Arthur Ferguson MacCallan
| Born | 1872-10-23 |
| Died | 1955-03-31 |
Related eponyms
British ophthalmologist, born October 23, 1872, New Basford; died March 31, 1955, Westminster Hospital, London.
Biography of Arthur Ferguson MacCallan
Arthur Ferguson MacCallan was the only son of the Reverend J. Ferguson MacCallan, vicar of New Basford, Notts, who had left Northern Ireland to settle in Nottinghamshire.
He was educated at Charterhouse, Christ's College, Cambridge, , where he secured the Darwin Prize, and St. Marchy's Hospital Medical School, London, where he was a University Exhibitioner. He was for some years a keen soccer player, but his athletic career was cut short by a serious accident to his knee while at Cambridge.
After qualifying in 1898 he graduated M.B., B.Ch. in the following year and also took the F.R.C.S. In 1913 he proceeded to M.D.
Early in his career MacCallan decided to specialize in ophthalmology. As a student he had been taken to Moorfields by Mr. Silcock, spent three years in ophthalmic training as a house surgeon to that hospital.
The scourge of eye disease in Egypt was an age-old problem, which had received particular recognition in Europe since the return of troops from the Napoleonic Wars. At the turn of the century Sir Ernest Cassel (1852-1921), who had been interested in the construction of the Nile dam at Asswan, was moved by the prevalence of blindness in Egypt to donate a sum to further the education of Egyptian medical men in ophthalmic diseases. As a first step it was decided to establish a mobile hospital. In Julyy 1903 MacCallan was appointed as ophthalmologist in the department of public health in Cairo, with the task of being in charge of this hospital.
His success was immediate. A vast organization, ultimately comprising base ophthalmic hospitals in each of the capital towns of the fourteen Egyptian provinces, six travelling hospitals and numerous subsidiary clinics. The training of Egyptian ophthalmic surgeons received prior consideration, and regular courses of lectures and clinical instruction were provided. Research facilities were at first established in small centres, but these were superseded some years later by the magnificent Ophthalmic Laboratory at Giza, near Cairo, built as a memorial to the men of the Egyptian Camel Corps and Labour Corps, who had been killed in the war. No less important was the provision of ophthalmic treatment in all Government primary schools throughout Egypt, an innovation which was at first received with some hostility. Lord Kitchener was particularly interested in these activities, and at his suggestion MacCallan undertook a programme of clinical research in ankylostomiasis and bilharziasis, for which four large tented hospitals were established.
By the time he returned to England mass treatment had been instituted, and the disease seemed to be at least under some sort of control.
MacCallan was in England at the outbreak of the 1914 war, but at once returned to Egypt were he concentrated the travelling and tented hospitals at Alexandria as a general hospital for British and Australian sick and wounded. The static eye hospitals throughout the country were used for convalescent cases, though their out-patient departments were maintained as ophthalmic centres.
Later in the war MacCallan served as surgeon at a base hospital in Mersa Matruh, with the rank of Major, R.A.M.C. In 1920 he was made a C.B.E.
His work in Egypt provided MacCallan with unparalleled experience in the study of tropical diseases of the eye, and in particular of trachoma, on which he became a recognized world authority.
In 1923 MacCallan resigned from the service of the Egyptian Government. His great contributions to medicine in that country were recognized by two Egyptian decorations, and by the unique distinction of a bust of himself, presented by the ophthalmic surgeons of Egypt, which was unveiled by the High Commissioner in 1931.
MacCallan returned to England in 1924 and started a practice in London. In the same year he saw an
advertisement in The Times for the post of assistant ophthalmic surgeon to Westminster Hospital, and he successfully applied for this. He was later appointed also as surgeon to the Royal Eye Hospital. Besides this he had a private practice.
