Zebulon Mennell Sr. - Revision history

SysopJ: /* H.P. Blavatsky's physician */

2026-05-19T15:27:11Z

H.P. Blavatsky's physician

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:27, 19 May 2026
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	[[Alice L. Cleather\|Alice Leighton Cleather]] later recalled that, after Blavatsky's death, she visited Dr. Mennell, and together they spoke at length about her:		[[Alice L. Cleather\|Alice Leighton Cleather]] later recalled that, after Blavatsky's death, she visited Dr. Mennell, and together they spoke at length about her:
	<blockquote>One more incident remains to be told. I broke down in health about this time, and went up to London to consult H.P.B.'s clever physician, Dr. Z. Mennell. It was a memorable visit, lasting nearly two hours (he kept a roomful of patients waiting while we talked). ... But we talked much of H.P.B. He told me what an inspiration she had been to him in his medical work; how much she had taught him about the nature of the body and its powers—''particularly the brain''. Some of the things which she had demonstrated with her own organism were so far beyond anything then known to medical science that it would have been useless to lay them before the College of Physicians, of which I believe he was a distinguished member. He told me that he ''had'' brought one instance before them, but was met with such hopeless and determined scepticism that he never repeated the attempt.<ref>Alice Leighton Cleather, ''H. P. Blavatsky As I Knew Her'' (Calcutta: Thacker, Spink, 1923), 36-37. Available online at [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.30892/page/n59/mode/2up Internet Archive].</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>One more incident remains to be told. I broke down in health about this time, and went up to London to consult H.P.B.'s clever physician, Dr. Z. Mennell. It was a memorable visit, lasting nearly two hours (he kept a roomful of patients waiting while we talked). ... But we talked much of H.P.B. He told me what an inspiration she had been to him in his medical work; how much she had taught him about the nature of the body and its powers—''particularly the brain''. Some of the things which she had demonstrated with her own organism were so far beyond anything then known to medical science that it would have been useless to lay them before the College of Physicians, of which I believe he was a distinguished member. He told me that he ''had'' brought one instance before them, but was met with such hopeless and determined scepticism that he never repeated the attempt.<ref>Alice Leighton Cleather, ''H. P. Blavatsky As I Knew Her'' (Calcutta: Thacker, Spink, 1923), 36-37. Available online at [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.30892/page/n59/mode/2up Internet Archive].</ref></blockquote>


			Dr. Mennell reported the medical cause of death was described:
			<blockquote>
			This is to certify that I attended Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, and that she died on the 8th day of May, 1891, of chronic desquamative nephritis, to which she had been subject during a period of three years, all the time I have attended her. She suffered from influenza for over twelve days, and from acute bronchitis for five days. I saw her on the day of her death. -- Z. Mennell, F.R.C.S., etc.<ref>Z. Mennell, ''Notts Evening News May 11, 1891. This information comes from a card written by Boris de Zirkoff in his Historical Index, drawer 1. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>
			</blockquote>

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

SysopJ at 15:56, 24 November 2025

2025-11-24T15:56:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 24 November 2025
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	Dr. Zebulon Mennell Sr. (1850–1911)<ref>"Dr. Zebulon Mennell Sr." at [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/255599006/zebulon-mennell FindaGrave.com website]</ref> was a British physician of general practice based in London. He is noted for having treated [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] during the final years of her life.		Dr. Zebulon Mennell, Sr. (1850–1911)<ref>"Dr. Zebulon Mennell Sr." at [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/255599006/zebulon-mennell FindaGrave.com website]</ref> was a British physician of general practice based in London. He is noted for having treated [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] during the final years of her life.

	== Life and Work==		== Life and Work==
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	<references/>		<references/>

	[[Category:Nationality ~~British~~\|Mennell, Zebulon ~~Sr.~~]]		[[Category:Nationality English\|Mennell, Zebulon]]
	[[Category:People\|Mennell, Zebulon ~~Sr.~~]]		[[Category:Associates of HPB\|Mennell, Zebulon]]
	[[Category:~~Doctors~~\|Mennell, Zebulon ~~Sr.~~]]		[[Category:People\|Mennell, Zebulon]]
			[[Category:Physicians\|Mennell, Zebulon]]

