Papers relating to Hugh Owen Thomas
TitlePapers relating to Hugh Owen Thomas
ReferenceMS0267
Level of descriptionfonds
Datec1857-1875
Admin./ biographical historyHugh Owen Thomas was a Surgeon and a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1857). In 1851, he was apprenticed to his uncle, Dr Owen Roberts, at St Asaph in North Wales for four years. He later studied medicine at Edinburgh University and University College London. He returned to Liverpool to help his father in 1858, but in 1859 he set up his own practice. He spent most of his working life in the slums of Liverpool treating the poor rather than the wealthier Victorians. From 1870, he ran a free clinic on Sundays and treated dockers, shipyard workers and seamen.
In the treatment of tuberculosis and fractures, he strongly advocated the use of rest which should be 'enforced, uninterrupted and prolonged'. His ideas were published in "Diseases of the hip, knee and ankle joints, with their deformities" (1875). This was at a time when it was often suggested that excision or amputation were the solution for chronic bone disorders. In order to achieve rest and immobilisation he invented several types of splints that were manufactured in his own work shop by both a blacksmith and a saddler. He also invented a wrench for the reduction of fractures and an osteoclast to break and reset bones. he was elected a member of the Liverpool Medical Institution in 1876, published many works on orthopaedic surgery and was given an honorary degree by the University of St Louis.
In the treatment of tuberculosis and fractures, he strongly advocated the use of rest which should be 'enforced, uninterrupted and prolonged'. His ideas were published in "Diseases of the hip, knee and ankle joints, with their deformities" (1875). This was at a time when it was often suggested that excision or amputation were the solution for chronic bone disorders. In order to achieve rest and immobilisation he invented several types of splints that were manufactured in his own work shop by both a blacksmith and a saddler. He also invented a wrench for the reduction of fractures and an osteoclast to break and reset bones. he was elected a member of the Liverpool Medical Institution in 1876, published many works on orthopaedic surgery and was given an honorary degree by the University of St Louis.
Scope and ContentConsists of three volumes, containing case details, drawings, and correspondence and other papers.
Extent3 volumes
LanguageEnglish
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Conditions governing reproductionCopies of material in the archives can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents. Some items within this collection may remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study. Permission to publish material, in print or online, must be sought in advance from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and, where appropriate, the copyright holder. Please email archives@rcseng.ac.uk in the first instance.
Persons keyword Sir Robert Jones, 1858-1933, Knight, surgeon
SubjectSurgery, Drawings, Medical treatment, Orthopaedics
