Henry Littlejohn

Henry Littlejohn was a pioneer in public health and the very first Medical Officer of Health for Edinburgh. He was born in Edinburgh, attended Perth Academy and the Royal High School of Edinburgh, and graduated in medicine from the University of Edinburgh in 1847. 

Following graduation, Henry went on to become lecturer in medical jurisprudence at the Extra Mural Medical and Surgical School at Surgeons Hall. In 1862, he became Medical Officer of Health for Edinburgh, the first appointment of its kind in Scotland, a post he held for almost 50 years. 

During this period, epidemic diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diptheria and smallpox were endemic in Scotland. Henry was instrumental in the passing of an Act of Parliament, making the vaccinations of infants compulsory. He also recognised the benefits of compulsory notification of general practitioners of infectious disease and despite opposition, in 1879 a clause was included in the Police Act and resulted in one of the major advances of public health in the 19th century.

By the time of his retirement in 1908, mortality rates from infectious diseases in Edinburgh had halved, diseases like cholera and typhus had disappeared and smallpox had become a rarity. Henry had also been very instrumental in improving public health in Edinburgh through recommendations on building, sewage, and water pollution.

Henry had a distinguished career in forensic medicine and was considered an outstanding teacher by his contemporaries. He served as an expert Crown witness in numerous high-profile trials and was appointed as the Chair of Medical Jurisprudence in the University of Edinburgh in 1897 at the age of 71. 

He was also elected president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1875 and president of the British Institute of Public Health in 1893.