MEDICAL SERVICES
Best, Dr Robert Moore  Biography: (1877 - married Ann McBride Claims: graduated in medicine at Trinity College, Dublin served as a medical officer in the Boer War practiced in Nottingham and in Hampshire. He came to Winnipeg, in 1911 (General Hospital). In 1918 he went into partnership with Dr. Little in Killarney. Noted as a diagnostician, but being long-sighted he did no surgery himself. Probable Significance: Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.64 From the Local History Sources... Dr. Robert Moore Best was born in Northern Ireland in 1877, graduated in medicine at Trinity College, Dublin and served as a medical officer in the Boer War. Returning to England, he practised in Nottingham and in Hampshire, married Ann McBride and started a family. He came to Canada in 1911 and established a general practice in Winnipeg, where he was on the staff of the General Hospital. But he disliked city life, having been brought up on the farm, so in 1918 he went into part- nership with Dr. Little in Killarney. Together they experienced the stresses and sorrows of the influenza epidemic during which they were both on the road almost continuously for weeks on end, often unable to bring more than sympathy to sorrowing families. Dr. Little's tragic death was a great shock to him. For a time he and Dr. Duxbury had their offices in the same building, though not strictly in partnership; later Dr. Best established his office in the same building as Richards' Drug Store. For a short period (1935-36) he was joined in practice by his son Dr. Brian Desmond Best (MD 1934) who later did postgraduate work in Britain and became a leading obstetrician and gynaecologist in Winnipeg. Dr. Best was noted as a diagnostician, but being long-sighted he did no surgery himself. In the days before the hospital, surgical cases were referred to Brandon or Winnipeg, or consulting surgeons would come and operate in the patient's home. Christian, Thomas Biography: Claims: Dentist. Settled in the Tisdale District in the 1880's. He had apprenticed with a pharmacist in Britain and had acquired some experience in dentistry. The instruments he used are displayed in the J .A. V. David Museum. Probable Significance: Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p. 63 Church, Mary Biography: (1847 – 1915) m. Robert Church (1845 – 1915) Claims: Midwife. Probable Significance: Modest Source: Trails & Crossroads to Killarney p. 218 / Reflections p. Highlights from Local Histories Mary Church was known throughout the area as a midwife and travelled many miles to minister to the sick, often without the aid of a doctor. Duxbury, Dr. James Biography: England. (1873 – 1961) In 1910 he married Lucy Jean Clendenning Claims: Physician and surgeon In 1912, he moved to Killarney in 1912. In 1915, he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and served with the 2nd Reserve Battalion, 16th Reserve Battalion, and the Moore Barracks Hospital in France, also doing X-Ray work at the No. 2 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. He served at the Tuxedo Military Hospital at Winnipeg before being discharged in July 1919. He resumed his medical practice at Killarney for 36 years until retirement in 1945. Served as a Coroner for Manitoba and Medical Health Officer for the Rural Municipality of Turtle Mountain. Probable Significance: Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p. From the Local History Sources... Born at Lancashire, England in 1873, son of Thomas Duxbury and Betty Ward, his family came to Manitoba in 1887 and settled on a farm at Elkhorn. He attended Brandon College and the University of Manitoba, graduating with a medical degree from the latter in 1905. He practiced at Elm Creek for three years then did postgraduate work in Chicago in 1908 then three years at Winnipeg. In 1912, he moved to Killarney. In June 1915, he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, joining the 226th Battalion and going overseas as the Regimental Medical Officer. He served with the 2nd Reserve Battalion, 16th Reserve Battalion, and the Moore Barracks Hospital in France, also doing X-Ray work at the No. 2 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. He returned to Canada and served at the Tuxedo Military Hospital at Winnipeg before being discharged in July 1919. He resumed his medical practice at Killarney, forming a partnership in 1921, and practicing for 36 years until retirement in 1945. During this time, he was a member of the British, Canadian and Manitoba Medical Associations, and he served as a Coroner for Manitoba and Medical Health Officer for the Rural Municipality of Turtle Mountain. On 12 January 1910, he married Lucy Jean Clendenning. They had two sons and three daughters: Morley Duxbury, Norman Duxbury, Marian Duxbury (wife of W. Kenney), Warda Duxbury (wife of J. Lamblin), and Doris Duxbury. His recreations included curling and golf. He died at his Winnipeg home, 59 Worthington Avenue, on 26 November 1961 and was buried in Carman Cemetery Fawcett, Dr. John Biography: ( - 1916) Claims: First doctor known to have settled in Killarney. Graduated with a BA from Victoria University (Toronto) in 1881. Came to Winnipeg as a school principal. Helped press the government and the medical profession to establish a medical school. November 1883 he enrolled. In 1884 he joined the faculty as instructor in chemistry. Graduated in 1886 and was the second of that group to be registered in Manitoba. In Killarney in 1887 – ca. 1889). Probable Significance: Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p. 63 From the Local History Sources... Dr. John Fawcett* was the first doctor known to have settled in