Florence Dissent

Florence Hope Dissent-Barnes (9 July 1869 – 3 March 1930) was an Anglo-Indian medical practitioner and surgeon. Dissent was among the first female Indian doctors to practice medicine.

Early life and education Dissent was born in Calcutta, India, to Francis Rice and Mary Lavinia Dissent. She was educated at home until the age of eight. She then became a day-pupil at Loreto Convent, where she stayed until the age of 14. the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Medical career After qualifying in medicine, Dissent worked at the Dufferin Hospital in Allahabad under a Dr. McConaghey. The Dufferin staff, in 1892, consisted of Dissent, two male European surgeons, ten nurses, a midwife, a dresser, a compounder, and a matron. In that study, Dissent describes two cases of uterine polyps in her patients, detailing the medical history, symptoms, and treatments of each patient. In 1892, Dissent's notes on the Dufferin Hospital were published in Indian Medical Gazette. Throughout her career, Florence published under both Miss Dissent and Mrs. Dissent Barnes.

In 1895, the Indian Medical Record published a full-page biographical sketch of Dissent.

By 1912, Dissent had married and moved to Bhopal, India. In February 1912, Dissent, now known as Mrs. Dissent Barnes, was visited by Sidney and Beatrice Webb during their travels. The Webbs noted the prevalence of syphilis in the area and were taken to see Dissent's hospital, which treated only women and children. Dissent had also been charged by the Begum of Bhopal, Sultan Jahan, to train the native midwives. These midwives (dais) were prevented from practicing if they had not taken a course by Dissent or if they had been suspended by her.

In 1922, Dissent was employed to the Government of Bombay to inquire into the maternity conditions of industrial women workers. A year later, her report on the subject was published in the Bombay Labour Gazette.

Personal life Sometime between Florence's return to India from England in December 1894 and 1899, Florence married James Adolphus Fitz Ernest Barnes (8 June 1864 – 10 November 1907), the son of Joseph James Barnes (1835-1873) and Elizabeth Charlotte (née Rossiter) Peacock (1839-1896). Florence was James’ second wife. His first, Lilian Esther Green (1866–1892), whom he married in Lahore in 1887, had died aged 26.

Florence and James had at least three children, Eric Cecil (b. 29 January 1899), Charles and Percival. Charles and Percival are both recorded a being born and baptized on 1 April 1902.

Florence died 3 March 1930.

Percival Barnes married Rose Ellen Jackson at the London Tabernacle on Saturday, 8 August 1953. The couple first met at an international convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1935. His death was registered in Mid Warwickshire in the county of Warwickshire, in February 1987.