Thomas Kennedy Dalziel 1861-1924. Chronic interstitial enteritis.

Abstract

T. Kennedy Dalziel, the son of a farmer, was born in Scotland at Merkland, Penpont, Dumfriesshire. He received his early education at a private school in Dumfries and studied medicine at Edinburgh University, graduating in 1883. He continued his medical studies in Berlin and Vienna, where he specialized in experimental surgery and pathology. In 1885 he began his practice in Glasgow, and in 1889 he joined the surgical staff of the Western Infirmary. In 1891 he joined the staff of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. In his early years, Dalziel did considerable lecturing, first as Lecturer on Anatomy at the Western Medical School, and later as Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and of Surgery in Anderson's College. At the beginning of World War I he was called to represent Scotland on the Advisory Council to the Diretor-General of the Royal Army Medical Corps. For his services, the king conferred on him the honor of knighthood. His successes and the public position he attained were the result of an unusual combination of qualities—charm, kindliness, extraordinary teaching skills, and marvelous manipulative dexterity. He was considered the best technical surgeon in the West of Scotland. His contributions to the medical literature were considerable, dealing mainly with abdominal surgery. His writings, including this “classic” paper, demonstrate a concise grasp of a new disease entity, chronic interstitial enteritis, later to become known as Crohn's disease. It is generally believed that Dalziel was the first to “draw attention to this condition”. T. Kennedy Dalziel died on February 10, 1924, in his 64th year.