The development of the successful treatment of spinal injuries has been inextricably linked to Sir Ludwig Guttmann and Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The role of George Riddoch has largely been ignored or mentioned merely in relation to Ludwig Guttmann and his appointment as the first Resident Medical Officer at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Riddoch's contribution was far more significant. New material, comprising Riddoch's letters and memoranda written between 1939 and 1944, reveals his paramount involvement in the setting up of spinal injury units across the UK between 1941 and 1944, and his skill as an administrator and a clinician. Riddoch must be given credit for finding and appointing Ludwig Guttmann.
SilverJR. History of the Treatment of Spinal InjuriesNew York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers; 2003. p. 70.
2.
SilverJR, WeinerM-F. George Riddoch: the man who found Ludwig Guttmann. Spinal Cord2012; 50: 88–93.
3.
DunnCL. The Emergency Medical Services Vol 1London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office; 1952. p. 4.
4.
DickTBS. Rehabilitation in chronic traumatic paraplegia – a clinical study [MD thesis]. Victoria University of Manchester; 1949.
5.
FraserFR. Follow-up of cases from Special Treatment Centres. Memorandum Emergency Medical Service DGL/77, 2nd February 1942.
6.
HeadH, RiddochG. The autonomic bladder, excessive sweating and some other reflex conditions in gross injuries of the spinal cord. In: Studies in Neurology Vol 2. London: Oxford Medical Publications; 1920. pp. 467–508.
7.
RiddochG. Report: Result of enquiries with regard to the establishment of additional traumatic paraplegic and peripheral nerve injury centres. 26 February 1944.
8.
Letter from JB Taylor to Riddoch dated July 1943 on peripheral nerve injuries and traumatic paraplegia, number of beds at Killearn.
9.
Letter from Riddoch to Fraser dated 31st August 1944 with report on visit to Newcastle, Gateshead and Winwick August 21–26 1944.
10.
Letter from Riddoch to Frankau on traumatic paraplegia and peripheral nerve injuries. Dated 19 May 1944.
11.
Memorandum for deputy directors of Medical Services Eastern, Northern, Scottish, South-Eastern, Southern, Western and AA commands. Northern Ireland, London District. Dated 17 November 1943.
12.
Memorandum for deputy directors of Medical Services Eastern, Northern, Scottish, South-Eastern, Southern, Western and AA commands. Northern Ireland, London District. Dated 17 January 1944.
13.
Letter from Leonard Carson to Riddoch. Dated 21 July 1944.
14.
Army Medical Department Bulletin Supplement no 13. Traumatic paraplegia first-aid and early treatment. Dated April 1944.
15.
RiddochG. Typed out instructions for nurses on the use of tidal drainage including cut out excerpt from Munro's article in the Lancet.
16.
Memoranda sent to Fraser by Riddoch? On 1st May 1944 consisting of amendments to Memorandum on injuries of the spinal cord and cauda equine and their treatment. Dated 29 April 1944.
17.
Letter from Fraser to Riddoch. Dated 28 March 1944.
18.
Letter from Riddoch to Fraser. Dated 3 April 1944.
19.
Care of Traumatic Paraplegics surgical No 8. (From Medical Directorate, India) 30 December 1943.
20.
Letter from Colonel JA MacFarlane, Consulting Surgeon for DMS Canadian Military Headquarters. Dated 27 November 1943.
21.
Extracts from D.M.S. Circular Letter No 72. 1943. Dated 6 July1943.
22.
Cover letter by JH Hebb dated 20th February 1940 and Memoranda on Injuries of the Spinal Cord and Cauda Equina and their treatment. Emergency Medical Service. EMS/GEN/314.
23.
Riddoch's comments on Memoranda on traumatic paraplegia (PNI65). Undated.
24.
Memoranda sent to consulting Neurologists – Spinal Injuries with Paraplegia. Dated 6 June 1944.
25.
Letter from Prideaux to Riddoch. Dated 2 October 1944.
26.
Letter from the Medical superintendent at Stoke Mandeville Hospital to Riddoch about their progress on the rehabilitation and employment of paraplegics. Dated 19 December 1944.
27.
Letter from the Medical superintendent at Stoke Mandeville Hospital to Riddoch dated 16th March 1945 with progress report on paraplegics No 3. Dated 16 March 1945.
28.
ZulchKJ. Otfrid Foerster: Physician and Naturalist November 9 1873-June 15 1941. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag; 1969. p. 21
29.
VellacottPN, Webb-JohnsonAE. Spinal injury with retention of urine – the avoidance. Lancet1919; 1: 733–7.
