Armstrong Todd

Armstrong Todd (1826–1873) was a nineteenth century London surgeon credited with developing new medical procedures, including anesthetics.

The son of physician and president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Charles Hawkes Todd (1784–1826) and Elizabeth Bentley (1786–1862), Armstrong was born on 1826 in Dublin Ireland; the year his father died. He is the youngest of fifteen children and the brother of James Henthorn Todd and Robert Bentley Todd.

By 1848, he earned a B.A. and M.B. from Trinity College in Dublin Ireland. One year later he passed his medical exams and he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons (M.R.C.S.).

In 1852, Armstrong married Frances Alicia Kinahan (1824–1909). She was the daughter of Robert Henry Kinahan (1799–1861) and Charlotte Hudson (1800–1842). In 1853, Robert Henry Kinahan became Lord Mayor of Dublin after serving as sheriff and an alderman.

Armstrong Todd started his medical career in Manchester England as consulting surgeon to Ardwick and Ancoats Dispensary and to London Mutual Life Guarantee Society. He was a member of Paris Medical Society, British Medical Association, Medical Society of London.

The 1850s saw the first widespread use of chloroform during surgery. Chloroform began to replace ether as an anesthetic. Todd became aware of chloroform’s toxicity and dangers. He published and contributed to several articles about its safe administration in The Medical Times and Gazette.

By 1860 Todd had moved to London to become a surgeon at Marylebone Dispensary. His home and office were located near his older brother (Robert Bentley Todd) in London's Grosvenor Square area.

Armstrong Todd and Frances Alicia Kinahan Todd had two sons and five daughters. Both sons were medical practitioners. Their first son, Robert Henry Todd, became a coroner for the City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The second son, Armstrong Herbert Swifte Todd, became a surgeon in County Fermanagh, Ireland.

At the age of 44, it appears Todd became severely ill. The nature of his illness is presently unknown. Medical directories suggest he retired from medical practice before 1870.On 20 May 1873, he was admitted to Camberwell House Asylum in Surrey England as patient 26389. He died there several days later on June 3 1873 at the age of 47 years. He is buried at Norwood Cemetery in Lambeth, England. After his death, Frances Alicia Kinahan Todd returned to Dublin.

The children of Armstrong Todd and Francis; were Charlotte Emily Todd (1853–1909) married Dr. Albert Edward Croly and died in Dublin, Francis Caroline Hawkes Todd (1854–1901) unmarried and died in Surrey England, Anna Julia Todd (1856–1934) unmarried and died in Surrey England, Alicia Maria Todd (1857–1927) unmarried and died in Surrey England, Robert Henry Todd (1859–1931) married Ellen Joy Orr and died in Sydney Australia, Caroline Stanley Edwards Arnold (1863–1940) married Edward Arnold and died in Omagh, Northern Ireland, and Dr. Armstrong Herbert Swifte Todd (1865–1936) married Georgina Matthews and died in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Among Todd’s publications were:

• “On Cases in which the administration of Chloroform may prove Injurious,” Med. Times and Gaz
• “Administration of Chloroform, with a Description of a New Inhaler,” Med Times Gaz
• “Administration of Medical Charities, with Suggestions for a more Systematized Plan of Management.”
• “Stricture of the Rectum, with Description of a New Dilator”
• “Stone in the Bladder, with Cases of Lithotomy”