MEDICAL PRACTICE IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND IN THE EARLY DAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3475, 19 October 1920, Page 52

MEDICAL PRACTICE IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND IN THE EARLY DAYS.

By Robert Valpy Fulton, M.D.

XXXI.—JOHN M'CRISTAL AND JAMES MARTIN, OF INVERCARGILL AND RlVEßTON.—(Concluded.)

Another serious case which Dr M'Cristal attended in Riverton was about a year later, in 1860. A half-caste woman married to a man named Lee in South Riverton was suffering from cancer in one breast. It was decided to operate; but when the patient was ready the doctor was not. The husband went up into the bush to seek him, and found him lying in his tent in a semi-conscious condition from some drug which he was in the habit of taking. The husband, who was a strong man, and determined that, the matter should be gone through with, got the doctor on his back and carried him down through the bush to the patient's bed-, side. He seems to have had sense enough to take what was required for the operation, and also something to square himself up. He was allowed a little time to come round, and then took off the woman's breast. The operation was quite successful, and she lived for many years. Dr Martin, the other doctor who had recently arrived, was displeased with Dr M'Cristal for interfering with his case—"Cooper"—and it caused a coolness, not to say a quarrel, between the two surgeons. Dr M'Cristal set up in practice in Invercargill about the end of 1860, but he often rode over to Riverton, where he was much thought of as a skilful surgeon. He was the first medical man to practise m Riverton, and was a man of good style and manners. His failing was drugs, but as has been shown he could sober himself with wonderful quickness when his_ professional services were required, and in all other respects he was a thorough _ gentleman. He married earlv in the sixties a widow named Hunt who had a small shop or general store in Tav street, Invercargill. Her husband had been drowned in 1858 or 1859. He had taken a wedding party over to Ruapuke Island, where the missionary, Mr Wohlers, was stationed, there being no minister within reach on the mainland. The weather turned squally, and as they were crossing the New River bar on their return to Invercargill, the boat was swamped, and they were all drowned. Captain Howell, the pioneer and real head or boss of the whaling station, had unlimited opportunities for acquiring land m those early days, and might have enriched himself at the expense of the Maoris, but he always acted well by them. He owned Fairlight Station and other property near Whakatipu, but did hot have

much land at Riverton. He owned a small run at Flint's Bush, about eight miles to the north-east, which he named Eastbourne Park. The old house, which he built there, is still standing, though long since passed into strangers' hands. An avenue of fine trees leads from the country road to the verandah and front door, but the place appears very much neglected. The original house built by Captain Howell at Riverton was a small low building, although no doubt at first it seemed imposing. It stood in a side street between Palmenston and Havelock streets facing east. After the captain's death Mrs Howell lived there for some years, and after her death some of her daughters continued to live there. The property was eventually sold to Di Trotter, who pulled down the old house and built a large two-storied brick one on it's site, where he now lives.

Captain Howell was a man of ability and intelligence. He was also generous and just in his dealings. He is buried in the Riverton Cemetery, with a handsome stone and draped urn at the head of his grave.;, He left a considerable sum of money and property, but no doubt he might have amassed much more wealth had he been a sharper and taken advantage of the Natives in his dealings with them. He had a little grey horse called Tommy, of the old-fashioned breed that is unknown in these days. Tommy was never shod; the captain would mount him in the morning at Fairlight Station, and that, night would be in Riverton, a distance of 85 miles. Of course there were no roads, only grass tracks. When he stopped for dinner at James' "Aparima Inn" north of Otautau, and the ostler asked if he should feed Tommy, the captain would growl: "Feed him? What's the good of that? If you give him a feed now he'll want another to-morrow, won't he?" It must be remembered that the native grass was far more nutritious than the present-day pastures are. The horses of those days, "Maori horses" as they were sometimes called, were wonderfully hardy, spirited and enduring.

In 1868 Dr M'Cristal moved to Switzers and lived at Frenchman's Hill, practising with but indifferent success for five years. In Southland News for August 13, 1873, appeared the following:—"An 'Old Identity,' Dr M'Cristal—one of the earliest settlers in this part of the province died at Switzers on the 23rd ult., aged 50 years. His living so long is a puzzle to those who know that for the last 15 years at least he has been in the habit of taking drugs in quantities that would be considered fabulous if stated here. To this habit his death, it seems, was directlv attributable, an overdose of morphia having accelerated the effects of heart" disease, from which he was suffering. He held the reputation of being a skilful surgeon, and when free from the enthralling influence of his favourite medicine, was a welcome guest in manv social circles. It transpired at the inquest that his real name was Humphrey Peters, eldest son of Mr, John Peters, who is supposed to be residing at Effingham House, near Brighton, England."

