MEDICAL PRACTICE IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND IN THE EARLY DAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 53

MEDICAL PRACTICE IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND IN THE EARLY DAYS.

By

RUBKRT VALPY FULTON, M.D

LXIII.— HOCKEN THE HISTORIAN. (Continued.) Reference has been made to Dr Hocken’s endeavours to promote good fellowship among his professional brethren, but lie went further than that, he always tried his best to lend a helping hand to a younger man when in doubt or difficulty. If any one of the profession were in trouble with a serious case, some knotty point of a medico-legal nature, Hocken was the man he was at once referred to for guidance in clearing up the doubts or avoidance of the many pitfalls of practice. Hocken was the “guide, philosopher and friend’’ to whom all awkward problems were taken for solution. “Go and have a chat with Judge Watson,” he would say, “put the facts before him,” or “just pop in and tell Mr Barstow or Mr Entychus, the Magistrate, what you have done, and ask his advice.” “Just have five minutes with the Inspector of Police; give him your notes and data, and he will settle it for you, and tell you what to do.” “Keep your mouth closed, take careful notes of all you see and hear, and in the meantime do nothing—this is not your business.” ! Out of his many years’ experience as a coroner, he had acquired a vast store of medicolegal knowledge and knew at once what was the wisest course to pursue, what should be done, all the laws of evidence, etc., and was not afraid to give a positive opinion. After a talk with Hocken and a following of his advice in going to the head or administrators of the law, or to another senior medical practitioner, a man felt much relieved and knew that he had done all that could be done. In many cases the following of a straightforward course such as indicated saved the younger practitioner from meddling with matters which did not concern him, from making criminal accusations against persons which he could not prove no matter what he suspected, and undoubtedely saved him from landing himself in an extremely unpleasant predicament. On any little ethical point one could always be sure of a safe opinion from Hocken. If a difference threatened with another man and a breach were imminent, Hocken would talk with each in turn, hear both sides, argue out all points, show the one in the wrong where the mistake lay, and gradually bring him to his friend.- Many the petty squabble and possibly serious quarrel did his kindly, genial, good nature and highly developed sense of humour thus lightly brush aside. His magical personality and absolute friendliness to all was very marked. Never before or .since has there been one to whom the younger doctor could so readily anneal, and we question whether in any of the professions has there been one of the older practitioners to whom the young man with the “new bag,” whetbef containing Bible, brief or bandages would so readily .go for advice. With all Dr Hocken’s good nature and kindliness he was keenly sensitive and not a -little touchy. Probably on account of his stature he was quick to resent ridicule, possibly seeing it or fearing- it when it was not the least intended. As a matter of fact, he was so well liked and respected for his upright conduct, his courtesy and true manliness that few persons would ever have dreamed of ridiculing him, and his actual stature or height did not strike one at all ; his mental personality dominated everything. Two stories show this. one emphasising how, in his young days, hi:; sense of humour predominated ; the other b in later years he was perhaps more afraid of ridicule than he need have been. Sometime in the middle sixties, Clarence Holt came to Dunedin on one of his famous tours, and having been well acquainted in Melbourne with Dr Alexander Hunter was interested to /hear that ho was in practice in the city, and at once foregathered with his former “crony.” Hunter, as has been mentioned, was a great “theatrical” follower, “and in the course of conversation with Dolt, who was a friend of Hoekens, mentioned that there had been p slight “difference” him and Hocken over a consultation. Hocken was most punctilious in always doing the strictly correct and upright thing, and Hunter, who was inclined to be brusque and easy going, “a go-as-you-please” sort of fellow, had no doubt infringed some little point of etiquette. Be this as it may the two men were barely on sneaking terms, a position which at that time was well nigh intolerable and most undignified, and had come to be common talk in the club, the theatre, and the public street. Mr Holt -and Tom Fawcett saw the kev to the situation and a burlesque was arranged called “the Long and the Short of it.” Father Miss Mabel Holt, little May we think she was called, or Miss Ellen TTolt. was to take the part of Hocken and Wilmot that of Hunter. We cannot find the actual programme from the “dailv papers,” but think it was in 1865 or 18f-6. if anyone would like to hunt up the back files. The story ones that Hocken got wind of it, and being a thoroughly good snort was determined not to be out of it. Tic hied him to the theatre, went round to the back, and sent in his card to Miss Holt in the approved fashion, and was ushered into the “green room,” or to whatever part of the premises the young “knuts” were admitted. Here lie had to kick his heds until Miss TTolt sent for him into her “dressing room.” When he was shown in be said at once, “Well Miss Holt, I understand you wish to burlesque me; may I sit down? T bave come to give - on as much assistance as T can. Now will you endeavour to make yourself up as carefully as possible, and if there are