On reaching the age of 65 in 1937 he retired from the active staff of the Westminster, but he returned to the hospital during the second world war. Thereafter he still continued his researches in trachoma in a laboratory at the Westminster Medical School. In 1935 he was appointed as second president of the International Organization against Trachoma, a high office that he held for 20 years.
We thank William Charles Caccamise Sr, MD, for information submitted.
He was educated at Charterhouse, Christ's College, Cambridge, , where he secured the Darwin Prize, and St. Marchy's Hospital Medical School, London, where he was a University Exhibitioner. He was for some years a keen soccer player, but his athletic career was cut short by a serious accident to his knee while at Cambridge.
After qualifying in 1898 he graduated M.B., B.Ch. in the following year and also took the F.R.C.S. In 1913 he proceeded to M.D.
Early in his career MacCallan decided to specialize in ophthalmology. As a student he had been taken to Moorfields by Mr. Silcock, spent three years in ophthalmic training as a house surgeon to that hospital.
The scourge of eye disease in Egypt was an age-old problem, which had received particular recognition in Europe since the return of troops from the Napoleonic Wars. At the turn of the century Sir Ernest Cassel (1852-1921), who had been interested in the construction of the Nile dam at Asswan, was moved by the prevalence of blindness in Egypt to donate a sum to further the education of Egyptian medical men in ophthalmic diseases. As a first step it was decided to establish a mobile hospital. In Julyy 1903 MacCallan was appointed as ophthalmologist in the department of public health in Cairo, with the task of being in charge of this hospital.
His success was immediate. A vast organization, ultimately comprising base ophthalmic hospitals in each of the capital towns of the fourteen Egyptian provinces, six travelling hospitals and numerous subsidiary clinics. The training of Egyptian ophthalmic surgeons received prior consideration, and regular courses of lectures and clinical instruction were provided. Research facilities were at first established in small centres, but these were superseded some years later by the magnificent Ophthalmic Laboratory at Giza, near Cairo, built as a memorial to the men of the Egyptian Camel Corps and Labour Corps, who had been killed in the war. No less important was the provision of ophthalmic treatment in all Government primary schools throughout Egypt, an innovation which was at first received with some hostility. Lord Kitchener was particularly interested in these activities, and at his suggestion MacCallan undertook a programme of clinical research in ankylostomiasis and bilharziasis, for which four large tented hospitals were established.
By the time he returned to England mass treatment had been instituted, and the disease seemed to be at least under some sort of control.
MacCallan was in England at the outbreak of the 1914 war, but at once returned to Egypt were he concentrated the travelling and tented hospitals at Alexandria as a general hospital for British and Australian sick and wounded. The static eye hospitals throughout the country were used for convalescent cases, though their out-patient departments were maintained as ophthalmic centres.
Later in the war MacCallan served as surgeon at a base hospital in Mersa Matruh, with the rank of Major, R.A.M.C. In 1920 he was made a C.B.E.
His work in Egypt provided MacCallan with unparalleled experience in the study of tropical diseases of the eye, and in particular of trachoma, on which he became a recognized world authority.
In 1923 MacCallan resigned from the service of the Egyptian Government. His great contributions to medicine in that country were recognized by two Egyptian decorations, and by the unique distinction of a bust of himself, presented by the ophthalmic surgeons of Egypt, which was unveiled by the High Commissioner in 1931.
MacCallan returned to England in 1924 and started a practice in London. In the same year he saw an
advertisement in The Times for the post of assistant ophthalmic surgeon to Westminster Hospital, and he successfully applied for this. He was later appointed also as surgeon to the Royal Eye Hospital. Besides this he had a private practice.
On reaching the age of 65 in 1937 he retired from the active staff of the Westminster, but he returned to the hospital during the second world war. Thereafter he still continued his researches in trachoma in a laboratory at the Westminster Medical School. In 1935 he was appointed as second president of the International Organization against Trachoma, a high office that he held for 20 years.
We thank William Charles Caccamise Sr, MD, for information submitted.
