#dermatologist

Agnes Forbes Blackadder was born on December 4th 1875 at Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

Agnes earned her Master of Arts degree in 1895 from the University of St. Andrews University, the first female to do so there. Soon after she began a medical degree at Queen Margaret College in the University of Glasgow, which had just recently begun awarding degrees to women. Agnes was one of first female medical students at Queen Margaret, cementing her role in paving the way for ambitious young women of this era. Agnes graduated with her MD in 1901, and married Thomas Dixon Savill (also a physician) the same year. Her marriage led her and Thomas to London, where she became a Consultant in Dermatology at St. John’s Hospital and a member of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland.

Agnes gained experience in radiological work during this time, which would become immensely useful during World War I.In 1912 she was one of three distinguished doctors (the other two being male surgeons), who conducted an inquiry into the appalling treatment of women hunger strikers in prison and published papers on the subject.

During World War One, she went out to France for several work periods, joining the staff of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals,returning to her post in London when she could, usually in the winter when there was a lull in the fighting. Her great contribution was in making the best use of a state-of-the-art x-ray car which they had been given, courtesy of the French General Le Bon. She had an acute appreciation of the dangers and mechanisms of gas gangrene and worked hard to mitigate its effects with prompt diagnosis and treatment. Her studies of the x-ray appearances of the gangrene were pioneering. She trained staff and threw herself into the work so selflessly that in July 1918, during a particularly busy period, it was noted that she looked ill and ‘absolutely cavernous’.

While serving in France, Blackadder borrowed a pianola from Paris and installed it at the hospital. She noticed that both patients and staff benefited from playing it and listening to it and she later wrote a book about the importance of music to well-being. The book, Music, Health and Character, was published in 1923. It led to the establishment of the Council for Music in Hospitals. After the war, Blackadder returned to London and continued to practice medicine. She edited her husband's textbook, Savill's System of Clinical Medicine, which she completed in 1942. She also became interested in ancient history and in 1955 she published Alexander the Great and his Times. Agnes Blackadder died in London on 12 May 1964. Agnes also wrote a book about Alexander the Great

I’m new here and I created this space to make skincare simple, honest, and stress free.

Here’s what you’ll find: Real answers to your skin questions no jargon Tips on acne, dryness, sensitive skin, sunscreen, and routines Kind, evidence based advice that works for real life

Got a question? Drop it in my asks or comments. Ask Me Anything About Skin no question is too small 💛