Penicillin pioneer who loved living in the fast lane

Published on Monday 14 July 2008 10:20

JAMES CAMERON GOULD, an eminent physician and scientist who carried out some of the earliest work on the mass-production of penicillin and the control of hospital superbugs, has died at the age of 85.

James Cameron Gould, known as Cam to his friends and family, was eldest of two sons born to Edinburgh dentist James, who had a practice in Montgomery Street, and his wife Annie, on May 12 1923.

He was educated at George Watson's College and Edinburgh University, where he gained a BSc in science in 1944.

As he tackled his doctorate he spent time working on the production of penicillin, and also met and married his wife of 50 years Margaret Billet, who was working as a nurse at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at the time.

Soon after his marriage, he volunteered for the Royal Army Medical Corps, spending two years working in the Far East countries of Malaya and Hong Kong and rising to the rank of Acting Major in charge of pathology.

He returned in 1948 to be with his wife and newborn son Jim and joined the Edinburgh medical practice led by Sir Stanley Davidson, before returning to Edinburgh University as a lecturer in clinical microbiology.

Alongside well-published medical pioneers like RC Cruickshank and TJ Mackie, Mr Gould was one of the first to describe methods for antibiotic susceptibility and tackling antibiotic-resistant infections in hospitals.

In the years that followed, he became doctor of microbiology at the Western General and, during this time, he established an international reputation in the field of consulting microbiology, with a particular interest in infection-control policies, much of which is still relevant today as doctors battle against MRSA and a shrinking supply of antibiotics.

In recognition of his many achievements and publications, he was appointed fellow of The Royal Physical Society in 1956, The Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1964, The Royal Institute of Biology in 1966 and was also appointed treasurer of the Royal College of Physicians that same year. He was also a founding fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists upon its inception in 1962.

Mr Gould served on a number of national and international committees and working groups, including the World Health Organisation, The European Commission and the Food Safety and Irradiation working party.

In his personal life, Mr Gould was never more relaxed than when he was behind the wheel of a fast car, and he was a well-known name amongst rally circles for his long drives throughout Europe – often accompanied by his family.

His wife Margaret died ten years ago after more than 50 years of happy marriage. In his final years, he was ably cared for by friends and his fiance Ivita Krupova, a Slovakian nurse who is currently studying medicine at Edinburgh University.

He died peacefully at the Western General Hospital on July 8 and is survived by his children Jim, Anne and Ian and nine grandchildren.