See obituary for Thomas Read, surgeon, from The Lancet, 6 January 1866
THOMAS READ, ESQ., KENSINGTON.
This gentleman, whose death occurred at his residence, Honiton-street, Kensington, on Dec. 13th, 1865, was sixtyfour years of age. He was born in Dublin in 1801, and after the completion of his general education was apprenticed to a leading general practitioner in that city, Mr. Thos. Nugent, of Merrion-row. Soon after he became a pupil of Mr. Wallace, a surgeon of some eminence, and one of the surgeons to Jervisstreet Hospital, whose writings on Syphilis are universally known. In 1823 Mr. Read obtained his qualification as Licentiate of the Apothecaries' Hall of Ireland; shortly after he settled in England, and ultimately established himself in practice at Kensington, where he resided for over forty years, having had, during the greater part of that time, a good but laborious practice. He was a man of kind and generous disposition, and of Bterling worth, respected by his patients, and beloved by the poor. Though never aspiring to professional distinction, he took a lively interest in all that related to the progress of medical science, and had a sensitive regard for the honour of his profession. He was a very sound and successful practitioner; and in the early part of his career was on intimate terms of acquaintance with the then leading members of the profession in London. For two years Mr. Read was a great sufferer, and confined to his bed on account of paralysis of the lower limbs. About three years ago, whilst on a holiday trip, he had a fall, when his hip and spine were hurt, causing him to be confined to the house for a lew days. Soon after, whilst getting into a cab, a similar accident occurred, and within a short time symptoms of loss of power over the lower limbs showed themselves, and increased rapidly until complete paralysis developed itself, which terminated in his death. At a post-mortem examination made on the morning following his death by Mr. Pick, of St. George's Hospital, and Mr. Guazzaroni, the fifth and sixth dorsal vertebrae were found to be in a state of caries, from which there was an exudation, resembling tuberculous matter, pressing on the spinal cord, producing softening for about an inch and a half of its length. During his illness Mr. Read was frequently visited by Drs. J. A. Wilson, Gull, and C. B. Radcliffe; Messrs. Prescott Hewett, Solly, W. Adams, Hilton, Barnard Holt, &c.; whilst he had the daily attendance of Mr. Guazzaroni and of his son, Mr. T. L. Read, of Petersham-terrace.
