X THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



fessor Waller has been engaged for long years. Dr. Alcock's studies 

 in Marburg prepared him in a very material way to undertake work 

 which is on the border line between Pharmacology and Physiology. 



These investigations resulted in the development by Dr. Alcock 

 of apparatus by which chloroform can be administered with the great- 

 est precision, the chloroform being carefully and almost automatically 

 graduated. Alcock's apparatus and modifications of the same are in 

 use in the operating theatres of not a few hospitals. His method 

 constituted a distinct advance upon any previous. 



This work with Professor Waller led to Dr. Alcock being ap- 

 pointed Lecturer in Physiology at St. Mary's Hospital Medical 

 School, a position previously occupied by his senior. Here he re- 

 mained from 1905 to 1911. St. Mary's is one of the smaller medical 

 schools in London, but for long years has boasted a series of distin- 

 guished men upon its staff. Since the beginning of this century it 

 has seen a period of great activity, and has come to the fore, largely 

 owing to the researches upon Opsonins carried on in its pathological 

 laboratory by Sir Almroth Wright, which have resulted in graduate 

 students flocking there from all parts. Dr. Alcock threw himself 

 into the work of the Medical School proper, rapidly gaining a reputa- 

 tion as an admirable teacher who kept before him constantly the facts 

 that he was training those destined to be medical practitioners, and 

 that as good results can be obtained by employing apparatus and 

 instruments of precision which will be used daily by the student in 

 his future career, and studying phenomena which will constantly 

 present themselves in the patient, as can be gained from instruments 

 and processes which have little direct bearing upon the future life 

 work of the taught. From a practical point of view there could be 

 no question as to the advantage of thoroughly grounding students in 

 those branches of Physiology that have a direct practical application. 

 We know of no textbook connected with Physiological laboratory 

 work that is more excellent for the medical student than that pub- 

 lished by him in conjunction with Mr. F. O'B. Ellison. 



During these years at St. Mary's Dr. Alcock was a man of in- 

 tense energy and wide interests. His breadth was well manifested 

 by the high level obtained by that admirable quarterly "Science 

 Progress," of which he was first editor. As a matter of fact he ranged 

 widely in his studies. A monograph upon Irish Bats was one of 

 his first contributions to science, and he was a keen astronomer, 

 making his own silver-on-glass-mirrors. His interest in everything 

 connected with the Medical School led to his appointment as Sub- 

 Dean, and rapidly he came to be regarded as representative of the 

 smaller London Medical Schools, fighting the battle for their due 