Bibliography
A report of nine cases in which Haab's magnet was used for the extraction of foreign bodies from the eye. With W. T. Spicer.
British Medical Journal, London, January 18, 1902, 1 (2142): 131-132.
Causes of non-trachomatous ophthalmia in Egypt.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, November 1919, 3 (11): 498-505.
The Ankylostomiasis Campaign in Egypt, 1913 to 1915.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Section of Tropical Diseases and Parasitology,
London 14.1921
Ophthalmomyiasis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, June 1923, 7 (6): 302.
Cataract Extraction in Egypt.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. Section of Ophthalmology, London, 1925, 18: 34.
Tropical Ophthalmology (Egypt).
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Section of Tropical Diseases and Parasitology, London
1925, 18: 41-44.
Ophthalmology in egypt.
British Medical Journal, London, March 21 1925, 1 (3351): 551-552.
Case of Re-attachment of Retina after Spontaneous Detachment and Operation.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. Section of Ophthalmology, London, 1926, 19: 39.
Case of Congenital Ptosis: Young's Operation.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. Section of Ophthalmology, London, 1926, 19: 40.
Trachoma.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, July 1926, 10 (7): 415-416.
The birth of ophthalmology and its development in early Arabic literature.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, February 1927, 11 (2): 63-67.
The history of ophthalmology in egypt.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, December 1927, 11 (12): 602-609.
Melanoma of the Eyelid.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, January 1928, 21 (3): 412-413.
A Melanotic Tumour of the Lower Lid.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, February 1928, 21 (4): 690-692.
Some Ocular Manifestations of Focal Septembersis.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, January 1929, 22 (3): 328-334.
Unusual Condition of Iris (Case shown for Diagnosis).
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1929, 22 (7): 949-950.
Tumour of Iris. With T. W. Letchworth.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1929, 22 (7): 949.
Spontaneous Filtering Scar. With J. Wood.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1929, 22 (7): 949.
Toxic absorption due to focal septic lesions: its effects on the production of eye diseases.
British Medical Journal, London, November 23, 1929, 2 (3594): 943-947.
Foreign Body, (?) Copper Wire, in the Eye.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, November 1929, 23 (1): 47-48.
Melanotic Sarcoma of the Choroid.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, March 1930, 23 (5): 617.
Detachment of Retina in Both Eyes.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, April 1930, 23 (6): 838.
Mediaeval ophthalmology in mesopotamia.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, Oktober 1930, 14 (10): 506-510.
Episcleritis due to Focal Septembersis.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1931, 24 (7): 889.
The epidemiology of trachoma.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, July 1931, 15 (7): 369-411.
Episcleritis due to Focal Septembersis.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, November 1931, 25 (1): 58.
Diet deficiency and trachoma.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, February 1932, 16 (2): 124-125.
Cerebral Tumour.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1932, 25 (7): 987-988.
Threading of needles.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, January 1934, 18 (1): 54.
Tumour of Iris.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, 1934 April;27(6): 699-700.
Spanish-Arabic ophthalmology.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, August 1934, 18 (8): 460-463.
Trachoma in the British colonial empire.-its relation to blindness; the existing means of relief; means of prophylaxis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, November 1934, 18 (11): 625-645.
Tumour of the Iris.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, November 1934, 28 (1): 35.
Trachoma-recent advances and the principles of prophylaxis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, May 1935, 19 (5): 253-260.
The classification of the causes of blindness.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, June 1935, 19 (6): 338-340.
The trachoma problem.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, July 1935, 19 (7): 383-385.
Trachoma in the indian army.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, October 1935, 19 (10): 586-587.
Trachomatous Conjunctivitis.
British Medical Journal, March 28, 1936, 1 (3925): 635-636.
The relationship between conjunctivitis and trachoma.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, June 1936, 20 (6): 346-350.
Trachoma.
London: Butterworth, 1936. 225 pages. Translated into many languages.
