The doctors
Dr George Mitchell
George Mitchell was the surgeon-superintendent on the 1850 voyage of the Emigrant. After attending to patients day and night for the duration of the voyage, he fell ill with typhus as the barque entered Moreton Bay. Dr Mitchell struggled with the illness for about 6 weeks, dying at the quarantine ground on 19 August 1850. He is buried in the Dunwich cemetery on Stradbroke Island. Below is a brief timeline of his life.
Late 1825: George Mitchell born in Clady Beg, Market Hill, County Armagh, Ireland. George was the son of flax farmers Alexander Mitchell and Jane Mitchell (nee McMullan). He had several younger siblings, all born in County Armagh: William (baptised 6 Apr 1837), Prudence (baptised 24 Oct 1839), Alexander (born 20 Jul 1843), and Rachel (bapt 12 Dec 1845 ).
1842: George attended the Belfast Academical Institution, studying medicine
1843: George studied medicine at the Dublin University
1844-1846: George studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. His subjects and lecturers were as follows:
1844-45:
Theory of medicine: Dr Thomson
Chemistry: Dr Gregory
Natural history: Professor Jameson
Clinical surgery: Prof Lyme
Practical anatomy: Dr Monro
Demonstrations: Mr Goodsir
Hospital: infirmary
1845-46:
Practice of Medicine: Dr Alison
Materia Medica: Dr Christison
Pathology: Dr Henderson
Clinical Medicine: Drs Alison and Christison
Hospital
Botany: Dr Balfour
Medical Jurisprudence: Dr Traill
1846: George received his qualifications as a surgeon. His final thesis was on tetanus
Between 1846 and 1850: according to Dr Ballow, Dr Mitchell worked in the following engagements:
London Fever Hospital (for about a year)
Assistant surgeon in the conveyance of troops for the British East India Company to India
Surgeon-superintendent on the voyage of the ship Osprey to Geelong, Victoria, arriving March 1849.
1850, 3 April: George's father died
1850, 17 April: George set off as surgeon-superintendent on the Emigrant
1850,c early August: George Mitchell fell ill with typhus
1850: 19 September: George Mitchell died of typhus at the quarantine station at Dunwich. Captain Kemp spoke very highly of Dr Mitchell's competence, kindness and hard work, and an inquiry into the outbreak of typhus found no fault in Dr Mitchell's practices. He was buried at Dunwich cemetery, Stradbroke Island.
10 South College St, Edinburgh, in 2017. George Mitchell lived here while he was studying medicine 1844-1846.
Dr George Mitchell’s grave in the cemetery at Dunwich, Stradbroke Island.
Dr Patrick Walsh Mallon
Dr Patrick Walsh Mallon was an Irish-born doctor who had moved to Brisbane from Maitland in early 1849. He was recently widowed and had two small children when he came to Moreton Bay. When the Emigrant arrived and it became clear that her surgeon-superintendent was too ill to attend to the patients in quarantine, Dr Mallon volunteered to assist him. He fell ill within days of arriving at the quarantine station and Dr Ballow came to his aid. Dr Mallon recovered quickly and worked side-by-side with Dr Ballow until Ballow's death, after which time he managed the quarantine hospital alone. He was in the quarantine station for the entire period of quarantine. After the ordeal was over, a warm letter of thanks by the immigrants, along with Dr Mallon's heartfelt response, was published in the Moreton Bay Courier.
Below is a timeline of his life:
1806 or 1807: born in Dungannon County Tyrone, Ireland, to parents Arthur and Jane Mallon (nee Walsh)
1828: qualified with LRCS and LM at Edinburgh
c1830: emigrated to NSW
1834: living at Green Hills
1836: married Catherine Ann Irvine at Maitland 25 Jan 1836 at Church of England
1836-1842: purchased land in Maitland
1840, Nov: Attended Meeting of the Auxiliary Catholic Institute of Hunter River which was called after magistrate Thomas Cook affixed a notice to the Dungog Court House door stating that none but Protestants need apply for the position of constable: Note very bigoted response (against Catholics) in paper
1841, March: Intending to return tor, advertises to sell by auction 45 building allotments and a terrace of cottages known as Ranfurly Tce
1842, Feb: Patient John Redman died after being bled by Dr Mallon'
1843: Jan. The Maitland Benevolent Asylum was opened by the Maitland Benevolent Society for the reception of patients on 1 January 1843. Its objects were 'to afford an asylum to the sick and destitute, and to disperse medicine gratis to the poor'. The first sub-committee comprised Rev. G.K. Rusden, Rev. E. Mahony, Rev. W. Clarke, Dr. A. Liddle and Dr. P.W. Mallon.
