St. Bartholomew's Hospital : Prof. F. L. Hopwood

Abstract

PROF. F. L. HOPWOOD has retired from St. Bartholomew's Hospital where he has been physicist since 1919, and-professor of physics in the Medical College since 1924. The years have been active in teaching, research and committee work ; in the last respect he has been an active member of the British Empire Cancer Campaign since its formation in 1924 and of the British Committee for Radiological Units over the same period. It is particularly to radiology and ultrasonics that his research work has been directed, though not exclusively, for his work in submarine acoustics in the First World War led to Admiralty recognition and an award. When the Strangeways Laboratory at Cambridge took up the study of biological effects induced by X-rays and radium, Hopwood's services as a physicist were timely and ensured a quantitative basis for this research work, which has had such an important bearing on the treatment of malignant disease. A wide range of interests is a fortunate equipment for a hospital physicist, for at some time or other a large proportion of those engaged in treatment meet difficulties in which he can help, and Hopwood has served well here. His knowledge of X-ray technique and method was put to the test when 'Bart's' decided to install a million-volt X-ray installation for treatment. This development was for some reason not followed in other hospitals of the country, though there are now many signs going to show that high-voltage (X-ray or electronic) devices will come into much more general use in the treatment of cancer in the next few years. Hopwood was a Sylvanus Thompson medallist and an honorary member of the Faculty of Radiologists, an honorary fellow of Queens' College, Cambridge, was given the degree of M.A. (Cantab.) honoris causa in 1940 and retires with the well-deserved title of professor emeritus in physics in the University of London.