Correspondence.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, January 1937, 21 (1): 60.
National policy to be adopted in a tropical country for the prevention of blindness.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, February 1938, 22 (2): 65-78.
Trachoma: Showing Results of Tarsectomy in Right Upper Lid.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, July 1938, 31 (9): 1112.
The world-wide distribution of trachoma: excluding the Dominions, Colonies and Mandated Territories of Great Britain.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, September 1938, 22 (9): 513-541.
Rhinosporidiosis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, February 1939, 23 (2): 140-141.
Sulphonamide Treatment of Bacterial and Trachomatous Conjunctivitis.
British Medical Journal, March 23, 1940, 1 (4133): 482-483.
Tarsectomy of all four Lids for Trachoma (with slides).
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, June 1940, 33 (8): 513.
Inclusion Conjunctivitis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, June 1942, 26 (6): 271-275.
Virus affections of the eye.
Transactions of the Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom, London, 1944-1945, 64: 81-84
Squint.
Medical World, London, May 24, 1946, 64: 461.
Sudden Blindness.
Medical World, London, December 24, 1948, 69 (18): 556-558.
Diagnosis of trachoma and other remarks.
Revue internationale du trachome. International Review of Trachoma, Marseille, 1950, 27 (2): 53-55.
The initial signs of trachoma.
Revue internationale du trachome. International Review of Trachoma, Marseille, 1950, 27 (3): 115-117.
The birth of ophthalmology.
Medical World, London, March 9, 1951, 74 (1): 12-15.
The origin and development of spectacles.
Medical World, London, April 13, 1951, 74 (6): 167-170.
The signs and treatment of trachoma.
Revue internationale du trachome. International Review of Trachoma, Marseille, 1953, 30 (1): 1-8.
Biographical etc:
E. F. King:
Arthur Ferguson MacCallan. Obituary.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, May 1955, 39 (5): 319-320
F. MacCallan, C.B.E., M.D., F.R.C. Obituary.
British Medical Journal, Aprilil 16, 1955: 975.
British Medical Journal, London, January 18, 1902, 1 (2142): 131-132.
Causes of non-trachomatous ophthalmia in Egypt.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, November 1919, 3 (11): 498-505.
The Ankylostomiasis Campaign in Egypt, 1913 to 1915.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Section of Tropical Diseases and Parasitology,
London 14.1921
Ophthalmomyiasis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, June 1923, 7 (6): 302.
Cataract Extraction in Egypt.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. Section of Ophthalmology, London, 1925, 18: 34.
Tropical Ophthalmology (Egypt).
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Section of Tropical Diseases and Parasitology, London
1925, 18: 41-44.
Ophthalmology in egypt.
British Medical Journal, London, March 21 1925, 1 (3351): 551-552.
Case of Re-attachment of Retina after Spontaneous Detachment and Operation.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. Section of Ophthalmology, London, 1926, 19: 39.
Case of Congenital Ptosis: Young's Operation.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. Section of Ophthalmology, London, 1926, 19: 40.
Trachoma.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, July 1926, 10 (7): 415-416.
The birth of ophthalmology and its development in early Arabic literature.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, February 1927, 11 (2): 63-67.
The history of ophthalmology in egypt.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, December 1927, 11 (12): 602-609.
Melanoma of the Eyelid.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, January 1928, 21 (3): 412-413.
A Melanotic Tumour of the Lower Lid.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, February 1928, 21 (4): 690-692.
Some Ocular Manifestations of Focal Septembersis.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, January 1929, 22 (3): 328-334.
Unusual Condition of Iris (Case shown for Diagnosis).
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1929, 22 (7): 949-950.
Tumour of Iris. With T. W. Letchworth.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1929, 22 (7): 949.
Spontaneous Filtering Scar. With J. Wood.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1929, 22 (7): 949.
Toxic absorption due to focal septic lesions: its effects on the production of eye diseases.