1843: Birth of Arthur Wentworth Mallon
1843: Insolvent
1844, July: Let out his home and moved to Sydney
1845, c25 May: His wife Catherine died after giving birth to a daughter, Catherine Mary
1845: Sept 'MR. P. W. MALLON, Surgeon, has removed from Clarence-street, to 70, George-street South, opposite the New Church. September 26.' (SMH 27 Sept 1845, p.1)
1846: Chair of Irish festival
1847, Oct: moved to Elizabeth St North
1847, Oct: his house was robbed
1848, May: Left for Otago with his son
1849, Feb: Returned to Sydney with his son from NZ via Hong Kong
1849, 5 April: Left Sydney for Moreton Bay on the Champion
1849, May: Mallon engaged by Strangers Home Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
1849, June: Conducted inquest on murder victim (MBC 23 June 1849, p.2 & SMH 24 Aug 1849, p.3)
1849, 16 Aug: left Moreton Bay on the Eagle, arrived in Sydney 19 Aug: MMHRGA 22 Aug 1849 p.3
1849: Sept 6 travelled back from Sydney to Moreton Bay on the 'Eagle'; arrived back 10 Sept.
1850: Jan - Mallon elected to Committee of Moreton Bay Hospital
1850: Feb - taken to court by Edward Mott in dispute over payment; court gave judgement for plaintiff and ordered Mallon to pay
1850, 14 August: went to Dunwich quarantine station to care for the patients stricken with typhus; fell ill after a few days but recovered quickly.
1850, 23 Nov: a letter of thanks from the immigrants to Dr Mallon was published in the MBC with his reply.
1850, 29 Nov: returned with the last of the immigrants to Brisbane.
1851: On Tamar for Sydney dep. Moreton Bay 19 March 1851 ; arrived 22 March
1851: Mallon took Mr Meehan to court for money owed to him for attending his son at an inn at Drayton. The case was held in the Supreme Court in Sydney
1851, Dec: Mallon was practising back in Morpeth 1852, Feb: East Maitland- Catherine Cody in service to Dr. Mallon; Mallon believed she had been pregnant and disposed of the infant. After investigation by the coroner it was found that he was mistaken (the bones and hair found in his WC were of a cat) (MMHRGA 14 Feb 1852, p.2)
1852: Forfeited a deposit on the purchase of land at Dungog
1854: Married Elizabeth Wright: 17 Jan 1854 at Dungog
1855: Birth of Olivia: Born 31 Jan, christened at Dungog on 20 May
1856: Birth of Jane at Dungog
1857: Death of Jane Mallon at Dungog, aged 11 months
1857: Birth of Patrick L at Dungog
1857: Nov: Public meeting in support of magistrate allegedly maligned in court (MMHRGA 21 Nov 1857 p.7S)
1859: birth of Charles Henry at Port Stephens
1859: Lectures in Stroud: on Temperance (SMH 6 Jan 1859 p. 3) and Physiology (SMH 24 Oct 1859 p.3)
1860: Lecture on optics (SMH 2 July 1860, p.5)
1860: birth of Eliza Susan registered at Port Stephens
1860 (Oct): was Medical attendant at new Port Stephens hospital
1861: Appointed magistrate at Stroud in April (MMHRGA 4 May 1861 p.7S)
1862: Birth of Theresa in Port Stephens (BDM) [Frances Theresa according to her marriage notice in SMH of 27 July 1895]
1864: Birth of Thomas in Port Stephens (BDM) [Thomas Bailey according to Patrick's death cert]
1864, March: offered vice presidency but refused - of Stroud School of Arts. Elected to committee (MMHRGA 10 March 1864 p2)
1865, Feb:Charged for wilfully killing and slaying one Mrs. Hill and child, wilful neglect, and unskilful treatment. (MMHRGA 4 Feb 1865 p.3)
1866: Resumed practice in Sydney
1866: Birth of Mary in Sydney (BDM)
1867: Death of Mary in Sydney (BDM)
1869: Birth of Mary in Sydney (BDM) [Mary Veronica married 1894]
1870: Living at 105 Parramatta St, Sydney (Sands Directory)
1873: Birth of Walter Walsh in Sydney (died 1875)
1873, Feb: Death of youngest son Walter
1880-1883: Living in Isabella St, Camperdown (Sands Directory)
1883: 6 April: Died in Camperdown of cystitis and old age (had been sick 18 months). Death notice in SMH 7 April 1883 p.1
Dr David Keith Ballow
Dr David Keith Ballow was the Acting Health Officer for Moreton Bay when the Emigrant arrived in 1850. He boarded the vessel on 10 August and received Dr Mitchell's grim report about the typhus outbreak, and recommended that the barque be diverted to the quarantine station at Dunwich. With Captain Wickham's help, Dr Ballow arranged for Dr Mallon to take over care of the patients from the ship's surgeon, who by then was stricken with typhus. When Dr Mallon fell ill a few days later, no other doctor in Moreton Bay was willing to come to his aid. Dr Ballow reluctantly stepped in to help. He took up his post at Dunwich on 23 or 24 August (different accounts give different dates) and took charge of the station. Dr Mallon recovered quickly from the illness and the pair worked together until Dr Ballow fell ill in late September. Dr Ballow's decline was swift. He died from typhus on 29 September, 1850, and is buried beside Dr Mitchell in the historic cemetery at Dunwich.
