Sir, – Thomas Farrell’s statue of Dr William Dease in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is well known to generations of doctors (“Pairs of sculptures now Dublin landmarks”, An Irishman’s Diary, Bryan MacMahon, July 5th).
Dr Dease, a founder of the RCSI and its first professor of surgery, died from a wound to the femoral artery, rumoured to have been self-inflicted.
Shortly after the installation of the statue in the front hall of the college, a crack appeared in the marble which traced the exact anatomical course of the femoral artery.
Passing medical students thus become unfailingly familiar with the topography of the inner thigh of their illustrious predecessor. – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Cnoc an Stollaire,
Gaoth Dobhair,
Co Donegal.