Dr Alice Margaret Moorhead MD LRCP LRCSE LM (Dub) (1868–23 June 1910), also known as Dr A.M. Moorhead, was one of the first practising female physicians and surgeons in Scotland. In the late 19th-century she established a practice and hospital for women in Dundee with her colleague Dr Emily Thomson.

Early life and education

Moorhead was born in

Maidstone Maidstone is the largest town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it wi ...

the daughter of Margaret Humphrys and Brigadier Surgeon George Alexander Moorhead. She was older sister of

Ethel Moorhead Ethel Agnes Mary Moorhead (28 August 18694 March 1955) was a British suffragette and painter and was the first suffragette in Scotland to be forcibly-fed. Early life Moorhead was born on 28 August 1869 in Fisher Street, Maidstone, Kent. She ...

. She studied medicine at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, and attended the

Trinity College Dublin , name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin , motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin) , motto_lang = la , motto_English = It will last i ...

, graduating with her doctorate (MD) in July 1890.

Career

In 1894, Moorhead moved to Dundee, and with Dr Emily Thomson established the first all female practice in Scotland. Thomson treated the richer patients, while Moorhead, who had less need or desire for money, treated the poor. Their premises were originally at 93 Nethergate, where Moorhead lived. Around 1900 they moved the practice to 4 Tay Square where a plaque now commemorates them. In 1897, Moorhead and Thomson set up the Dundee Women's Hospital and Dispensary on Seafield Road. The hospital offered all-female staff to exclusively treat female patients. The primary focus was as to be a maternity hospital, including aftercare of mother and child.

Personal life

In 1908, aged 40, Moorhead married Dr Hamilton Graham Langwill, a physician at Leith Hospital, and went to live with him at 4 Hermitage Place on

Leith Links Leith Links ( gd, Fìghdean Lìte) is the principal open space within Leith, the docks district of Edinburgh, Scotland. This public park is divided by a road into two main areas, a western section and an eastern section, both being largely flat ...

. Moorhead died in childbirth on 23 June 1910. She is buried with her parents in the Western Cemetery, Dundee. Her distinctive grave, in black polished basalt, bears a palm tree. Her daughter Margaret Moorhead Langwill studied history at the University of Edinburgh, and became an

archivist An archivist is an information professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to records and archives determined to have long-term value. The records maintained by an archivist can consis ...

. She married F. G. Emmison. Dundee Women's Hospital was absorbed by the

National Health Service The National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). Since 1948, they have been funded out of general taxation. There are three systems which are referred to using the " ...

in 1948 and closed in 1975.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moorhead, Alice Margaret 1868 births 1910 deaths 19th-century Scottish medical doctors 19th-century British women medical doctors 20th-century British women medical doctors 20th-century Scottish medical doctors People from Maidstone Medical doctors from Dundee Deaths in childbirth British feminists Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish women medical doctors 20th-century Scottish women