SysopJ: /* H.P. Blavatsky's physician */

2025-11-24T15:53:40Z

H.P. Blavatsky's physician

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:53, 24 November 2025
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	Dr. Mennell, who used to visit H. P. B. in the evenings, would remain at her side when everyone else had left at the hour she had appointed (eleven o'clock at night, if my memory serves me correctly), and then H.P.B. would teach her doctor and friend... ''(Translated from Spanish)''<ref>J.X.M. "In Memoriam del Dr. Z. Mennell," ''ΣΟΦΙΑ. Revista Teosofica,'' 9 (Sept 1911), 601-602. Available at [https://iapsop.com/archive/materials/sophia_spain/sophia_1911_n9.pdf IAPSAP]</ref></blockquote>		Dr. Mennell, who used to visit H. P. B. in the evenings, would remain at her side when everyone else had left at the hour she had appointed (eleven o'clock at night, if my memory serves me correctly), and then H.P.B. would teach her doctor and friend... ''(Translated from Spanish)''<ref>J.X.M. "In Memoriam del Dr. Z. Mennell," ''ΣΟΦΙΑ. Revista Teosofica,'' 9 (Sept 1911), 601-602. Available at [https://iapsop.com/archive/materials/sophia_spain/sophia_1911_n9.pdf IAPSAP]</ref></blockquote>

	Alice Leighton Cleather later recalled that, after Blavatsky's death, she visited Dr. Mennell, and together they spoke at length about her:		[[Alice L. Cleather\|Alice Leighton Cleather]] later recalled that, after Blavatsky's death, she visited Dr. Mennell, and together they spoke at length about her:
	<blockquote>One more incident remains to be told. I broke down in health about this time, and went up to London to consult H.P.B.'s clever physician, Dr. Z. Mennell. It was a memorable visit, lasting nearly two hours (he kept a roomful of patients waiting while we talked). ... But we talked much of H.P.B. He told me what an inspiration she had been to him in his medical work; how much she had taught him about the nature of the body and its powers—''particularly the brain''. Some of the things which she had demonstrated with her own organism were so far beyond anything then known to medical science that it would have been useless to lay them before the College of Physicians, of which I believe he was a distinguished member. He told me that he ''had'' brought one instance before them, but was met with such hopeless and determined scepticism that he never repeated the attempt.<ref>Alice Leighton Cleather, ''H. P. Blavatsky As I Knew Her'' (Calcutta: Thacker, Spink, 1923), 36-37. Available online at [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.30892/page/n59/mode/2up Internet Archive].</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>One more incident remains to be told. I broke down in health about this time, and went up to London to consult H.P.B.'s clever physician, Dr. Z. Mennell. It was a memorable visit, lasting nearly two hours (he kept a roomful of patients waiting while we talked). ... But we talked much of H.P.B. He told me what an inspiration she had been to him in his medical work; how much she had taught him about the nature of the body and its powers—''particularly the brain''. Some of the things which she had demonstrated with her own organism were so far beyond anything then known to medical science that it would have been useless to lay them before the College of Physicians, of which I believe he was a distinguished member. He told me that he ''had'' brought one instance before them, but was met with such hopeless and determined scepticism that he never repeated the attempt.<ref>Alice Leighton Cleather, ''H. P. Blavatsky As I Knew Her'' (Calcutta: Thacker, Spink, 1923), 36-37. Available online at [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.30892/page/n59/mode/2up Internet Archive].</ref></blockquote>

Alex Audziayuk: /* H.P. Blavatsky's physician */

2025-11-22T21:03:27Z

H.P. Blavatsky's physician

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:03, 22 November 2025
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	In his obituary in the magazine ''ΣΟΦΙΑ ([[Sophia]])'' of the [[Theosophical Society in Spain]], Menell was called ''Médico, Amigo y Discípulo de H.P.B.,'' which can be translated as ''Physician, Friend, and Disciple of H.P.B.''. According to the author of the obituary:		In his obituary in the magazine ''ΣΟΦΙΑ ([[Sophia]])'' of the [[Theosophical Society in Spain]], Menell was called ''Médico, Amigo y Discípulo de H.P.B.,'' which can be translated as ''Physician, Friend, and Disciple of H.P.B.''. According to the author of the obituary:
	<blockquote>Dr. Mennell, an eminent man of science, was H. P. B.'s physician during the last years of her life, and it is thanks to him that the founder of the Theosophical Society remained among us in physical form for a few more years, since, as is well known, H.P.B., who suffered from three very serious illnesses, should have died much earlier, according to official science.		<blockquote>Dr. Mennell, an eminent man of science, was H. P. B.'s physician during the last years of her life, and it is thanks to him that the founder of the Theosophical Society remained among us in physical form for a few more years, since, as is well known, H.P.B., who suffered from three very serious illnesses, should have died much earlier, according to official science. H.P.B. never wanted to see any other doctor than Dr. Mennell, for whom she had great affection and whom she considered a loyal friend and disciple.