Scottish-born Dr Ballow was an important pioneer of Brisbane. He had come to Moreton Bay as Assistant Colonial Surgeon when it was a convict settlement, and stayed on when the penal establishment closed in 1842. He was the first resident surgeon of the Moreton Bay General Hospital and was a significant contributor to Brisbane, being involved in medicine, the Justice system, education, horticulture, the arts and the church.
Dr Ballow was described as a 'rather good looking, jolly, Scotsman from Edinburgh', and his wife, Margaret as 'dark, pretty and very pleasant'.[McConnel, Mary (1905). Memories of days long gone by. M. McConnel, Brisbane.]
In 1842, Dr Ballow's sister Marjory followed him to Moreton Bay, where she married Deputy Assistant Commissary General John Kent.
TIMELINE
1804: David Keith Ballow born 27 October in Montrose, Scotland, the eldest son of John and Marjory (nee Sparks)
by 1811: the Ballow family was living in Leith, Scotland
1832: Awarded licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
c1834: Emigrated to Australia
1836: Medical clerk in Sydney and District Surgeon in Invermein (Scone)
1837: Married Margaret Campbell McArthur in Sydney, 21 October
1837: Appointed Assistant Surgeon in Sydney
1838: Arrived Moreton Bay on the Isabella, as Colonial Assistant Surgeon
1839-1842: the convict settlement at Moreton Bay began winding down its operations. Moreton Bay was opened to free settlement in 1842.
1848: Appointed District Coroner (after having worked as unofficial coroner for years) & Magistrate.
1849: Appointed to Immigration Board & building committee for a new church & Resident Surgeon of Moreton Bay General Hospital
1850: The barque Emigrant arrived in Moreton Bay, carrying typhus. Dr Ballow went to help at the quarantine station after the ship’s surgeon and then his replacement, Dr P.W. Mallon, fell ill. Dr Ballow fell ill in September. His case was thought to be mild at first, but his condition rapidly worsened. Dr Ballow died on 29 September.
POSITIONS
Dr Ballow was highly respected for his skill and his contribution to public life. By 1850, he held these positions:
Resident surgeon of Moreton Bay General Hospital
Acting Health Officer for Moreton Bay
Visiting surgeon to the gaol
District Coroner
Member of Bench of Magistrate
Member of the Immigration Board
Member of the Moreton Bay Sugar Company Committee
Member of the Moreton Bay School of Arts Committee
Member of the local board of inspection for Episcopal school
Trustee for the Church of England, Brisbane and member of the building committee to build a new church.
The Shore, Leith (where Dr Ballow spent his childhood). The Ballow family lived in number 80. The building no longer exists.
Dr Ballow’s grave at the Dunwich cemetery, Stradbroke Island.
Dr Frederick James Barton
English-born Dr Frederick James Barton was living in Sydney when he agreed to assist Dr Mallon at the Quarantine Station at Dunwich after Dr Ballow's death. By the time he arrived, however, the disease had all but died out and the quarantine period was almost at an end. Dr Barton was only 25 years old - the same age as the late Dr Mitchell. He had been contracted to work for two months at Moreton Bay but ended up staying there for the rest of his short life. According to Dr Barton's obituary in the Courier (3 Sept, 1863, p.2), he was ‘one of the most modest and unassuming men who ever filled a public office…benevolent almost to a fault, kind in his demeanor, a thorough gentleman in his deportment, an ardent student, a loving husband, an excellent father, and an ever faithful friend, the Iate House Surgeon of the Brisbane Hospital had claims upon our esteem and respect which few could hope to equal, and none could hope to surpass.’
1825: Born 16 August, 1825 at Rotherhithe, Surrey; Parents John Barton and Elizabeth nee Beck1827.
1827: Baptised 30 Oct at the parish of St Mary, Rotherhithe, Surrey, by Thomas Beck, Protestant Dissenting minister, at Bury Street, Surrey.
