Sir Darcy Rivers Warren Cowan (8 August 1885 – 9 June 1958) was an Australian medical practitioner and advocate of effective treatment of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

Family

The sixth of seven sons of James Cowan and Sarah Ann (née Warren) and brother of Gladys Rosalind Lewis. He married Effie Hewitt Cox, grand daughter of William Doudy, on 19 April 1910 at the home of his brother-in-law

Alfred von Doussa Heinrich Albert Alfred von Doussa (27 April 1848 – 1 August 1926) was an Australian businessman and politician. He was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1901 to 1921, representing Southern District. History Von Doussa w ...

, at

Hahndorf, South Australia Hahndorf is a small town in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. Currently an important tourism spot, it has previously been a centre for farming and services. Geography It is accessible from Adelaide, the South Australian capital, ...

, Australia. They had no children.

Education and career

Cowan attended

Prince Alfred College , motto_translation = Do Brave Deeds and Endure , established = 1869 , type = Independent, single-sex, day & boarding , headmaster = David Roberts , chaplain = Reverend ...

and the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

. Cowan was in England at the start of World War I. Darcy served in the

Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps a ...

and later the

Australian Army Medical Corps The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (RAAMC) is the branch of the Australian Army responsible for providing medical care to Army personnel. The AAMC was formed in 1902 through the amalgamation of medical units of the various Australian coloni ...

Reserve as an honorary captain. He championed the effective treatment of

, including the use of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine. He championed the establishment of Bedford Industries Inc, focusing on the rehabilitation of those afflicted with tuberculosis and also worked with the James Brown Memorial Trust which owned and managed Kalyra Sanatorium and

Estcourt House Frederick Estcourt Bucknall (6 July 1835 – 4 June 1896) was an English-born publican, brewer and politician in the early days of the colony of South Australia. Life Bucknall was a member of the Estcourts of Estcourt, an influential old fa ...

, Grange. He was knighted in 1955 in "recognition of service to medicine." He was a member of the

Adelaide Club The Adelaide Club is an exclusive gentlemen's club situated on North Terrace in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. Founded in 1863, the club comprises members of the Adelaide Establishment. South Australian Club (1838–1843) An ea ...

and a life member of the

British Medical Association The British Medical Association (BMA) is a registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association's headquar ...

. The Australian Laennec Society commemorated him by the Sir Darcy Cowan prize for research into respiratory disease.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowan, Darcy Rivers Warren People from Adelaide Australian military doctors University of Adelaide Medical School alumni Australian pulmonologists 1885 births 1958 deaths Adelaide Club Australian Knights Bachelor Australian people of Northern Ireland descent