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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.

== 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 ==

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