Victor Horsley

Victor Horsley (1857–1916), a British surgeon-scientist, helped define the function of the thyroid gland, studied the cause of rabies and how to eliminate it from the British Isles, and investigated the function of the nervous system in health and disease, especially the cerebral localization of function. His laboratory experience enabled him to construct neurosurgery as a new clinical specialty. He showed that it was feasible and safe to operate on the brain and spinal cord, and—at what is now London’s National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery—was the first surgeon to devote most of his time to the nervous system, pioneering new approaches to treat previously incurable neurological disorders. However, once established, Horsley turned increasingly from clinical work to devote more time to medical and national politics and to promote various social causes. He eventually fell out of favor with his colleagues who felt threatened by his social activism, and especially by his support of a government bill that they feared would unfavorably affect them financially. In addition to his involvement in reforming various medical institutions, he ardently supported the temperance and suffragist movements, and campaigned for the education and welfare of children and for health insurance for wage-earners (through Lloyd George’s national insurance bill). At the same time, he battled the antivivisectionists and led the medical opposition to the forcible feeding of prisoners. He urged the government to establish a ministry of health and an independent office of national statistics, argued for improved certification of disease and death, and advocated for the provision of sex education for children and the improved treatment of sexually transmitted disease. Almost all his suggestions were adopted eventually, but in some instances not during his lifetime. He died of heat stroke while on active military service in Mesopotamia in 1916, caring for those in need even as he fought the establishment to improve the care of the troops.