any clothes or properties I can lend you, pray mention them, and we will send round at once to my rooms for them! ’ ’ When long Hunter, with his Dundreary whiskers sw'ag.gered on to the stage the people literally yelled with laughter; when little Dx Hocken toddled forward to the footlights (the*good little sport had most carefully instructed Miss Holt as to his walk, mannerisms and movements), the house, which was packed, fairly rocked with laughter; but when Dr Hocken came forward in the box, which he had taken, and sat well out in front, one Hocken above and his identical counterpart below, the roof fairly cam© off. Many who knew the doctor as the grave, polite, sober-minded man of middle age can hardly picture him in this mischevious mood, but those of us who knew him intimately, and remember what a store of good humour, what ,a treasure-house of excellent yarns he could draw from, can well imagine him at his best as he evidently was upon that memorable occasion. The next story depicts him, dignified and perhqps a little fussy as well becomes a fond and happy father of middle-age. It was in the eighties, and Baby Shows had,-for the first time, become fashionable in Dunedin. The late Dr Sangrado, mentioned in the last article, was the judge, and he, in his rather pompous way announced in a very haw-haw style that the “winnah” of the first- prize, the “mother” of the magnificent girl of 13 pounds weight was Mrs er-er-cr Hawken, drawling out the name as much as possible to sound like Hocken, though it was, in reality, Hawkins. Sangrado had always an eye for a practical joke, if possible, and knowing that Hocken was the father of a fine three months old girl, found this event which was open to children of three months of age too good a chance to be missed! ! ! A few whispered asides to the reporter about our distinguished fellow townsman, etc., fairly clinched the matter. The tale goes (though we do not know if it was in print, for we cannot find it), that the newspaper announced : —“lt gives us great pleasure to announce that the event of the day, the prize for the finest child under tnree months of. age, was awarded by Dr -Sangrado (a judge of infants of many year’s’ experience), to Mrs T. Hocken, the wife of our esteemed fellow townsman, etc. Needless to say there “were wigs on the green” next morning, Sangrado protesting that he had adjudged the winning infant to belong to Sirs Isidore Hawkins, who had by this time, put in a frenzied claim for recognition, and that it was entirely the fault of the extremely careless reporters, etc. Mutual friends managed to square up the little breach. Dr Hocken saw the humour of the situation, and the two doctors became quite good friends again. Dr Hocken was an enthusiastic botanist, and particularly interested in the more uncommon plants which were natives of the country, his garden contained many rare specimens and he delighted to show his treasures to anyone with a like bent ol mind. He was a fellow of the Lunuean Society, and had he lived would, we feel sure, have been one of the first elected Fellows of the New Zealand Institute. For many years he was one of the mom regular attendants of the local Philosophical Institute, and was for nearly half a century upon the council. He could always be relied upon to say something interesting upon any subject which came before the society, and in matters connected with Ethnology and Early History of New Zealand, he was facile princeps. His home was a veritable store of treasures, from the hirst CTiuich original bell which gave its name to the hill, which at one time overlooked the bay, to the latest published book on New Zealand, from the rarest genuine greenstone tiki, the finest carved taiaha to the proofs of his most recent article on Early History of the Province. His house was crammed full of historical relics; where thev were stored we cannot conceive, when we think of the amount transferred to the Hocken Library. He was always busy, open books, paper clippings, waste paper basket, scissors and paste, yet one was always welcome, always met with a smile. “Well, Wilson, come in! come in !” a hearty handshake, a. winning smile, “My dear, here is Mr Wilkinson; have you a cup of tea?” And Mrs Hocken’s delightful hospitality was always immediately forthcoming. His old wooden house in excellent preservation has only recently been demolished to make room for the Soldiers’ Club in Moray place; his curious little glass windowed side entrance for patients besides what was for many years the C-offee Jl’alace ; his stable at the back where his cream pony Tommy had smile, “My dear, here is Mr Wilson; a home for many years. There were also in the garden a. little greenhouse, a. cherry tree, a very old pear tree with fruit in later years only to- be described as stones, a Karafta, a Kowhai (still remaining), a fine grass tree, and a cabbage tree. These were among the beautiful natural objects which had to be swept away before the relentless march of time. We admire the splendid building which has replaced this ancient residence, but we deplore the mistakes which have been made in General Bird-wood’s titles, and we urge the authorities to spend a few shillings in having the foundation stone inscription attended to at once. We wrote per favour of “Givis’ Passing Notes,” when the inscription first saw the light of day, and pointed out that to depict a famous General as G.C.M.G., K.C.M.G., C.M.G., G.C.8., K.C.8., C. 8., etc., is if anything a little worse than giving General Sir William Birdwood all of his military titles from General right clown to that of Subaltern. W-e can picture Dr Hocken’s amusement and protest at such a bungle as G.G.M.G., K.C.M.G., verb sap. During the last year of his life it was arranged that Conned meetings of the Otago Institute should be held in Dr Hocken’s house; this wa.s welcomed by members as it gave them the great privilege of retaining his attendance and of availing themselves of his great experience

and knowledge Of all matters pertaining to the Philosopical iSoercty. Of the active working members of the Otago Institute, he was undoubtedly the doyen. We hope the little stories we have told in good faith, will b-e understood and accepted by the friends and relations of the late Dr Hocken in the spirit in which they have been written. Dr Hocken was an intimate and well-loved friend of the writer, and of his parents and grand parents, and no one would bo more distressed than he if anything in the way of offence were given in this article, which he has written with the kindliest feelings towards the little doctor. He visited him several times when on his death bed, and was struck with the fact that even within a few weeks of his death, he was bright and cheerful although suffering great pain. The last sad impression left of him was of a good tempered, courteous gentleman, an honour to the profession, a time Christian Philosopher and a faithful and steadfast friend. Hocken died as he had lived, beloved by everybody, there need be no monument for the generations who knew him to keep fresh the memory of Hocken the Historian.

(To- be Continued.)