Sir, – The poet Robert Graves, who survived shrapnel wounds and shell-shock to read his own obituary in the London Times, as Frank McNally recounts, (An Irishman's Diary, July 23rd) was of distinguished Irish medical lineage.
His great uncle, Dr Robert Graves, president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland introduced teaching ward rounds – the Dublin method of bedside instruction. Overactivity of the thyroid gland became known as Graves disease after he published the first full description of the condition.
The poet’s grandmother, Selina, was the daughter of John Cheyne, professor of medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, who gave his name to Cheyne-Stokes respiration.
Perhaps his heritage helped him survive the physical and psychological challenges he encountered during his 90 years.
– Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY
Gaoth Dobhair,
Co Dhún na nGall.