Dr. Robert Druitt on prostitution, etc.

[aspallek]

Moving this discussion here from the William Druitt thread.

From the Australian Medical Gazette (1870):

[aspallek]

There is a long discussion in Transactions of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science (1870) follwing a paper on "Should the Principle of the Contageous Diseases Act be applied to the Civil Population?".

The discussion contains the following:

[aspallek]

The obituary of Dr. Robert Druitt from 26 May 1883 with a reference to works by Dr. Druitt on prostitution and on "dancing girls." Sorry that it's a bit small.

[aspallek]

This from The Principles and Practise of Modern Surgery by Dr. Robert Druitt himself (1860). Here it is important to note in the striking reference to punishing prostitution, Dr. Druitt is quoting a surgeon "W. Fergusson," who is in turn referring to a remark by his friend "Mr. Guthrie." However, Druitt hastens to add that he concurrs with this opinion:

[Natalie Severn]

Some rare finds here Andy on the medical practioner Robert Druitt.Some indication of intolerance too of prostitutes,although it may simply be that he agreed with Fergusson that the diseases a small number of them spread were wildly contageous and a danger to society at large.
Best
Norma

[aspallek]

Thanks, Norma. Actually, these are on the web for anyone to find.

I agree we should not press the "punishment" remark. The "agreement" was probably more on the practical effect on of prostitution on the spread of disease. Also, the "punishment" referred to here for prostitution is, in fact, the contraction of disease.

Robert Druitt was one of several prominent physicians and clergymen involved in a debate regarding the Contagious Diseases Act and whether or how it should be applied to the general population. Unfortunately, I do not yet know the details of the Act.

One of the aspects of the debate concerned how best to prevent soldiers from cavorting with prostitutes and thus contracting disease. Some favored regular examination (presumably genital) of these soldiers. Others, Druitt included, urged an effort that made greater use of moral/ethical strictures as deterrent.

[Natalie Severn]

Thanks Andy,
The more I read about Monty"s extended family,the better the picture.Clearly the relatives we have recently heard of on the father"s side appear to have been serious minded ,dedicated, worthy type citizens.But on mother"s side there was definitely a history of depression and worse still madness and suicide.It would be most intersting to discover more about Mrs Druitt and the illness of paranoia,which caused her to be confined to an asylum for the mentally ill.I wonder how she viewed her husband"s obstetrics and her brother-in -laws public pronoucements on prostitution for that matter? If she declared prostitution an ever increasing "curse on civilisation" -[taking here young Monty"s words in a debate on Bismark and the State,as being a "curse on civilisation" ].
We just dont know how Mrs Druitt behaved or talked in front of her children,over her husband"s or brother-in -laws medical "pre-occupations" especially those that reached the press,but my guess would be "oddly" and that her utterances,if they were indeed "odd" or loaded with severe retribution,as is common in paranoid illness, may have had an effect on young Monty!
Best
Norma

[aspallek]

Norma, I quite agree with your comments on the Harvey family. Unfortunately, the names Ann Harvey and her father John Harvey are so common that searches are difficult. If I knew more of the history of the Harvey family I'd be glad to do some digging.

Here is a list of contributors to a testimonial for Robert Druitt (Medical Times and Gazette 28 June 1873). The first name is presumably that of Sir William Jenner, the physician who attended Prince Albert and, later, the Prince of Wales (Edward VII) during their attacks of typhoid. It was he who first distinguished between typhus and typhoid. According to measuringworth.com:
In 2006, £5 5s 0d from 1873 was worth:

£319.79 using the retail price index
£433.45 using the GDP deflator
£2,514.65 using the average earnings
£2,834.53 using the per capita GDP
£5,332.47 using the share of GDP

[aspallek]

From a paper "Clinical Notes on Some Common Diseases" by Dr. Robert Druitt in the Medical Times and Gazette of 12 April 1868. Interesting in light of his sister-in-law's condition and family history. One almost wonders if the man who brought his wife to Robert was indeed his own brother (not likely)!

[Natalie Severn]

Yes Andy,Robert was clearly a man of much distinction in the medical field.In fact both Robert and William Druitt were quite distinguished for their writings and their practises in medicine.
Keep digging Andy.
Cheers
Norma

[Natalie Severn]

Our posts crossed here Andy.Like you I dont think this is William and Anne Druitt, but it illustrates the sort of strains mental illness can put on the spouse of the afflicted.Mrs Druitt would almost certainly have been an "unusual" mum,given to slightly odd or eccentric comment and possibly of behaviour, throughout the years Monty and his siblings were growing up.She could though, have also,at the same time,been a caring and conscientious mother,probably highly intelligent ,since that is often the case with people who develop paranoid psychosis for some reason.The worst of her illness seems to have manifested itself in late middle age,but it would have been there all the time,in a less obvious form.
Best

[aspallek]

8 Strathmore Gardens (on the left), residence of Dr. Robert Driutt family assuming the numbering has not changed:

[Natalie Severn]

Hi Andy,
Thats a great photo .Strathmore Gardens is right next to Kensington Palace.That would have been the official residence of the Prince of Wales,which might make a medical link to Gull--- who would have tended Princess Alexandra and her sons---one of whom was the Duke of Clarence.You can begin to see Dr Thomas Stowell"s gossip beginning to take shape here as he was a close friend of Gull"s son in law ,one of the Dyke Acland"s, another of whom, Arthur Dyke Acland, worked closely with Cook at Toynbee Hall,Cook being Druitt"s journalist compatriot from childhood at Winchester,then fellow student at Oxford New College and finally quite close neighbour from Blackheath!

Norma