William Canniff
Encyclopedia
William Canniff, was a surgeon
, public health
pioneer, historian and advocate of Canadian nationalism
.
Dr. William Canniff trained in medicine in Canada, the US, Great Britain and Europe prior to settling in Belleville where he practiced surgery. In 1852 he enrolled at the Victoria College Medical School studying under Dr. William Thomas Aikins. Following brief periods of study and practice in New York, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Paris, Canniff returned to Belleville, Ontario, joining the faculty of the Victoria School in 1859 as a lecturer in pathology. Canniff was rapidly promoted to Professor of Surgery, however, he resigned his position in 1863 following a conflict with his colleague, John Rolph. Canniff returned to the Victoria School in 1868 and remained there until its closure in 1874. During his brief departure from Victoria College, Canniff authored the first Canadian textbook on pathology, A manual of the principles of surgery: based on pathology for students, Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1866. Canniff became a founding member of the Canadian Medical Association
in 1867 and the Ontario Medical Association
in 1880.
In 1883, Canniff became Toronto's first permanent Medical Officer of Health, a position he held until his resignation in 1890. In his role as MOH, Canniff appreciated the role of water in disease transmission, and advocated hygienic wastewater disposal and a centralized drinking water supply for the city.
Canniff was a member of the Canada First
movement whose membership promoted Canadian nationalism
. Canniff was also a noted historian, authoring History Of The Settlement Of Upper Canada, Ontario: With Special Reference To The Bay Quinte, Toronto: Dudley & Burns, Toronto, 1869; History Of The Province Of Ontario (Upper Canada), Toronto: A.H. Hovey, 1872; and The Medical Profession in Upper Canada 1783-1850, Toronto: William Briggs, 1894.
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...
, public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
pioneer, historian and advocate of Canadian nationalism
Canadian nationalism
Canadian nationalism is a term which has been applied to ideologies of several different types which highlight and promote specifically Canadian interests over those of other countries, notably the United States...
.
Dr. William Canniff trained in medicine in Canada, the US, Great Britain and Europe prior to settling in Belleville where he practiced surgery. In 1852 he enrolled at the Victoria College Medical School studying under Dr. William Thomas Aikins. Following brief periods of study and practice in New York, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Paris, Canniff returned to Belleville, Ontario, joining the faculty of the Victoria School in 1859 as a lecturer in pathology. Canniff was rapidly promoted to Professor of Surgery, however, he resigned his position in 1863 following a conflict with his colleague, John Rolph. Canniff returned to the Victoria School in 1868 and remained there until its closure in 1874. During his brief departure from Victoria College, Canniff authored the first Canadian textbook on pathology, A manual of the principles of surgery: based on pathology for students, Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1866. Canniff became a founding member 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 1867 and the Ontario Medical Association
Ontario Medical Association
The Ontario Medical Association is a professional organization for physicians in Ontario, Canada founded in 1880. It represents and, to a certain degree, governs approximately 24,000 physicians in Ontario. The association's main office is located at 150 Bloor St. West in Toronto. The current...
in 1880.
In 1883, Canniff became Toronto's first permanent Medical Officer of Health, a position he held until his resignation in 1890. In his role as MOH, Canniff appreciated the role of water in disease transmission, and advocated hygienic wastewater disposal and a centralized drinking water supply for the city.
Canniff was a member of the Canada First
Canada First
The Canada First movement was organized in Ottawa in 1868 to promote the expulsion of traitors in the nation. It was at first supported by Goldwin Smith and Edward Blake...
movement whose membership promoted Canadian nationalism
Canadian nationalism
Canadian nationalism is a term which has been applied to ideologies of several different types which highlight and promote specifically Canadian interests over those of other countries, notably the United States...
. Canniff was also a noted historian, authoring History Of The Settlement Of Upper Canada, Ontario: With Special Reference To The Bay Quinte, Toronto: Dudley & Burns, Toronto, 1869; History Of The Province Of Ontario (Upper Canada), Toronto: A.H. Hovey, 1872; and The Medical Profession in Upper Canada 1783-1850, Toronto: William Briggs, 1894.