| Description | Ritchie was born in Brechin in 1882. After first of all intending to be a naval architect he then decided to study medicine and attended University of Edinburgh. He graduated MB ChB in 1906, winning the Mouat Prize. After graduating he worked as house physician, then Senior Assistant and Bacteriologist at Edinburgh City Hospital 1908-1911 where he met his wife. He went on to be the Medical Officer of Health for Dumfriesshire and as a result was involved in the Buck Ruxton case in 1935. He became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1930 and a fellow in 1951. He was also Superintendent of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Laboratory 1948-1950.
He returned to Edinburgh on his retirement and became the honorary librarian to the College. While in that post he wrote 'History of the Laboratory of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh' in 1953, which was the first publication produced by the College. He also wrote 'A History of the Plague in Scotland' in 1955 as well as a number of other articles on the history of medicine.
[Source: biographical notes by John Ritchie]
Contents: 'A History of the Plague in Scotland', c1955; photograph album of Edinburgh City Hospital, c1910; photograph of John Ritchie, c1953 |