14 



lafe artljur JS)ttltam QUtoipag, 



We much regret to record the death, on February 28th, 191 1, of 

 Dr. A. W. Thomas, at the comparatively early age of 50. 

 Dr. Thomas was the third son of William Thomas, of 

 Somerset House, who, on account of his wide range of knowledge, 

 was familiarly known amongst his friends as "The Walking 

 Encyclopaedia." 



The eldest son, Llewellyn, had a short but distinguished 

 career as a throat and ear specialist, and was one of the founders of 

 the Central London Throat and Ear Hospital. He died at the age 

 of 36. 



The second son, Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, attained world-wide 

 fame as the inventor of the Basic Process for the Dephosphorisation 

 of Iron, in conjunction with his cousin, Percy Gilchrist. This 

 process revolutionised the steel industry of Europe and America, 

 and made it possible to work with profit vast beds of phosphoric 

 iron ore. 



In Germany the name " Thomas " is a household word in con- 

 nection with the 11 Thomas Pulver," or as it is called in England, 

 " Basic Slag." 



Arthur, the third son, was born in 1861, and after being 

 educated at Dulwich College, became a medical student at Charing 

 Cross Hospital. His subsequent degrees included L.S.A. 1882, 

 M.R.C.S Eng. 1884, M.D. Brussels 1889. He was a Member of 

 the British Medical Association, and a Fellow of the British 

 Gynaecological Society, and had held the following appointments : — 

 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, H.M. Prison, Wandsworth ; Hon. 

 Surgeon, St. Nicholas' Home for Crippled Children ; Medical 

 Ref., Marine and General Insurance Co. ; Clinical Assistant, 

 Chelsea Hospital for Women ; Surgeon, African S.S. Co. ; 

 Assistant Surgeon, H.M. Prison, Nottingham. In 1886 he went 

 into practice at Wandsworth Common, London, and was appointed 

 Consulting Physician to the Bolingbroke Hospital. In 1900 Dr. 

 Thomas removed to Boscombe, and entered into practice there in a 

 quiet way, having come chiefly for rest and change. While there 

 not a few of his old patients used to come to Bournemouth in order 

 that they might be near their medical adviser of former days and 

 their trusted triend. 



Of a genial and kindly disposition, and with a fund of quiet 

 humour, Dr. Thomas was deservedly popular and greatly liked and 

 esteemed. He was an ardent student of Nature, and spent much 

 of his time in scientific pursuits in the open air of the country. 

 He took a great interest in the Bournemouth Natural Science 

 Society, and was successively Chairman of the Archaeological and 

 Zoological Sections. He was also a Vice-President. 



Dr. Thomas in 1889 married Agnes, daughter of Andrew 

 Low, Esq. She predeceased him by three years, and there is no 

 doubt that his health was greatly affected by his sad loss. 