	H.P.B. never wanted to see any other doctor than Dr. Mennell, for whom she had great affection and whom she considered a loyal friend and disciple.

	That Dr. Mennell was an occultist is beyond the slightest doubt in my mind, and in the minds of all those he sought to cure. His contempt for money and his veneration for H.P.B. were well known, as I was told by H.P.B.'s old and loyal friend, the late Countess Wachtmeister.		That Dr. Mennell was an occultist is beyond the slightest doubt in my mind, and in the minds of all those he sought to cure. His contempt for money and his veneration for H.P.B. were well known, as I was told by H.P.B.'s old and loyal friend, the late Countess Wachtmeister.

Alex Audziayuk at 02:28, 22 November 2025

2025-11-22T02:28:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:28, 22 November 2025
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	Dr. Zebulon Mennell Sr. (1850–1911)<ref>"Dr. Zebulon Mennell Sr." at [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/255599006/zebulon-mennell in FindaGrave.com website]</ref> was a British physician of general practice based in London. He is noted for having treated [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] during the final years of her life.		Dr. Zebulon Mennell Sr. (1850–1911)<ref>"Dr. Zebulon Mennell Sr." at [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/255599006/zebulon-mennell FindaGrave.com website]</ref> was a British physician of general practice based in London. He is noted for having treated [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] during the final years of her life.

	== Life and Work==		== Life and Work==

Alex Audziayuk: /* H.P. Blavatsky's physician */ Added recollections by Cleather

2025-11-22T02:26:06Z

H.P. Blavatsky's physician: Added recollections by Cleather

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:26, 22 November 2025
Line 18:		Line 18:

	Dr. Mennell, who used to visit H. P. B. in the evenings, would remain at her side when everyone else had left at the hour she had appointed (eleven o'clock at night, if my memory serves me correctly), and then H.P.B. would teach her doctor and friend... ''(Translated from Spanish)''<ref>J.X.M. "In Memoriam del Dr. Z. Mennell," ''ΣΟΦΙΑ. Revista Teosofica,'' 9 (Sept 1911), 601-602. Available at [https://iapsop.com/archive/materials/sophia_spain/sophia_1911_n9.pdf IAPSAP]</ref></blockquote>		Dr. Mennell, who used to visit H. P. B. in the evenings, would remain at her side when everyone else had left at the hour she had appointed (eleven o'clock at night, if my memory serves me correctly), and then H.P.B. would teach her doctor and friend... ''(Translated from Spanish)''<ref>J.X.M. "In Memoriam del Dr. Z. Mennell," ''ΣΟΦΙΑ. Revista Teosofica,'' 9 (Sept 1911), 601-602. Available at [https://iapsop.com/archive/materials/sophia_spain/sophia_1911_n9.pdf IAPSAP]</ref></blockquote>

			Alice Leighton Cleather later recalled that, after Blavatsky's death, she visited Dr. Mennell, and together they spoke at length about her:
			<blockquote>One more incident remains to be told. I broke down in health about this time, and went up to London to consult H.P.B.'s clever physician, Dr. Z. Mennell. It was a memorable visit, lasting nearly two hours (he kept a roomful of patients waiting while we talked). ... But we talked much of H.P.B. He told me what an inspiration she had been to him in his medical work; how much she had taught him about the nature of the body and its powers—''particularly the brain''. Some of the things which she had demonstrated with her own organism were so far beyond anything then known to medical science that it would have been useless to lay them before the College of Physicians, of which I believe he was a distinguished member. He told me that he ''had'' brought one instance before them, but was met with such hopeless and determined scepticism that he never repeated the attempt.<ref>Alice Leighton Cleather, ''H. P. Blavatsky As I Knew Her'' (Calcutta: Thacker, Spink, 1923), 36-37. Available online at [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.30892/page/n59/mode/2up Internet Archive].</ref></blockquote>

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

Alex Audziayuk: /* H.P. Blavatsky's physician */

2025-11-21T23:49:58Z

H.P. Blavatsky's physician

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:49, 21 November 2025
Line 10:		Line 10:
	== H.P. Blavatsky's physician ==		== H.P. Blavatsky's physician ==

