Archibald Donald

Donald was the son of John Donald who was a Justice of the peace and Mary Donald née Smarte. Donald took his early education at the Craigmount School before matriculating at the Edinburgh College of Art and graduating in 1880. Donald then transferred to the University of Edinburgh Medical School and graduated with a M.B, C.M in 1883. Donald was married to Maude Helen and between them had two daughters and four sons. ==Career==

Once he completed his preclinical training, Donald started his residency at the Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion. and elected to the staff of the hospital in 1888, During World War I, Donald served with the rank of captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps that was attached to the 2nd Western General Hospital. He was subsequently made Deputy-Lieutenant of Lancashire. In 1920 he wrote his only book Introduction to Midwifery that was extremely popular amongst students and midwives, being produced in eight editions. In the same year he finally convinced the university to create a new chair in clinical obstetrics and gynaecology in which he occupied until 1925 when he became emeritus professor. ==Surgical career==

Donald promoted gynaecological surgery as a stand-alone discipline for much of his career, although in his early years the evidence for a separate discipline was insufficient. In 1888 Donald attempted five uterine prolapse operations. Donald executed the operation sometimes in two sittings. It eventually became known as the ''Fothergill's Repair'' as it was popular among gynaecologists. However over time as Donald's pioneering work was recognised, the operation became known as the Manchester operation. ==Bibliography==