| Administrative History | Sir Alexander Ogston (1844 - 1929), surgeon and bacteriologist, was born at Ogston's Court, 84 Broad Street, Aberdeen, on 19 April 1844, the elder son of Francis Ogston (bap. 1803, d. 1887), physician and professor of medical jurisprudence at Aberdeen University. Ogston attended Marischal College, Aberdeen (1859 – 1865), where he graduated MB CM in 1865 and MD in 1866.
Ogston was senior surgeon at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary from 1880 until his resignation in 1898, when he became consulting surgeon. Following the retirement of Professor William Pirrie (bap. 1807, d. 1882) in 1882, Ogston became regius professor of surgery at Aberdeen University (1882 - 1909).
Ogston was influenced by and believed in Lister's (Joseph Lister, Baron Lister (1827 – 1912), surgeon and founder of a system of antiseptic surgery) methods.
Ogston also took a keen interest in military surgery. In 1885 he set out for Egypt to take part in the war of 1884 – 1885. After service on the hospital ship 'Ganges' he joined the first bearer company and worked with the wounded at Hasheen and Suakin. Ogston was awarded the Egyptian campaign medal and the khedive's bronze star. After his return home, Ogston in 1887 took advantage of being vice - president of the surgical section of the British Medical Association to deliver a thorough criticism of the conditions faced in Egypt by the British forces, especially the deficiencies in medical care. His criticisms so offended some sections of the medical establishment that he was not allowed access to the theatre of war in South Africa in 1899 – 1900, forcing him to appeal directly to Queen Victoria to intercede on his behalf. During his seven months in South Africa, Ogston was cold - shouldered by some of the medical authorities but was well treated by the military. However, his recommendations made after the Egyptian campaign were yet to have any significant effects.
Cited from Ogston, Alexander G., ‘Ogston, Sir Alexander (1844 – 1929)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/38344, accessed 29 Nov 2005], where further details about Ogston can be found. |