Memorial Plaque to Dr Samuel Little Hardy

Earlier today a memorial plaque was unveiled in memory of Dr Samuel Little Hardy, obstetrician and physician, at his former home at 9 Merrion Square. 

The campaign for a plaque to commemorate Dr Hardy came from his great-grand nephew, Ken Hardy, and was supported by the Heritage Centre. It was a great pleasure to see the plaque, commissioned by Dublin City Council, unveiled and for Dr Hardy to be recognised. 

Professor John F Murphy, former President of this College, was invited to say a few words about Dr Hardy and his contribution to medicine;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my particular pleasure as a former President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and representing the current President to be associated with the placing of this plaque in memory of the distinguished physician Samuel Little Hardy.

Dr Hardy was by any standards a most important physician in Dublin Medicine in the nineteenth Century and during his relatively short life achieved a vast amount. It was during the nineteenth century that much of the basis of modern medicine started and Dublin was then at the forefront in these medically exciting times. It was the time diseases were being accurately described by doctors like Stokes, Graves and Corrigan, all eponymously associated with naming diseases and clinical signs. Many of these doctors were not only colleagues, but also neighbours, of Dr Hardy on Merrion Square.  It was, however, not until the 20th Century that much, in curative terms, could be done for patients with these diseases.

Dr Samuel Little Hardy

Dr. Hardy could be considered part of this distinguished group. His main interest was in the diseases of women and children and he was for a time Assistant Master at the Rotunda Hospital which is the oldest Maternity hospital in the world having been founded in 1746, some 70 years before Dr Hardy was born.

In addition to lecturing on midwifery and diseases of women Dr. Hardy became Professor of the Subject and a member of the Midwifery court of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He also published scientific papers, one noted one on the use of Ergot and Rye on the parturient female. The uses of derivatives of ergot are used throughout the world today, just after childbirth, and have saved many millions of lives by the prevention of post partum haemorrhage.

He did not, however, confine his energies to clinical work. Like many good doctors he involved himself in academic life and was active in many societies involved in the advancement of knowledge. Most notably he was President of the Dublin Obstetrical Society which ultimately became the Obstetric Section of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland and is still most active in the advancement of Knowledge.

Dr. Hardy was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland but unfortunately died before being admitted to Fellowship.

So Dr. Hardy, with justification, should be considered among the Greats of 19th Century Dublin medicine and it appropriate that he is now formally remembered in the city where he did so much great work.

Councillor Michael MacDonncha, Prof John Murphy, Ken Hardy and Annabel Arnold (nee Hardy)