British Medical Journal, London, November 23, 1929, 2 (3594): 943-947.
Foreign Body, (?) Copper Wire, in the Eye.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, November 1929, 23 (1): 47-48.
Melanotic Sarcoma of the Choroid.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, March 1930, 23 (5): 617.
Detachment of Retina in Both Eyes.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, April 1930, 23 (6): 838.
Mediaeval ophthalmology in mesopotamia.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, Oktober 1930, 14 (10): 506-510.
Episcleritis due to Focal Septembersis.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1931, 24 (7): 889.
The epidemiology of trachoma.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, July 1931, 15 (7): 369-411.
Episcleritis due to Focal Septembersis.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, November 1931, 25 (1): 58.
Diet deficiency and trachoma.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, February 1932, 16 (2): 124-125.
Cerebral Tumour.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, May 1932, 25 (7): 987-988.
Threading of needles.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, January 1934, 18 (1): 54.
Tumour of Iris.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, 1934 April;27(6): 699-700.
Spanish-Arabic ophthalmology.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, August 1934, 18 (8): 460-463.
Trachoma in the British colonial empire.-its relation to blindness; the existing means of relief; means of prophylaxis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, November 1934, 18 (11): 625-645.
Tumour of the Iris.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, November 1934, 28 (1): 35.
Trachoma-recent advances and the principles of prophylaxis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, May 1935, 19 (5): 253-260.
The classification of the causes of blindness.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, June 1935, 19 (6): 338-340.
The trachoma problem.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, July 1935, 19 (7): 383-385.
Trachoma in the indian army.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, October 1935, 19 (10): 586-587.
Trachomatous Conjunctivitis.
British Medical Journal, March 28, 1936, 1 (3925): 635-636.
The relationship between conjunctivitis and trachoma.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, June 1936, 20 (6): 346-350.
Trachoma.
London: Butterworth, 1936. 225 pages. Translated into many languages.
Correspondence.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, January 1937, 21 (1): 60.
National policy to be adopted in a tropical country for the prevention of blindness.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, February 1938, 22 (2): 65-78.
Trachoma: Showing Results of Tarsectomy in Right Upper Lid.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, July 1938, 31 (9): 1112.
The world-wide distribution of trachoma: excluding the Dominions, Colonies and Mandated Territories of Great Britain.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, September 1938, 22 (9): 513-541.
Rhinosporidiosis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, February 1939, 23 (2): 140-141.
Sulphonamide Treatment of Bacterial and Trachomatous Conjunctivitis.
British Medical Journal, March 23, 1940, 1 (4133): 482-483.
Tarsectomy of all four Lids for Trachoma (with slides).
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, June 1940, 33 (8): 513.
Inclusion Conjunctivitis.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, June 1942, 26 (6): 271-275.
Virus affections of the eye.
Transactions of the Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom, London, 1944-1945, 64: 81-84
Squint.
Medical World, London, May 24, 1946, 64: 461.
Sudden Blindness.
Medical World, London, December 24, 1948, 69 (18): 556-558.
Diagnosis of trachoma and other remarks.
Revue internationale du trachome. International Review of Trachoma, Marseille, 1950, 27 (2): 53-55.
The initial signs of trachoma.
Revue internationale du trachome. International Review of Trachoma, Marseille, 1950, 27 (3): 115-117.
The birth of ophthalmology.
Medical World, London, March 9, 1951, 74 (1): 12-15.
The origin and development of spectacles.
Medical World, London, April 13, 1951, 74 (6): 167-170.
The signs and treatment of trachoma.
Revue internationale du trachome. International Review of Trachoma, Marseille, 1953, 30 (1): 1-8.
Biographical etc:
E. F. King:
Arthur Ferguson MacCallan. Obituary.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology, London, May 1955, 39 (5): 319-320
F. MacCallan, C.B.E., M.D., F.R.C. Obituary.
British Medical Journal, Aprilil 16, 1955: 975.