Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 3.djvu/63

 and Cohesion' (1879) and 'On some Disorders of Nutrition related with Affections of the Nervous System' (1885), and made many contributions to current medical literature. He also took a keen interest in natural history, as may be seen in his oration to the Medical Society in 1894, entitled 'The Doctor's Holiday.'



O'RELL, MAX (pseudonym). [See (1848-1903), humorous writer.]

ORMEROD, ELEANOR ANNE (1828–1901), economic entomologist, born at Sedbury Park, West Gloucestershire, on 11 May 1828, was youngest daughter of {subst:d|George|Ormerod}} [q. v.] by his wife Sarah, daughter of, M.D. (1761-1843) [q. v.]. Three of her seven brothers, George Wareing, William Piers, and Edward Latham, are noticed separately. Of her two sisters, Georgiana enthusiastically co-operated in her work till her death on 19 Aug. 1896.

Eleanor Ormerod was educated at home in elementary subjects by her mother, who instilled in all her children strong religious feeling and artistic tastes. Latin and modern languages, in which she became an adept, Eleanor studied by herself. She early cherished a love of flowers, showed unusual powers of observation, and made free use of her father's library. With her sister Georgiana she studied painting under William Hunt, and both became efficient artists.

As a child Eleanor aided her brother William in his botanical work, and was soon expert in preparing specimens. But it was not, according to her own account, until 12 March 1852, when she obtained a copy of Stephens's 'Manual of British Beetles,' that she began the study of entomology, and laid the foundation for her researches into insect life. In 1868 she actively aided the Royal Horticultural Society in forming a collection illustrative of economic entomology, and for her services received in 1870 the silver Flora medal. To the International Polytechnic Exhibition at Moscow in 1872 she sent a collection of plaster models (prepared by herself) as well as electrotypes of plants, fruits, leaves, and reptiles, for which she was awarded silver medals and also received the gold medal of honour from Moscow University.

After the death of the father, on 9 Oct. 1873, the Ormerod family was broken up. Eleanor and her sister Georgiana lived together at Torquay, and then at Dunster Lodge, Spring Grove, Isleworth, where they were near Kew Gardens and in close touch with Sir Joseph and Lady Hooker. At Isleworth Miss Ormerod undertook a comprehensive series of meteorological observations. She was the first woman to be elected fellow of the Meteorological Society (1878). The sisters finally removed to Torrington House, St. Albans, in September 1887.

In the spring of 1877 Miss Ormerod issued the pamphlet, 'Notes for Observations of Injurious Insects,' which was the first of twenty-four 'Annual Reports of Observations of Injurious Insects' (1877-1900). With a view to the preparation of these reports she carried on till her death a large correspondence with observers all over the country and in foreign lands. Her reports, fully illustrated, were printed at her own expense and sent free to her correspondents and to all public bodies at home and abroad that were interested in the subject. A 'General Index of the Annual Reports' (1877–1898) was compiled by Mr. Robert Newstead, subsequently lecturer on medical entomology in Liverpool University. At the same time Miss Ormerod was generous in advice, notably on insect pests, to all correspondents who sought her counsel. Many of those from abroad she hospitably entertained on their visits to this country. She led an especially useful crusade against the ox-warble fly and the house sparrow or 'avian rat,' and she showed how these and other farm and forest, garden and orchard pests could best be resisted.

From 1882 to 1892 Miss Ormerod was consulting entomologist to the Royal Agricultural Society of England. On the day of her assuming the office (June 1882) she met with an accident at Waterloo railway station which resulted in permanent lameness. Her first official work was to prepare, with her sister, 'six diagrams illustrating some common injurious insects, with life histories and methods of prevention,' which were issued by the society.

Her work was incessant, and she declined the help of a coadjutor. She greatly valued the co-operation in her scientific efforts of Professor Westwood, Life president of the Entomological Society, of Dr. C. V, Riley, entomologist of the department of agriculture, U.S.A., and of Professor Huxley. With Huxley she sat from 1882 to 1886 on the committee of economic entomology appointed by the education department, and