R. W. Hornabrook

Rupert Walter Hornabrook (3 August 1871 – 7 May 1951) was a medical doctor, recognised as Australia's first specialist anaesthetist.
History.
Hornabrook was born in Kent Town, South Australia, a son of Charles A. Hornabrook and his wife Eliza, née Soward. John Hornabrook, owner of the York Hotel, at the corner of Pulteney and Rundle streets, Adelaide was a grandfather.
He was educated at St Peter's College, before studying for the (Anglican) priesthood under Canon Field and F. A. D'Arenberg then was admitted to the University of Adelaide, studying medicine, in 1891.
After completion of his Bachelor's degree, and during his internship at the Adelaide Hospital, the "Adelaide Hospital Row" disrupted teaching, and many, Hornabrook included, left for hospitals overseas to complete their training.
Hornabrook, along with fellow South Australian J. A. Bonnin, completed his medical training at "Barts" (St Bartholomew's Hospital) in London in 1897, adding qualifications M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. to his MB., and accepted a "locum tenens" position at the West London Hospital.
In 1898 he commenced working for the Government of India combating bubonic plague as Chief Medical Plague Officer of Dharwar. A year later he was in the South African Republic performing similar work, where it was feared the disease was being brought in by Indian workers. Later that year he joined the Imperial troops in South Africa as a medical officer, and was credited with several displays of bravery and was wounded under fire, before being laid low with sunstroke and enteric fever during the Siege of Ladysmith.
Hornabrook returned to Adelaide briefly in March 1901 before proceeding to Melbourne, where he was an invited guest at the Public Schools Old Boys' reunion. In May 1902 at St George's (Presbyterian) Church, St Kilda, Victoria he married Miss E. Winifred Sargood, daughter of Sir Frederick Sargood of Rippon Lea Estate.
He transferred to the Australian Army Corps, and in February 1904 was appointed lieutenant, promoted to captain the following year.
In February 1904 he was called to the "Celtic Queen", from Acapulco, anchored off Wallaroo, three of whose crew had died, and most of the rest laid low by fever.
He spent much of the years 1907–1908 in London, studying anaesthetics under one Dr. Barker, perhaps Arthur Edward James Barker (10 May 1850 – 1916) at the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank.
Hornabrook, his wife and small family moved to Victoria in early 1909, settling at Lansdowne Road, East St Kilda.
He was appointed assistant anaesthetist to the Melbourne General Hospital, where he is credited with popularizing use of the "ethyl chloride-ether sequence" (chloroethane followed by di-ethyl ether) for general anaesthesia.
Following the outbreak of the First World War, Hornabrook on 3 August 1914 enlisted with the Permanent Naval Force on battlecruiser HMAS "Australia", serving as temporary surgeon under Staff Surgeon Alexander Ruan Caw.
HMAS "Australia" was involved with the AN&MEF, which captured German New Guinea, then joined the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet as flagship of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron, patrolling the North Sea, but saw little action. 
Hornabrook resigned his commission on 7 August 1915 and enlisted with the Australian Army and sailed for England with the First AIF aboard the liner, later troopship, SS "Medic".
He served in 1 AGH, 11 Surgical Team, and 12 CCS, and was promoted major in September 1917.
He had his appointment terminated in December 1917 in order to take up anaesthetic work at Melbourne University.
Hornabrook maintained his interest in anaesthesia after the war, but confined his practice to the Children's Hospital, the Melbourne Dental College, and the Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. He retired in 1934 after suffering a heart attack.
He was in 1929 elected the first chairman of the Anaesthetics section of the British Medical Association, Victorian branch.
In 1934 Hornabrook and Gilbert Brown (the Society's first president) were foundation members of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.
Hornabrook died at his home, 10 Toorak Avenue, Toorak, Victoria.
Other interests.
He was active in a variety of sports, rowing for St Peter's College, playing football for North Adelaide 1889–90.
He adjudicated
He had a close relationship with St John's Ambulance Brigade, giving lectures and adjudicating at competitions.
He was a member of the Australian Club, Melbourne
He was the author of numerous "Letters to the Editor" (more like essays) on a variety of subjects:
He was the author of a booklet:
Family.
Rupert Walter Hornabrook (3 August 1871 – 7 May 1951) married (Emma) Winifred Sargood ( – ) on May 1902. Winifred was a daughter of Sir Frederick Sargood. Their children were: