James Thorburn (Canadian physician)
Encyclopedia
Dr. James Thorburn, was a Canadian physician
, medical researcher, military surgeon, university professor and an executive member of several medical organizations.
(1790–1862) M.P., a parliamentary member for Lincoln County
, Upper Canada
for many years. The younger Thorburn received his education at the University of Toronto
where he graduated as a physician in 1855, and at the University of Edinburgh
, where he studied pharmacology.
James Thorburn became a medical doctor in Toronto, Ontario, a Surgeon-Major in the Queen's Own Rifles militia, and also a professor of pharmacology
and therapeutics at the University of Toronto. Additionally, he was a consulting surgeon
at the Toronto General Hospital
, a physician of the Boys' Home and the Hospital for Sick Children
), and was also connected with other institutions, both charitable and financial, in his capacity as a physician.
Thorburn contributed approximately 400 articles on medicine and other subjects to journals, and wrote and published the "Manual of Life Insurance
Examination" (Toronto, 1887), plus "Life Insurance and the Relations Existing Between It and Medical Men". He was also elected to the presidency of the Canadian Medical Association
in 1895, and represented the association at its annual meeting in Montreal, Quebec in 1896; as well as being the president of the Toronto chapter of the Victorian Order of Nurses
. In 1901 he was also elected to the executive of the Toronto branch of the Anti-Consumption League
.
of Toronto, who had also been chancellor of the University of Toronto
.
Jane Roseman and Julia Malloy were employed and living in his home as a domestic and a cook respectively. The home's architecture included two servants’ bedrooms above the kitchen.
Other occupants in his home included Ernest McPhee who had emigrated from England in 1900 at the age of 12. This home was one of three dwelling houses owned by Thorburn along with 600 acres (2.4 km²) of real estate, as noted in the Welcome Trust survey.
The first news headlining his grave condition reported: "Distinguished Physician is Suffering from Heart Trouble", in a terse two inch column report in the Toronto
Globe and Mail. He was also described as "one of Toronto's most esteemed physicians". His widely printed obituary also described him as: "[possessing] many admirable qualities". In his latter life Thorburn had been appointed Emeritus Professor of Therapeutics and Materia Medica.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, medical researcher, military surgeon, university professor and an executive member of several medical organizations.
Biography
James Thorburn was the son of David ThorburnDavid Thorburn
David Thorburn was a Scottish-born merchant and political figure in Upper Canada. He represented 3rd Lincoln in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1835 to 1844 as a Reformer....
(1790–1862) M.P., a parliamentary member for Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Ontario
Lincoln County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was formed in 1792. In 1845, the southern portion of Lincoln County was separated to form Welland County....
, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
for many years. The younger Thorburn received his education at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
where he graduated as a physician in 1855, and at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where he studied pharmacology.
James Thorburn became a medical doctor in Toronto, Ontario, a Surgeon-Major in the Queen's Own Rifles militia, and also a professor of pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
and therapeutics at the University of Toronto. Additionally, he was a consulting surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
at the Toronto General Hospital
Toronto General Hospital
The Toronto General Hospital , is a part of the University Health Network, and a major teaching hospital in downtown Toronto, Ontario. It is located in the Discovery District, directly north of the Hospital for Sick Children, across Gerrard Street West, and east of Princess Margaret Hospital and...
, a physician of the Boys' Home and the Hospital for Sick Children
Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
), and was also connected with other institutions, both charitable and financial, in his capacity as a physician.
Thorburn contributed approximately 400 articles on medicine and other subjects to journals, and wrote and published the "Manual of Life Insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
Examination" (Toronto, 1887), plus "Life Insurance and the Relations Existing Between It and Medical Men". He was also elected to the presidency of the Canadian Medical Association
Canadian Medical Association
The Canadian Medical Association , with more than 70,000 members, is the largest association of doctors in Canada and works to represent their interests nationally. It formed in 1867, three months after Confederation...
in 1895, and represented the association at its annual meeting in Montreal, Quebec in 1896; as well as being the president of the Toronto chapter of the Victorian Order of Nurses
Victorian Order of Nurses
The Victorian Order of Nurses is a non-profit charitable organization founded in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on January 29, 1897 created as a gift for Queen Victoria for the purposes of home care and social services. It is registered as a charity the Canada Revenue Agency, charity number...
. In 1901 he was also elected to the executive of the Toronto branch of the Anti-Consumption League
Prohibition in Canada
The temperance movement reached its height in Canada in the 1920s, when outside imports were cut off by provincial referendums. As legislation prohibiting consumption of alcohol was repealed, it was typically replaced with regulation restricting the sale of alcohol to minors and imposing excise...
.
Architecture of Dr. Thorburn's practice and home
Thorburn's medical office, located in his personal home, was found notable in a 2008 survey by the Welcome Trust, who's reviewer noted:- "Dr Thorburn's house-office of 1891 (Figure 10)... is one of the few in the sample to include an entirely independent side entrance for patients, allowing them to enter directly into the heart of the house with no overlap whatsoever with the more private family spaces. In this case the rooms given over to medical practice were a waiting-room, a consulting room and a small laboratory, each with a window.... It is important to note that even these early examples have generous waiting-rooms that occupy a substantial percentage of the medical practice area."
Family and home life
Thorburn married Jane MacKenzie. Their son, James David Thorburn, M.D. (1865–1912) married a daughter of Chief Justice Sir William Ralph MeredithWilliam Ralph Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Ralph Meredith, Q.C., LL.D. was Leader of the Ontario Conservatives from 1878 to 1894; Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 1900 until his death, and Chief Justice of Ontario from 1913 until his death...
of Toronto, who had also been chancellor of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
Jane Roseman and Julia Malloy were employed and living in his home as a domestic and a cook respectively. The home's architecture included two servants’ bedrooms above the kitchen.
Other occupants in his home included Ernest McPhee who had emigrated from England in 1900 at the age of 12. This home was one of three dwelling houses owned by Thorburn along with 600 acres (2.4 km²) of real estate, as noted in the Welcome Trust survey.
Illness, death and tributes
Dr. Thorburn was reported suffering gravely at his home on 26 May 1905 after a presumed heart attack, and was treated by fellow physician John Caven. He died the same day.The first news headlining his grave condition reported: "Distinguished Physician is Suffering from Heart Trouble", in a terse two inch column report in the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
Globe and Mail. He was also described as "one of Toronto's most esteemed physicians". His widely printed obituary also described him as: "[possessing] many admirable qualities". In his latter life Thorburn had been appointed Emeritus Professor of Therapeutics and Materia Medica.
- Note: this article incorporates text from the Appleton's Cyclopædia of American BiographyAppleton's Cyclopedia of American BiographyAppletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography is a six-volume collection of biographies of famous Americans. It was published between 1887 and 1889 by D. Appleton and Company, New York. The general editors were James Grant Wilson and John Fiske; the managing editor from 1886 to 1888 was Rossiter...
(1889), a reference work in the public domain