45 Charlotte Square

Blipped this doorway in Charlotte Square on the way to pick up a prescription from Boots in Princes Street.

No 45 was the home of Sir Robert Philip between 1898 -1938, who was noted for his pioneer work for the crusade against Tuberculosis.

Philip qualified to practise in 1882, the same year that Robert Koch discovered the tuberculosis bacillus. The focus of his work over the coming years was the implementation of his vision for coordinated treatment of tuberculosis. On 25 November 1887 he founded and opened the first tuberculosis dispensary clinic in Edinburgh at 13 Bank Street. In 1890 he was appointed to the honorary staff of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and progressed to become a full time physician. He lectured at the extramural school, lecturing on diseases of the chest to the Edinburgh College of Medicine for Women as well as lecturing on this topic to the classes at the University of Edinburgh. 

His most noteworthy student was Halliday Sutherland who continued his crusade against tuberculosis.

In 1894 he founded the Victoria Hospital for Consumption at Craigleith House, Craigleith Road, Edinburgh as a sanitorium, designed to work in conjunction with the dispensary clinic. Prior to the discovery of medication to treat tuberculosis, his focus was to isolate patients from family and friends and offer sun, fresh air and exercise.
By 1912 the integrated approach to tuberculosis treatment was recognised and adopted by the Government with the first similar clinic opening in Paddington, London.

In 1917 he became the chair in tuberculosis at University of Edinburgh. He was president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh from 1918 to 1922. In 1927 he was president of the British Medical Association.

Anyway, enough medical history for you, I hope you have had a good Sunday.