Dr. Lawson Tait 1888 Biography

[Phil Carter]

Hunter,

Makes you wonder a bit about this fellow Tait, doesn't it?

best wishes

Phil

[Archaic]

re:Tait's Successes

Just for the record, Lawson Tait was a highly skilled physician who dedicated his life to relieving the suffering of others.

The sarcastic remark from 1889 Cincinnati Medical Journal quoted above comparing Tait to Jack the Ripper was made by a rival doctor who vehemently opposed gynecological surgery and claimed to be able to destroy uterine tumors with electricity... that doctor's name appears to have been lost to history, while the name of LawsonTait lives on.

Tait was considered a 'radical' surgeon by some who opposed his new methods, but by means of his "revolutionary" new procedures Tait drastically increased the odds for patients undergoing many different forms of abdominal surgery. Tait is credited with many successful firsts in that wide field.

This description of Tait's procedures is from the website of Imperial College, which still offers a 'Lawson Tait Prize' every year:

" His surgical successes were due in part to his ‘aseptic' techniques. He did not agree with Lister's use of carbolic acid for antisepsis and instead used soap and water to wash his hands thoroughly. His instruments were boiled and his linen laundered. He tended to use a small incision and post operatively he removed excess blood from the abdomen and used a peritoneal ‘wash-out' of boiled water. The operations were performed quickly to reduce the risk of infection."

Best regards,
Archaic

[Archaic]

Tait's 'Jill the Ripper/Menstrual Mania' Theory, 1898

Here's the article I quoted from in post #12 above regarding Lawson Tait's 'Jill the Ripper/Menstrual Mania' theory.
(Thought I had attached it; sorry about that.)

It was published in 1898 in 'Transactions of the Texas State Medical Association'. Too bad it's so brief.

Best regards,
Archaic

[Hunter]

A hystericalrectomy... LOL

[Celesta]

This article describing Lawson Tait's "Female Ripper" theory is from the 1898 'Transactions of the Texas State Medical Association'.



Menstrual Mania...

Well, I suppose it's as good a motive for serial murder as any.

Best regards,
Archaic

I always find these notions interesting, in light of the fact that the time women are most like men, hormonally, is during menstruation.