George (1830–72) and his son James Hogarth (1863–1941) Pringle: unsung surgical pioneers

Abstract

The achievements of the Hogarth Pringles, father and son, represent a remarkable story of surgical innovation; remarkable not only for the range and significance of their contributions but also because neither of them has been given appropriate recognition for their pioneering work. George Hogarth Pringle introduced antiseptic surgery to Australia. His son James performed the first autologous vein graft in Britain and the first excision with en bloc nodal dissection for malignant melanoma, both of which procedures were successful. He was also one of the earliest exponents of hindquarter amputation, was a national authority on fracture management and an early supporter of women in medicine.