Endocrine Abstracts

The 19th century saw the emergence of an extraordinarily gifted group of Dublin doctors who enjoy eponymous recognition. Immediately on graduating Robert Graves’ travelled for over 2 years to many of the foremost medical centres in Europe. On his return he introduced formal bedside teaching and daily lectures which has become the model for clinical training in these islands. Graves’ main other interest was the treatment of febrile illness recognizing the importance of nutrition, hydration and contagion. Graves’ was a prolific author but his only contribution to the disorder which bears his name was a single paper and this was not the first description of hyperthyroidism. William Wilde and William Stokes were colleagues, friends and the earliest biographers of Graves’. Wilde was the most eminent ear specialist of his day, author, editor, antiquarian, medical advisor for first Irish censuses and father of Oscar. Wilde was nominated by Graves’ to write his ‘portrait’ but confined him to medical matters. Ten years after Graves’ death Stokes wrote a biography which described the young Graves’ as dashing, decisive, a charismatic leader and a teller of tales. Stokes is remembered eponymously in association with contemporaries Adams and Cheyne. Towards the end of Graves’ career he was involved in a fractious debate with Dominic Corrigan concerning remuneration of dispensary doctors who treated famine victims (which Graves’ considered to be inadequate) and also the management of coincident typhus. Corrigan was recognized internationally for his description of aortic insufficiency. However his nomination for Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland was blackballed, probably by Graves’. Graves’ retired from his posts as professor and physician before he was 50 years. As Graves’ withdrew Corrigan rose to prominence. After Graves’ death at 53 years, Corrigan became one of the College’s most influential presidents.