Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 32.djvu/379

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Lee
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Lee

turned to London. In 1835 he was appointed lecturer on midwifery and diseases of women at St. George's Hospital, and held the appointment until 1866.

From the time of his settling in London in 1827 Lee occupied much time and labour in investigations as to the pathology of diseases of women, puerperal fever, &c., and in prolonged dissections of the ganglia and nerves of the uterus. A list of thirty-one papers and memoirs on these subjects is given in the 'Lancet.' 22 March 1861, pp. 885-6. Many of them were published in the 'Transactions' of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society, and others were read before the Royal Society. Owing to differences of opinion as to the value of his discoveries the society awarded him no medal, and unfairly suppressed some of his papers. Lee's version of his treatment by the Royal Society, with many letters from distinguished anatomists approving his work, is given in detail in the work numbered 8 below. Owing in part to Lee's dissensions with the society, the Marquis of Northampton resigned the post of president, and Dr. Roget that of secretary, in 1849.

Lee was admitted a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1841, and delivered the Lumleian lectures in 1856-7, and the Croonian lectures in 1862, and was Harveian orator at the college in 1864. He worked indefatigably till 1876, when he retired from practice. He died at Surbiton Hill, Surrey, on 6 Feb. 1877, aged 84, and was buried at Kensal Green. His portrait by S. Pearce is in the possession of his family.

Lee was an indomitable worker, and made numerous discoveries of permanent value. He was somewhat dictatorial and intolerant of opposition ; but his treatment by the Royal Society cannot be justified. His preparations are now at Cambridge. His most valuable contribution to obstetric practice is his 'Clinical Midwifery.' containing the history of 545 cases of difficult labour. With this may be coupled his 'Three Hundred Consultations in Midwifery.'

Lee wrote: 1. 'On the Structure of the Human Placenta, and its Connection with the Uterus,' 4to, plates, Lond. 1832. 2. 'Researches on the Pathology and Treatment of the . Diseases of Women,' 8vo, Lond. 1883. 8. 'Pathological Observations on the Diseases of the Uterus,' pt. i. plates, folio, 1840. 4. 'Anatomy of the Nerves of the Uterus,' plates, folio, Lond. 1841. 5. 'Clinical Mid-wifery,' 12mo, Lond. 1842; 2nd edition, 1848. 6. 'On the Ganglia and other Nervous Structures of the Uterus.' plates, 4to, Lond. 1842. 7. 'Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery,' 8vo, Lond. 1844. 8. 'Memoirs on the Ganglia and Nerves of the Uterus,' plates, 4to, Lond. 1849. 9. 'On the Ganglia and Nerves of the Heart,' plates, 4to, Lond. 1849. 10. ' Memoir on the Ganglia and Nerves of the Heart,' plates, 4to, Lond. 1861. 11. 'Clinical Reports of Ovarian and Uterine Diseases, with Commentaries,' 12mo, Lond. 1853. 12. 'Treatise on the Employment of the Speculum in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Uterine Diseases,' 8vo, Lond. 1858. 13. 'Three Hundred Consultations in Midwifery,' 12mo, Lond. 1864. 14. 'History of the Discoveries of the Circulation of the Blood, of the Ganglia and Nerves, and of the Action of the Heart,' plates, 8vo, Lond. 1865. 15. 'A Treatise on Hysteria,' 8vo, Lond. 1871. He also published 'Engravings of the Ganglia and Nerves of the Uterus and Heart,' &c, Lond. 1858, 4to.

[Lancet, 1851, i. 332-7, with portrait; Memoir in No. 8 (supra) ; Munk's Coll. of Phys. ill. 266-9.]

LEE or LEGH, ROWLAND (d. 1543), bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, and lord president of the council in the marches of Wales, was the son of William Lee of Morpeth, Northumberland, receiver-general of Berwick in 1509, who seems to have died in 1511. His mother Isabel was daughter and heiress of Sir Andrew Trollope of Thornley, co. Durham (Wood, Fasti Oxonienses, i. 68-69 ; Letters and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII, i. 186, 1845). Lee was educated in St. Nicholas Hostel, Cambridge (a 'hospitium luristarum,' since merged in Emmanuel College), and became LL.B. (1510?) and doctor of decrees (1520) ; in 1524 he supplicated for incorporation at Oxford, but with what success is unknown (Wood). On 8 Oct. 1520 he was admitted an advocate. He was ordained priest and invested with a prebend in the collegiate church of Norton by Smyth, bishop of Lincoln, on 18 Dec. He was presented to the rectories of Banham, Norfolk, on 26 Oct. 1520, of Ashdon, Essex, on 24 July 1522 (Newcourt, Repertorivm, ii. 16), and Fenny Compton, Warwickshire, on 1 Oct. 1526. By virtue of bulls from three successive popes he held all three livings until 1533 (Dugdale, Warwickshire, i. 520). Lee also became prebendary of Curborough in Lichfield Cathedral on 7 April and according to a statement of Wood (confirmed by Letters and Papers, vii. 967) chancellor to Bishop Blythe (cf. Kennett in Lansdowne MS. 980, f. 24, in British Museum), archdeacon of Cornwall on 8 Sept. 1528, and apparently archdeacon of Taunton,