Son of Robert Druitt, senr, surgeon, of Wimborne, Dorsetshire. He was a pupil for four years of Charles Mayo, Surgeon to the Winchester Hospital, and in 1834 entered as a medical student at King's College, London, and Middlesex Hospital. He took up general practice, living in Bruton Street, Berkeley Square, where he was successful and rapidly became known as a medical writer. He is best known for his *Surgeon's Vade-Mecum*, which was first published in 1839, ran into eleven editions, was translated into several European languages, and in all more than forty thousand copies were sold. Druitt was much engaged in literary work and was a versatile writer. For ten years he edited the *Medical Times and Gazette*; in 1845 he wrote a "Popular Tract on Church Music"; he wrote, too, a small work on "Cheap Wines, their use in Diet and Medicine", which appeared in the *Medical Times and Gazette* in 1863 and 1864 and was twice reprinted in an enlarged form in 1865 and 1873. In 1872 he contributed an important article on "Inflammation" to Cooper's *Dictionary of Practical Surgery*. In addition to his literary activities Druitt took an active interest in Public Health matters. He wrote in the *Transactions of the Royal Institute of British Architects* (1859-1867) on "The Construction and Management of Human Habitations". From 1858-1867 he was one of the Medical Officers of Health for St George's, Hanover Square, and from 1864-1872 he was President of the Metropolitan Association of Medical Officers of Health, before which he delivered a number of addresses. He retired in 1872 on account of ill health, and went for a time to Madras, whence he wrote some interesting "Letters from Madras" to the *Medical Times and Gazette*. On his retirement he was presented with £1215 in a silver cup as a mark of sympathy from 370 medical men and other friends. He was one of the few recipients of the MD Lambeth, granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He married a Miss Hopkinson in 1845, by whom he had three sons and four daughters, all of whom survived him. He died at Kensington on May 15th, 1883, after an exhausting illness. There is an engraved portrait of him by R B Parkes in the College Collection. His younger brother was William Druitt (qv).