Henry Howse Explained

Sir Henry Greenway Howse
Birth Date:21 December 1841
Birth Place:Bath, England
Death Date:15 September 1914 (aged 72)
Death Place:Sevenoaks, England
Nationality:British
Occupation:Surgeon
Known For:Antiseptic orthopaedic surgery
Profession:General Surgeon

Sir Henry Greenway Howse (21 December 1841 – 15 September 1914)[1] was an English surgeon, sometime President of the Royal College of Surgeons.[2]

Life

Henry Greenway Howse was born in Lyncombe Hall,[3] Bath (England) to Henry Edward Howse and Isabella Howse (née Weald).[4] He entered an apprenticeship in Reading at age 18 before commencing training at Guy's Hospital at age 20.

He had subsequent appointments at London University as a demonstrator in anatomy, before returning to Guy's as a member of staff as a surgery lecturer.

In 1881, he married a Miss Marshall, daughter of Thomas Lethbridge Marshall (a Unitarian minister at the New Gravel Pit Chapel); they subsequently had three daughters and one son.

His contributions include the development of new methods for preserving anatomical specimens for teaching (using a mixture of glycerine and arsenic), introducing histology (rather than just gross anatomy) as a part of the training for surgeons, propagating the antiseptic methods of Lister and knee surgery, although his surgical practice was very broad. He wasn't a prolific author, but did write entries for Heath's Dictionary of Practical Surgery[5] and as an Editor for Guy's Hospital Reports.

For the Royal College of Surgeons he was Vice-president (1897–1900) then President (1901–1903). He was knighted in the 1902 Coronation Honours list,[6] receiving the accolade from King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 24 October that year.

Honours

References

  1. SIR HENRY GREENWAY HOWSE, M.S., F.R.C.S.: Consulting Surgeon to Guy's Hospital. British Medical Journal. 2. 2804. 1914. 560–563. 2299814. 10.1136/bmj.2.2804.560.
  2. Web site: Plarr's Lives of the Fellows Online. Royal College of Surgeons. 16 August 2015.
  3. Web site: Lyncombe Hall, Bath. British Listed Buildings. 16 August 2015.
  4. Web site: Sir Henry Greenway Howse. Howes Family Genealogy Pages. 16 August 2015.
  5. Book: Heath. Christopher. Dictionary of practical surgery: Volumes 1 and 2. 1886. Smith, Elder & Co.. London. 970& 884.
  6. The Coronation Honours . 26 June 1902 . 5 . 36804.
  7. Book: Welch, Charles. London at the Opening of the Twentieth Century. 1905. Brighton. W. T. Pike & Co. 192.