} Fn Memoriam. 
WILLIAM MURRAY DOBIE, M.D. 
On the evening of March 12th there passed away at the ripe age of 86, 
peacefully and almost imperceptibly, one who had been a notable figure in the 
Cheshire and North Wales district for half a century and more. Of tall and 
striking presence, with refined features, pleasing expression, and a voice whose 
every inflection betrayed a kindly interest, Dr. Dobie had earned and retained 
the esteem and affection of everyone with whom he came in contact. His 
influence on his patients is best described in the words of the late Duke of 
Westminster on the occasion of the presentation of his portrait: ‘‘ So genial, 
so amicable, and so delightful. . . . I am sure those ladies and gentlemen 
who have been under his sway can conceive no one with whom the principle cf 
suaviter in modo can have been more thoroughly combined with fortiter in re.” 
ee 
His skill and success as a physician abundantly bore out the promise of his 
early scientific training and accomplishments. 
He early became addicted to the astronomical and microscopical studies 
which interested and delighted him during the whole of his busy life. He 
graduated M.D. with honours in 1849, being awarded the gold medal in surgery. 
eT ee eee 
Amongst his early contributions to science were the discovery and description 
of a new crater in the moon, which bears his name, and which he was in the 
habit of describing as “‘about the size of the Roo-Dee’”’ (the Chester race- 
course). In October, 1849, he communicated to the Annals and Magazine 
of Natural History a description of two new species of Floscularia, and in 
1850, to the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh, a paper on the Cilia of 
Grantia. His thesis for the degree of Doctor of Medicine dealt with the 
minute anatomy of apolar fibre, and described ‘‘Dobie’s line,” which has 
become classical. 
During the epidemic of cholera in Chester, in 1867, Dr. Dobie rendered 
signal service, and, with the assistance of a few devoted ladies, whose names 
are gratefully remembered in Chester, was instrumental in checking the 
ravages of the scourge. In connection with this subject he wrote an article cn 
the use of chlorine in the treatment of Asiatic cholera and choleraic diarrhoea. 
When Canon Kingsley went to Chester and founded the Natural Science 
_ Society he found a friend and able coadjutor in Dr. Dobie, who afterwards 
became president of the society, and was awarded the Kingsley Medal for the 
advancement of some department of natural science. 
In 1896 a public presentation was made to him of his portrait by Mr. Ouless, 
the chair being taken on the occasion by the late Duke of Westminster, who 
Was supported by all the leading inhabitants of the city and district. Dr. 
Dobie was made an honorary freeman of the city in 1897. He was also a 
magistrate for the city, and was connected with the various learned and 
Scientific societies of Chester and North Wales. 
For several years Dr. Dobie had relinquished the more active practice of 
is profession and devoted himself more and more to his favourite microscopical 
si tudies, especially in connection with the structure of striated muscle, of which 
he made many beautiful preparations and photomicrographs. He was of an 
earnestly religious disposition, and was a regular attendant at St. Oswald’s 
Church. Although never robust he fulfilled the exacting requirements of a very 
large consulting and private practice, and lived to a great age, esteemed by his 
fe llow citizens and honoured by all.—British Medical Journal. 