	In his obituary in the magazine ''Sophia'' of the Theosophical Society in Spain, Menell was called ''Médico, Amigo y Discípulo de H.P.B.,'' which can be translated as ''Physician, Friend, and Disciple of H.P.B.''. According to the author of the obituary:		In his obituary in the magazine ''ΣΟΦΙΑ ([[Sophia]])'' of the [[Theosophical Society in Spain]], Menell was called ''Médico, Amigo y Discípulo de H.P.B.,'' which can be translated as ''Physician, Friend, and Disciple of H.P.B.''. According to the author of the obituary:
	<blockquote>Dr. Mennell, an eminent man of science, was H. P. B.'s physician during the last years of her life, and it is thanks to him that the founder of the Theosophical Society remained among us in physical form for a few more years, since, as is well known, H.P.B., who suffered from three very serious illnesses, should have died much earlier, according to official science.		<blockquote>Dr. Mennell, an eminent man of science, was H. P. B.'s physician during the last years of her life, and it is thanks to him that the founder of the Theosophical Society remained among us in physical form for a few more years, since, as is well known, H.P.B., who suffered from three very serious illnesses, should have died much earlier, according to official science.

Alex Audziayuk: New page.

2025-11-21T23:42:28Z

New page.

New page

Dr. Zebulon Mennell Sr. (1850–1911)<ref>"Dr. Zebulon Mennell Sr." at [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/255599006/zebulon-mennell in FindaGrave.com website]</ref> was a British physician of general practice based in London. He is noted for having treated [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] during the final years of her life.

== Life and Work==
Mennell was born in Yorkshire, the son of a Quaker doctor.<ref>Ryan J.F. Zebulon Mennell, ''British Journal of Anaesthesia'', 26:1 (1954), 42-47, https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/26.1.42.</ref> He studied medicine at St. Thomas's Hospital, London,<ref>J.F.R. "Obituary," ''ANESTHESIA'', 14:2 (April 1959), 210-212. Available online at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.1959.tb13770.x</ref> received his Licentiate from the Institute of Pharmacy in 1879, and was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.<ref>J.X.M. "In Memoriam del Dr. Z. Mennell," ''ΣΟΦΙΑ. Revista Teosofica,'' 9 (Sept 1911), 601-602. Available at [https://iapsop.com/archive/materials/sophia_spain/sophia_1911_n9.pdf IAPSAP]</ref> He resided and maintained his medical practice at Royal Crescent, Notting Hill, London.

Prior to his work in London, Mennell held official appointments abroad, serving as physician to the La Guaira Port Corporation in Venezuela and to the Gu Appantu Mining Company in West Africa.<ref>''Ibid.''</ref>

Both of his sons entered the medical profession: Dr. Zebulon Mennell Jr. became a noted anesthetist, while Dr. James Beaver Mennell specialized in physiotherapy.<ref>Ryan J.F. "Zebulon Mennell," ''British Journal of Anaesthesia'', 26:1 (1954): 42-47, https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/26.1.42.</ref>

== H.P. Blavatsky's physician ==

In his obituary in the magazine ''Sophia'' of the Theosophical Society in Spain, Menell was called ''Médico, Amigo y Discípulo de H.P.B.,'' which can be translated as ''Physician, Friend, and Disciple of H.P.B.''. According to the author of the obituary:
<blockquote>Dr. Mennell, an eminent man of science, was H. P. B.'s physician during the last years of her life, and it is thanks to him that the founder of the Theosophical Society remained among us in physical form for a few more years, since, as is well known, H.P.B., who suffered from three very serious illnesses, should have died much earlier, according to official science.

H.P.B. never wanted to see any other doctor than Dr. Mennell, for whom she had great affection and whom she considered a loyal friend and disciple.

That Dr. Mennell was an occultist is beyond the slightest doubt in my mind, and in the minds of all those he sought to cure. His contempt for money and his veneration for H.P.B. were well known, as I was told by H.P.B.'s old and loyal friend, the late Countess Wachtmeister.

Dr. Mennell, who used to visit H. P. B. in the evenings, would remain at her side when everyone else had left at the hour she had appointed (eleven o'clock at night, if my memory serves me correctly), and then H.P.B. would teach her doctor and friend... ''(Translated from Spanish)''<ref>J.X.M. "In Memoriam del Dr. Z. Mennell," ''ΣΟΦΙΑ. Revista Teosofica,'' 9 (Sept 1911), 601-602. Available at [https://iapsop.com/archive/materials/sophia_spain/sophia_1911_n9.pdf IAPSAP]</ref></blockquote>

== Notes ==

<references/>

[[Category:Nationality British|Mennell, Zebulon Sr.]]
[[Category:People|Mennell, Zebulon Sr.]]
[[Category:Doctors|Mennell, Zebulon Sr.]]