Dr. Mary B. Walker (1888 - 1974)

Familial Periodic Paralysis

Dr. Mary Broadfoot Walker was an Assistant Medical Officer at St. Alfege's Hospital from 1920 to 1936. In that time, and using few resources, she was the first to demonstrate that familial periodic paralysis was associated with hypokalaemia.

Description of Familial Periodic Paralysis

Dr. Mary Walker was the first to recognise the association between familial periodic paralysis and hypokalaemia. Walker MB. Potassium chloride in myasthenia gravis. Lancet 1935; (ii): 47. The title to this publication in the Lancet is misleading and probably reflects the opinion of some Doctors at that time that myasthenia gravis was a consequence of impaired handling of potassium. The observation of the link between familial periodic paralysis and hypokalaemia, made on a patient with familial periodic paralysis who was admitted to St. Alfege's Hospital in 1935, opened the doors to the classification of the periodic paralyses according to potassium handling i.e. in to (i) hypokalaemic, (ii) hyperkalaemic and (iii) eukalaemic periodic paralysis.

Dr. Walker went on to describe the glucose challenge test that is still used today (or at least a variant of her description) in the diagnosis of familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis and also the use of intravenous potassium as a treatment for familial periodic paralysis Aitken RS, Allot EN, Gastelden LIM & Walker MB. Observations on a case of familial periodic paralysis Clinical Science 1937, vol 3, pp. 47-57.
(This paper reflects the difficulties experienced by Dr. Mary Walker --- she was able to publish letters under her own name only but she was not able to publish an original paper without one or more co-authors being of consultant status. This paper is divided in to two sections --- the first section is a description of the presentation of the patient and the discovery of hypokalaemia along with its relationship to onset of weakness plus the glucose challenge test --- the second part of the paper is a description of additional observations made at Hammersmith Hospital by medical colleagues --- it is left to the reader to decide if the additional observations add new information.)

Further information on the patient described above by Dr. Walker may be found in: Allott EN & McArdle B. Further observations on familial periodic paralysis. Clinical Science 1938;3:229-39.

It is difficult to imagine now the difficulties that were faced by a woman medical doctor in Britain during the first part of the 20th century. Dr. Walker was offered prestigious posts at teaching hospitals in London e.g. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital but her financial circumstances meant that she had to continue in a salaried post. Dr. Walker left St. Alfege's Hospital in 1936 and went to work as a Medical Assistant at St. Leonard's Hospital, Shoreditch then moved to St. Francis' Hospital, Dulwich and then to St. Benedict's Hospital, Tooting (all hospitals in London).

Many people have remarked on her quiet and reserved manner. This wonderful lady is an inspiration to us all.

Compiled by:

J. D. Johnston