Frank Tidswell

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Frank Tidswell
MB ChM (Syd) DPH (Camb)
Born
Francis Tidswell

1867
Pathologist, Director of the Government Bureau of Microbiology
Known forSnake venom research
Bubonic plague research
Parent(s)Fred and Mary Ann Tidswell
The Hon. Richard Jones MLC
(Father-in-law)

Francis (Frank) Tidswell (1867 – 26 February 1941)

The Medical Journal of Australia wrote of him as an "extremely clear thinker, young in mind and receptive of new ideas. In his gentleness of manner, and quiet courtesy, the [children's] hospital has lost a most valued specialist."[4] Tidswell is considered one of Australia's pioneering microbiologists.[5]

Birth and education

Nugal Hall, Randwick, was Tidswell's home in his teenage years
The 1881 Founders' Wing was opened the year Tidswell commenced his education at Newington College
The Anderson Stuart Building at Sydney University where Tidswell studied and taught medicine
The Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children at Camperdown where Tidswell was Director of Pathology for 28 years
St Paul's Anglican Church, Burwood, where Tidswell married Millie Jones in 1902
Gayton, Burwood, where the Tidswell and Jones wedding reception was held
A Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost open tourer of the style bought by Tidswell in 1912

Tidswell was born in Sydney, the fifth of nine children born to Frederick Squire Tidswell (1831–1898) and his wife Mary Ann (1836–1912). The fourth child, Francis Thomas Tidswell (1864–1866) had died the year before his birth and the sixth child was the architect

University College, London, and was awarded a D.P.H., by the University of Cambridge in 1893.[11]

Early medical career

Upon graduation, Tidswell occupied a position in the

chair.[13]

Research

In 1898, Tidswell carried out extensive research on

immunised horse, that was required to neutralise this venom – that is, to destroy its effect upon the animal into which he had injected it. Tidswell found that not only did his anti-venene give a high degree of protection against the venom of the tiger snake, but also that the protective effect could be obtained even many hours after the venom had been at work. This is characteristic of the modern anti-venene, that it produces dramatic, almost miraculous, effects upon patients who may have been bitten many hours before the anti-venene can be administered, and who may already have collapsed and be beyond all hope of recovery by any other treatment.[14]

Board of Health

infectious diseases could be spread from one human to another by insects and that infection could be derived from animals, brought public health into scientific scrutiny. The outbreak also led to further improvements being made to the North Head Quarantine Station as the value of segregating infected patients from the populace had been realised.[15] As Principal Assistant Medical Officer, Tidswell also filled the role of Microbiologist from 1 January 1898 until 1 July 1908 when the Bureau of Microbiology was established.[16]

Pathologist

With the creation of the Ministry of Health in 1913, Tidswell resigned and entered private practice.

Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children. The hospital's centenary history states: "As a boy Tidswell had been brought up in the country and taught to respect people for their work rather than their rank. At the Hospital he had a loyal staff who regarded him with the greatest respect and affection. He firmly held that on the job rank was necessary but out of the hospital it did not matter and he would raise his hat courteously to the lowliest employee."[7] In the later years of his career he worked a three-day week dividing his time between Sydney and the Southern Highlands.[7]

Marriage and family life

In 1902, Tidswell married Edith Millie Jones, the third daughter of

draught horses. The garden is now opened to the public by its current owners.[19] Tidswell was a man of considerable private and professional means and was an early motoring enthusiast. In 1912 he purchased a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost that was fitted with a high-sided Torpedo Phaeton body by coachbuilder Barker. The car was used sparingly by Tidswell but after new owner's and a period of dereliction it has been restored and when offered at auction in England in 2003 it was estimated to be worth between £180,000 and £220,000.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Obituary". The Scrutineer and Berrima District Press. NSW. 1 March 1941. p. 2. Retrieved 25 January 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ Fred Johns (1913). Annual Who's Who in Australia. Adelaide. p. 128.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^
    New South Wales Government
    Department of Health. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b Nesta Griffiths G (1947), Point Piper, past and Present (Syd:Ure Smith)
  5. ^ Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Frank Tidswell 1867–1941". Mundia. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  7. ^
    ISBN 0909134243
    .
  8. New South Wales Government
    Office of Heritage & Environment. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  9. ^ Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) p. 198
  10. ^ "Alumni Sidneienses". University of Sydney. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  11. ^ "IN THE PUBLIC EYE". The Sydney Stock and Station Journal. NSW. 13 July 1906. p. 6. Retrieved 25 January 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ The Newingtonian (Syd, March 1897) p. 252
  13. ^ "PRINCIPLE TEACHERS IN MEDICAL SUBJECTS BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF APPROPRIATE CHAIRS". University of Sydney. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  14. ^ "SNAKE BITE SERUM WIDELY USED NOW". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 12 January 1945. p. 16. Retrieved 20 May 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "BUBONIC PLAGUE COMES TO SYDNEY IN 1900". University of Sydney. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  16. New South Wales Government
    State Records. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  17. ^ "FASHIONABLE WEDDING". The Australian Star. No. 4422. New South Wales. 19 April 1902. p. 11. Retrieved 28 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ Walking Coastal Sydney Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  19. ^ "Farnborough" (PDF). Newsletter of the Southern Highlands Branch Australian Garden History Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  20. ^ "1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost". Bonhams. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
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