Thomas Moore Philson

Thomas Moore Philson (10 August 1817 – 22 November 1899) was a New Zealand medical doctor and superintendent of Auckland Hospital. The Philson Library at the University of Auckland Medical School is named after him.

Early life and education Philson was born in Derry, County Londonderry, Ireland in 1817. His father Matthew Philson was a maths teacher. At age 17 in he attended the University of Edinburgh, winning the Ballingall Prize for military surgery and graduating MD and MRCS in 1839.

Career Philson practised medicine in Gloucestershire for three years. sailing on the Ann to Sydney. He served as the medical officer at the Battle of Ruapekapeka in 1846 before the regiment moved to the campaigns in Wellington and Whanganui. The facilities and conditions at the hospital, including the water supply were grossly inadequate and from 1868 he advocated for a new hospital which opened in 1877. Philson, like other contemporary physicians, had little or no understanding of the cause and transmission of diseases such as typhoid, dysentery, venereal diseases, scurvy, pneumonia and bronchitis however he strived to offer care even when there was no cure.

Personal life In 1844 he married Matilda Willmet Anderson in Kent. They had six daughters and three sons. He was a founder of the Baptist Church in Auckland.

Philson died in Auckland on 22 November 1899.

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