Arthur P. Luff
Encyclopedia
Arthur Pearson Luff was a British physician and forensic chemist. He is considered one of the founders of 20th century forensic medicine.
Luff studied in London at the Royal College of Science
, and did research and teachings in chemistry
and pharmacology
, with a scholarship from the Pharmaceutical Society
. As a student, he worked with Charles Romley Alder Wright
on analysing and synthesising heroin, publishing joint papers with him on this subject. He was elected a Fellow of the Chemical Society
in 1877.
Luff was awarded the B.Sc. (Lond.) in 1883, and then studied at the medical school at St Mary's Hospital, qualifying as a doctor in 1886. He continued to study a range of subjects, achieving honours in many of his exams, including forensic medicine and organic chemistry
. His academic excellence was recognised when he was appointed Lecturer in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at St Mary's Hospital in 1887, holding this post until 1908. The other major part of his teaching career was as Lecturer on Hygiene and Public Health, a post he held for twelve years from 1890. In addition to his lectures, he published several textbooks, including one on chemistry and one on forensic medicine. He had a reputation as a brilliant lecturer, and his textbooks were popular and went through several editions. One of Luff's students, studying with him from 1899, was Bernard Spilsbury
, who later became a celebrated pathologist and expert witness.
Outside his teaching career, Luff also practiced as a doctor at St Mary's Hospital. In 1894, he became a member of the Clinical Society of London, the surgical section of the Royal Society of Medicine
. In 1896, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
. Luff specialised in the treatment of gout
, and the following year (1897) he gave the Goulstonian Lecture, with a talk titled On the Chemistry and Pathology of Gout. He then published a textbook based on his lecture, Gout, its Pathology and Treatment (1898). Luff retired from his medical practice in 1913, and in the same year gave the Harveian Lecture to the Harveian Society at the Medical Society of London
, lecturing on The Various Forms of Fibrositis and their Treatment.
As well as teaching and practicing medicine, Luff also carried out forensics work involving analytical chemistry and toxicology
, giving evidence in civil and criminal trials. From 1892 to 1908 he held the post of Scientific Analyst for the Home Office
. He worked with the prominent analyst Thomas Stevenson
, and gave evidence in many cases, including that of Harvey Crippen. Luff also worked on food safety, and another well-known case was the arsenic poisoning
that affected beer supplies in Manchester in 1900.
During the First World War, which broke out the year after he retired, Luff, by then nearly 60, served as a medical officer (Lieutenant Colonel
) at the 3rd London General Hospital, and was awarded the CBE
for his services. After the war, during his retirement, Luff retained his interests in medicine and medical education, serving as an examiner for several educational institutions, and sitting on several committees for organisations such as the British Medical Association
.
Luff, who died on 1 May 1938 at the age of 82, had married in 1893, and had two children, a son and a daughter who was also a doctor.
Luff studied in London at the Royal College of Science
Royal College of Science
The Royal College of Science was a higher education institution located in South Kensington; it was a constituent college of Imperial College London from 1907 until it was wholly absorbed by Imperial in 2002. Alumni include H. G. Wells and Brian May and are distinguishable by the letters ARCS ...
, and did research and teachings in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
, with a scholarship from the Pharmaceutical Society
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was formerly the statutory regulatory and professional body for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in England, Scotland and Wales...
. As a student, he worked with Charles Romley Alder Wright
Charles Romley Alder Wright
Charles Romley Alder Wright DSc , BSc , FRS, an English chemistry and physics researcher at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, was the first person to synthesize heroin, in 1874.-Discovering Heroin:...
on analysing and synthesising heroin, publishing joint papers with him on this subject. He was elected a Fellow of the Chemical Society
Chemical Society
The Chemical Society was formed in 1841 as a result of increased interest in scientific matters....
in 1877.
Luff was awarded the B.Sc. (Lond.) in 1883, and then studied at the medical school at St Mary's Hospital, qualifying as a doctor in 1886. He continued to study a range of subjects, achieving honours in many of his exams, including forensic medicine and organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
. His academic excellence was recognised when he was appointed Lecturer in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at St Mary's Hospital in 1887, holding this post until 1908. The other major part of his teaching career was as Lecturer on Hygiene and Public Health, a post he held for twelve years from 1890. In addition to his lectures, he published several textbooks, including one on chemistry and one on forensic medicine. He had a reputation as a brilliant lecturer, and his textbooks were popular and went through several editions. One of Luff's students, studying with him from 1899, was Bernard Spilsbury
Bernard Spilsbury
Sir Bernard Henry Spilsbury was an English pathologist. His cases include Hawley Harvey Crippen, the Seddon case and Major Armstrong poisonings, the "brides in the bath" murders by George Joseph Smith, Louis Voisin, Jean-Pierre Vaquier, the Crumbles murders, Norman Thorne, Donald Merrett, the...
, who later became a celebrated pathologist and expert witness.
Outside his teaching career, Luff also practiced as a doctor at St Mary's Hospital. In 1894, he became a member of the Clinical Society of London, the surgical section of the Royal Society of Medicine
Royal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
. In 1896, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
. Luff specialised in the treatment of gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
, and the following year (1897) he gave the Goulstonian Lecture, with a talk titled On the Chemistry and Pathology of Gout. He then published a textbook based on his lecture, Gout, its Pathology and Treatment (1898). Luff retired from his medical practice in 1913, and in the same year gave the Harveian Lecture to the Harveian Society at the Medical Society of London
Medical Society of London
The Medical Society of London is one of the oldest surviving medical societies in the United Kingdom ....
, lecturing on The Various Forms of Fibrositis and their Treatment.
As well as teaching and practicing medicine, Luff also carried out forensics work involving analytical chemistry and toxicology
Toxicology
Toxicology is a branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms...
, giving evidence in civil and criminal trials. From 1892 to 1908 he held the post of Scientific Analyst for the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. He worked with the prominent analyst Thomas Stevenson
Thomas Stevenson (toxicologist)
Thomas Stevenson was an English toxicologist and forensic chemist. He served as an analyst to the Home Office and in England he served as an expert witness in many famous poisoning cases. These included the Pimlico Mystery, The Maybrick Case, and the George Chapman case.In 1857 Stevenson became a...
, and gave evidence in many cases, including that of Harvey Crippen. Luff also worked on food safety, and another well-known case was the arsenic poisoning
Arsenic poisoning
Arsenic poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the element arsenic in the body. Arsenic interferes with cellular longevity by allosteric inhibition of an essential metabolic enzyme...
that affected beer supplies in Manchester in 1900.
During the First World War, which broke out the year after he retired, Luff, by then nearly 60, served as a medical officer (Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
) at the 3rd London General Hospital, and was awarded the CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
for his services. After the war, during his retirement, Luff retained his interests in medicine and medical education, serving as an examiner for several educational institutions, and sitting on several committees for organisations such as the British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
.
Luff, who died on 1 May 1938 at the age of 82, had married in 1893, and had two children, a son and a daughter who was also a doctor.
Selected works
- An Introduction to the Study of Chemistry (1885)
- Text-book on Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (1895)
- Gout, its Pathology and Treatment (1899)
- A Manual of Chemistry for Medical Students (7th edition, 1925)
Sources
- Arthur Pearson Luff (1855-1938), by William Henry Willcox, Obituary Notices, Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed), 1938, pp 1128-1130