Killarney. He was graduated with a BA from Victoria University (Toronto) in 1881 and came to Winnipeg as a school principal. He became a leader in the group of young men who were pressing the government and the medical profession to establish a medical school; when it opened in November 1883 he enrolled, but managed to continue his teaching as well. In 1884 he joined the faculty as instructor in chemistry, and in spite of this extra burden he completed his course and graduated with the first class in 1886 and was the second of that group to be registered in Manitoba. He is known to have been in Killarney in 1887 but evidently did not stay long as he was in St. lohn's N.D. in 1890 and from there moved on to Oregon, where he died in 1916. Finlayson, Catherine Biography: Catherine Finlayson was the second white woman in the district. She was doctor and nurse combined for some years in the Victoria Lake district. Claims: Modest Probable Significance: Source: Trails & Crossroads to Killarney p. 237 / Reflections p. Little, Dr. Calvin Biography: D. 1920 (Accidentally) Married Irene Smaill Claims: Arrived in Killarney in 1906. Coroner in 1912. Served the community single-handed through the early years of the war, and exhausted himself during the influenza epidemic when he was said to have been out of his bed for one continuous three week period. Probable Significance: Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p. 63 From the Local History Sources... Dr. John Calvin Little was the first doctor to work out his regrettably short life span in Killarney. He almost certainly graduated from an Eastern University, arrived in Killarney in 1906 and later married Irene, daughter of Mr. l.W. Smaill* a local businessman. He became coroner in 1912, succeeding Dr. McKee. Dr. Little was a much beloved physician who served the community single-handed through the early years of the war, and exhausted himself during the influenza epidemic when he was said to have been out of his bed for one continuous three week period. Later he was enjoying a well-earned holiday in Winnipeg, preparing for a trip west, when he was killed in an accidental fall from a fire escape at the Royal Alexandra Hotel. Paterson, Dr. James Alic Biography: b. Ontario 1865 Claims: In July 1890, he started a medical practice at Killarney, Manitoba. He was also Health Officer for the municipality and a coroner for the province of Manitoba. Probable Significance: Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p. 63 From the Local History Sources... James Alic Paterson - Physician. Born at Port Elgin, Ontario on 16 April 1865, son of Dr. James R. and Constance Paterson of Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He was educated in the public schools of Tiverton, Walkerton High School and Queen’s University. He graduated in medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in May 1889 then he practiced with his father at Port Elgin for one year. In July 1890, he started a medical practice at Killarney, Manitoba. He was also Health Officer for the municipality and a coroner for the province of Manitoba. He was a member of the AF & AM, IOOF, COF, and Presbyterian Church. Rogers. Dr. I .M. Biography: Claims: Dentist. First professional dentist in the district. Was in Cartwright some time in the 1890's and in Killarney at least until 1905. Probable Significance: Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p. 63 Tweed, Dr. Dr. William Errington Biography: (1855 Lucknow, Ontario – 1915) Claims: Dentist. Settled in Morden about 1900. Travelled by train to work in Crystal City and Killarney. When his practice in Killarney increased, he moved here in 1907 and combined his dental work with buying and selling Probable Significance: Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p. Whyte, Dr. James Thomson Biography: Claims: Graduated from McGill University in 1893 and came to Killarney in 1894. Established the second drug store in Killarney in 1901. Also traded in horses. Moved to Winnipeg in 1906 and went into partnership with Dr. Thomas Beath, formerly of Ninga and Boissevain. They were among the group of doctors who founded the Victoria Hospital. Probable Significance: Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p. 63 From the Local History Sources... Dr. James Thomson Whyte graduated from McGill University in 1893 and came to Killarney in 1894, then moved briefly to Wawanesa and returned to Killarney in 1895. He established the second drug store in Killarney in 1901 and seems to have retained ownership of it until 1912, though he probably moved to Winnipeg in 1908. There he went into partnership with Dr. Thomas Beath, formerly of Ninga and Boissevain. They were among the group of doctors who founded the Victoria Hospital. Whyte used to bring in carloads of broncos. Neill Waldon tells the story of his father, one of the first veterinarians in the district breaking a team of broncs. He had his friend, Dr. Whyte, helping him hitch the team to a buggy. They tied one horse to a ring on the side of the barn and the other horse to the clothes line pole. Dr Waldon got into the buggy, asked his friend to untie the horses and jump into the back of the rig. Dr Whyte untied the horse from the barn but forgot to do the same on the other side; jumped into the buggy and was promptly caught under the chin by the clothesline and left the flying rig while Dr Waldon was seen disappearing across the prairie. These incidents were often seen as many horses were raised and not touched by human hands until full grown. Other Doctors: Dr. Harris – Englishman – her a short while. Dr. Patterson – From Scotland – like most doctors, made house calls, delivered babies. |