One of the British Empire’s better moments is seen in the career of Arthur MacCallan in the 20 years he spent in Egypt between 1903 and 1923. When the lower Aswan Dam was being built between 1899 and 1902, Sir Ernest Cassel noted the high prevalence of blinding disease (particularly trachoma) in the workers and decided to finance the setting-up of eye hospitals there. Having just finished a three year residency at Moorfields, and enduring the penurious life style of a new attending, MacCallan welcomed the opportunity that Cassel offered and was off to Egypt at the age of 31. His skill and determination impressed the people he worked with, and overcame their initial suspicions: “being looked upon by the local fellahin as a device by the Christians to destroy the Muslims.” By the time he left Egypt, he left in place an infrastructure that could continue the work that by 1931 included 41 eye hospitals, and treatment centers in 30 government schools.

Submitted by Richard Keeler from the Cogan Ophthalmic History Society