In 1859 Dr J. H. Martin was living in Riverton, but we can hardly say that he was practising. Riverton had been for many years a whaling station, and the Maori population amounted to several hundred; it was also "the town" for the squatters and runholders who had taken up land between the Oreti and Waiau Rivers, and as far north as Captain Howell's Fairlight Station at Whakatipu. The doctor 'was an elderly man, probably between 60 and 70, and had come from Akaroa, where his wife had died some vears before. He was rather short and thickset, a pleasant, genial old gentleman, considered rather old-fashioned in regard to his profession, but much liked. He had two children, both nearly grown up. In 1860 the daughter, who was the elder, was married to Mr Wm. Aylmer. of Wairaki Station. There were "no news-' papers in existence in Southland until February 16. 1861, when the Southern News and Foveaux Strait's Herald was born; and in its first issue appears a notice, which proves that bv that time J. H. Martin. L.R.C.S., Edinburgh, had settled in nvactice at Invercarfill. On Aoril 24, 1861, he married at Maorirura', Mataura Plains. Agnes, second daughter of Watson, carpet and tartan manufacturer," Stirlingshire, Scotland, and moved into a new residence on the section at the rear of the sohoolhouse, Tav street. In May, 1865, the doctor returned to Riverton and practised there again. He was bonorarv surgeon to the Riverton Rifle Volunteers, and took an interest in t.W Riverton Public School. His son, George, had meantime taken to ioekeying n.s an occupation. He was verv short, and being a smart, active little fellow, got on well. He was under engagement to the Hill Brothers, of Croydon Station, when b° met with an accident which cost him a leg. The Hills had property and interests in Australia, and were notpd racing men. Their trainer at Crovdon Station was a half-caste Australian native. One morning he was using an axe to chop something in the stable vard, when bv some moans it flew out of his hand and struck George Martin, who was standing near, on the knee, im'uring it severely. Dr Monckton was sent for. and he amputated the leg. He was much blamed for this bv some people, as it was said to have been an unnecessary operation, ~and that with proper treatment the leg might have been saved. Dr Monckton had the reputation among many peonle of being "over fond" of operating. The amputation was, however, our informant, says, the very hest thing-that could have happened to George, as it put a stop to his career as a jockey. After a-time he entered the office nf the National, Mortgage and Agency Companv at- Invercargill, and . rose in course of time to the position of manager. Some time towards the end of the eighties he was finally promoted to the management of the Ghristchurch branch, and in that position remained until he retired from active business, a few years before his death. He married the second daughter of Mr M. Price, Invercargill's

first Resident Magistrate, appointed in 1861.

Dr James Martin, who must have been born early in the century, was educated at Edinburgh, and used to detail his experiences in the Anatomy Class of Dr Knox of that city. He was attending this class at the time of the fearful Burke and Hare murders, and Dr Knox was suspected of deliberate dealings with the scoundrels who smothered various persons in order to sell their bodies for ten pounds apiece to the Anatomy rooms. In addition to these crimes, they carried out "body snatching" to such an extent that it became necessary to keep watch over persons' graves for several weeks after burial. People began to disappear unaccountably, murder was suspected, but the police found themselves helpless, for the bodies of those who were missing were never found, until one day the corpse of a poor half-witted creature called "Daft Jamie" appeared upon Dr Knox's dissecting table and was recognised by the students. Careful inquiry in the Nether? bow Port, off the Grasemarket, where Jamie had lodged, implicated certain women, and through them the murderers were brought to justice, and eventually hanged. Dr Knox, whose establishment was a "Private Dissecting Room" licensed under the Anatomy Act of-1832, was not criminally implicated, although he received much opprobrium for the part he played in the matter. We have no means of ascertaining where Dr Martin practised before coming to Invercargill beyond the fact that he was some little time in Christchurch and Akaroa. He was very well liked, and was considered a good sport, and was popular with the up country squatters, a number of whom, including Mr Barnhill and Mr Matthew Holmes, of Castle Rock, clubbed together and sent home money for a very handsome gun to be presented to Dr Martin, but before the gun arrived the doctor died at Wairaki in the Takitimos district. Here he had retired to the Aylmer Brothers' station, William Alymer being married to his only daughter. In the Southland News, July 9, 1867, appears the f ollowing: —-Our Riverton correspondent sends us the following account of the funeral .of the late Dr James Martin. "The remains of this much respected gentleman, who for many years was a practitioner here, and of late held the position of honorary surgeon to the Volunteer Corps, were interred in the cemetery on Thursday last. The cortege left his late residence in Palmerston street at 2 p.m. On arriving at the grave the volunteers formed on one side. . The funeral service was read by the Rev. W. Oldham, and three volleys wetb fired over the grave, this being the greatest mark of respect that could be paid to a deceased member of the corps. Dr Martin was much resoected by all the inhabitants of this town and the surrounding districts, and his death is regretted by all who knew him." In the Southland News of January 25, 1868, it was stated: "A very handsome tombstone has been placed over the grave of the late Dr Martin in the Riverton Cemetery. It bears the following inscription:—'Erected as a mark of esteem and respect by the members of the Riverton Rifle Volunteer Corps, to which deceased was honorary surgeon.' "