1847: Received his membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England on 20 December 1847. His address was at Peckham, Surrey
1848: Emigrated – on ‘Waverly’. Left Plymouth in Sept 1848, arr. Port Jackson 20 Dec 1848.
1850: Legally qualified to practise in NSW - by NSW Medical Board 2 July 1850 announced in Govt Gazette 12
1850, Oct: Arrived in Brisbane on the Eagle 18 Oct 1850 to work at the quarantine station at Dunwich
1851: After Dr Ballow's death he was elected House Surgeon at Brisbane Hospital by the committee in Jan 1851
1853: Appointed treasurer of committee for establishment of an exchange room
1853?: He bought Ambrose Eldridge’s business as chemist and druggist
1855: Jan: Re-elected House Surgeon at Brisbane Hospital
1855: Married Susan Warry
1855: Sold the chemist business to his brother-in-law, Richard Warry
1857: Birth of Florence
1859: Birth of Amy Symes
1859: Honorary secretary of QLD Philosophical Society, which he had founded
1861: Birth of Paul 2 April; Paul died same year.
1861: Appointed Meteorological Observer for QLD Govt (previously gave lectures on QLD’s climate)LD
1862:Birth of Elizabeth Ella (18 June)
1863: Got sick with ‘consumption’ early in year; Died 30 Aug; buried 31 Aug in C of E burial ground
1864: 23 Feb: Dr Barton's brother Albert died in Brisbane
1867: Dr Barton's widow Susan married Dr Hugh Bell in Brisbane
1903: Susan Bell/Barton/Warry die
1913: Dr Barton was reinterred at Toowong 7 May 1913.
Dr Kearsey Cannan
English-born Kearsey Cannan acted as Health Officer in Moreton Bay while Dr Ballow was attending the quarantine station at Dunwich, and he conducted the enquiry into the typhus outbreak. While investigating the outbreak he camped at Bird Island rather than risk exposure to the disease by staying on Stradbroke Island. Having settled in Moreton Bay in 1843, Dr Cannan became the first official private practitioner in Brisbane. He was well-known for being hard-working, altruistic, popular and ‘reasonably competent’. Much more detail can be found in the Australian Dictionary of Biography and the Australian Medical Pioneers’ Index.
Dr Kearsey Cannan. Image source: State Library of QLD, 79520.
TIMELINE
1815: Born in London – or Kent (according to obituary)
1830s:Apprenticed to Dr Wildash of Kent
1837: Took his MRCS, Sydney, back to NZ
1840: Arrived in Sydney, visited New Zealand and returned to Sydney
1841: First registered to practise in Australia
1842: Married Mary Elizabeth Siddins in Sydney (SMH 11 July 1842)
1843: Had baby girl 6 May, in Sydney: Mary Cannan
1843: Moved to Moreton Bay
1844: Daughter Mary died, aged 1 yr 7 months
1845, 7 Jan: son John K Cannan born
1846,9 Sept: Daughter Mary Elizabeth Cannan born
1848, 26 Sept: Son Kearsey Cannan born 26 Sept
1848: When Govt support for hospital ceased, Cannan was an active campaigner for the establishment of a 'free' institution (with Dr Ballow); when the hospital was properly established that year he became a visiting surgeon
1849: Applied for appointment as Surgeon Moreton Bay Gaol; rejected because ‘Mr Ballow has superior claim to appointment’
1850: Dr Cannan was a member of the board of inquiry which paid visits to the Emigrant in quarantine at Dunwich. In the following years he held several part-time official posts: public vaccinator, medical officer to the gaol, member and later president of the Medical Board and coroner.
1850. Oct: Resubmitted application for position as Visiting Surgeon Brisbane Gaol in position left vacant by Ballow’s death – succeeded this time
1851: Daughter Katherine Lizzy Cannan born 19 Feb
1853,Oct: appointed coroner for district of Brisbane
1861: Appointed surgeon of the Brisbane contingent of the Queensland Volunteer Rifle Brigade
1863: Appointed member of the Immigration Board
1863: Criticism of his ‘discourtesy’ to the Press in the paper
1864: A lunatic asylum was established at Woogaroo (Goodna) & Dr Cannan was appointed its first full-time medical superintendent.
1865: Acting police magistrate at Woogaroo. Appointed district registrar for BDM in Woogaroo
1868: Was replaced as administrator after an inquiry but was appointed visiting surgeon at the asylum
1871: The QMS was founded with Dr Kearsey Cannan as president (folded within 10 years because of disagreements between members)
1894: Died of bronchitis at home 20 August after catching flu. He was survived by his wife, two sons and two of their four daughters.