Henry Widenham Maunsell

At a time when surgery was limited by the twin fears of shock and infection, Maunsell was among the first to use the antiseptic technique newly introduced by Joseph Lister, and to operate for internal disorders of the pelvis, abdomen, skull and brain.

Among his original contributions was a technique for excising bowel tumours and joining the cut ends to restore continuity.

[2] He also undertook a world-first operation on the hind brain (cerebellum) to relieve pressure from a life-threatening expanding cyst.

Henry Maunsell and his future wife Mary Fosbery were from long-established Anglo-Irish Protestant families originally based near Limerick.

Senior Surgeon William Gilbee gave the first report in Australia or NZ on Lister’s new method of antiseptic surgery, writing “...I am indebted to Dr Maunsell, my Resident Surgeon, who carefully carried out all the instructions laid down by Mr Lister” [3] The discovery of gold near the New Zealand town of Hokitika in 1865 resulted in major growth of the town and port.

Maunsell was appointed Surgeon Superintendent of the Spit Hospital at £500 pa., and in October 1869 replaced Dr J. Rutherford Ryley, who coincidentally had reported the first use of carbolic antiseptic in New Zealand.

On reaching Dunedin, Maunsell purchased a house and gained a coveted position on the Hospital Staff, later also becoming City Health Officer (Dec. 1881).

[6] Early in 1891 the University granted Maunsell leave partly on health grounds but also to study schools of surgery in Europe and America.

Tributes in his obituaries included those in the British Medical Journal[8] from the eminent Sir Frederick Treves, later surgeon to King Edward VII.