in Bacteriology, but by the later stages of the book, the professors could no longer claim to know enough to write the whole book single-handedly, others had to get involved. RR first proof read the 8th edition in his undergraduate degree, and was paid around £100. Then later, for the 12th edition, was asked to write the orthopaedic chapter. Then by the 14th edition, Roddy MacSween was Chair of Pathology and nearing retirement, he wanted to get some more editors involved in the book, and RR was one of 5 involved, which turns out to be too many! A nightmare to organise! Then David Levison had time to finish the book ant get it published. MacSween was the writer of the best book on liver pathology, but was nearing retirement, and needed input from others to get the textbook written. RR went from the role of proof reader, to multiple chapter contributor, to editor. The cell biology chapter needed lots of cutting down to make it approachable to the target audience – early undergraduate medical students. Had previously included lots of stuff about Malthus, and population theory – lots of esoterica. The textbook through the years went from being a personal work by Muir, to a departmental book, to multi-departmental to international. The book was for many years the responsibility of the Chair of Pathology to produce a new edition.

Muir and Cappell had a major role in immunology in Glasgow, as did people like Royson and Deborah Dobriach. The national copyright library in Edinburgh should have all of the editions of Muir’s textbook if you’re interested. As you may have gathered, textbooks are only important if they are early editions, or new editions – the ones in the middle aren’t necessarily very relevant. When RR was a student the textbook contained black and white images, largely because of the inhibitory cost of colour printing.

There is a bust of Muir in the MacGregor building, and on the floor above there is a bust of Carl Browning made out of bronze and made by famous sculptor Benno Schotts.

John Anderson wrote a history of the pathology department, which would be of some use to you, there is lots about Muir in it.

There is also a book called ‘The History of the Western Infirmary’ which was written around 1970 by A.B Kerr, a senior surgeon.

In Hillhead library there is a book that RR contributes to called ‘War Surgery 1914-18,’ by Thomas Scotland, RR wrote the chapter on pathology, will add context to why pathology was so important.

Up until WWI, disease had killed more soldiers than war wounds had. There was great drive to try and generated vaccines against common pathogens.

Book called Vaccination Vindicated in 1880 – about how to stop prevalent diseases. Also, must be remembered that pathologist got their information form autopsies, not biopsies. In the 30s the department of surgery did their own biopsies, pathology department was focussed on autopsies.

In WWI dressing stations, gangrene was a major problem – soldiers were shot, and the would contained mud, bits of clothes – what was the bacteriology of this? Localised infections – there had to be provisions for microbiological testing in hospitals. Principle role of Scottish labs at this time was to try and keep soldiers alive – pre-antibiotic era. Professor Almroth Wright taught Alexander Fleming.

Control of infection is just as important today.

Amyeloiditis – protein deposition in beta pleated sheets in Alzheimer’s is a secondary condition to sepsis – due to chronic bacterial infection acute phase reactants. There is a difference between chronic suppurating sepsis and overwhelming sepsis that causes death.