BIDIE, George. Buckies, Banffshire 3.4.1830 — Bridge of Allan, Scotland 19.2.1913. Dr. Surgeon-General. British (Scottish) Physician in India. School in Aberdeen, studies at Edinburgh and Aberdeen, M.D. 1853. In 1856 joined Indian Medical Service as Assistant Surgeon and went to Madras. Served in Hyderabad, Guntur, Mysore and Coorg. In 1866-70 Professor of Botany at Madras Medical College and a Superintendent of Lunatic Asylum, says Wikipedia from Buckland, but BrMJ is silent about this stating instead that he was then in Mysore and Coorg and in 1870-72 and 1880-1885 Secretary to Surgeon-General, in between Superintendent of Madras Museum 1872-84. Surgeon 1868, Surgeon-Major 1873, Surgeon-General 1886, in Madras. Fellow of Madras Universty 1879. Retired 1890. Married 1854 Isabella Wiseman, five daughters and four sons.

He was keenly interested in natural history, archaeology and numismatics. He spoke against deforestation and promoted protection of wild birds. In Lunatic Asylum he developed more human treatment of patients.

Publications: “The Pagoda or Varáha Coins of Southern India”, JASB 52:1, 1883, 33-55.

– Catalogue of Gold Coins in Government Central Museum, Madras. Madras 1874.

– Medical and economical works.

Sources: British Medical Journal 1913, 473, Buckland, Dictionary; Wikipedia with photo; Life also in https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=190768.