Fagge`s catalogue of Towne`s models

Introduced by Charles Douglas Wehner

Presumably, this is because Addison had commissioned the models one by one from Towne, and his knowledge of the collection grew as it grew. For a newcomer, the system was bewildering.

The result was published as:
Catalogue of the Models of diseases of the skin in the Museum at Guy`s Hospital
in 1876.

Fagge wrote:
"Up to the present time the classification and nomenclature employed for the collection had been almost exactly those introduced by the great Dr. Willan at the end of the last century.

"The authority of Dr. Addison, who may be regarded as the founder of the school of dermatology at Guy`s, was strongly opposed to any departure from the ancient ways in these respects. But of late the teachers of this branch of medicine - including Sir W. Gull, Dr. Habershon, Dr Wilks, myself, and Dr. F. Taylor - have, in succession, adopted a nomenclature which accords better with modern views."

Within that catalogue, pages 163 to 167 deal with the subject of melasma, and include further notes on Addison`s disease, including his last case. There is also a case treated by Sir William Withey Gull (Queen Victoria`s personal physician), with Charles Hilton Fagge as pathologist. William Gull was quoted in Addison`s book as treating James Jackson in 1851 also (case 2).

© 2001 Charles Douglas Wehner.
Use freely but do not plagiarise.