Re: BC's first plastic surgeon
Dr R.W. McGraw, professor emeritus of the Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, in a personal communication, points out, in the most courteous manner, as is his wont, that the external fixation described in the article “British Columbia’s First Plastic Surgeon,” BCMJ 2005;2:118 credited Smith-Peterson with development of the external fixation of fractures of the jaw where in fact it was Dr Roger Anderson who did so. Dr McGraw also added that the late Dr R.J. Naden of Vancouver is alleged to have put in more fixators than Roger Anderson himself.
Dr McGraw also gave details of the generosity of the Langstons which are not generally known but redound to their credit.
I regret the error in my article, but much more do I regret that distinguished members of the profession such as Dr McGraw have not chosen to draw from their well of experience to share it with us by contributing to the Journal.
—H. Ewart Woolley, MD
Vancouver