James Metcalfe MacCallum, BA, MD, CM (186Q-1943)

Ross M. Matthews, md Monday July 14. himself full time to his painting".3 Rose at 4:15 and got off on Pine Lake In October 1912 MacCallum met at 5:30. Reached Pine portage at 5:55, . He was greatly im- crossed and got off at 6:25 on Dore Lake. pressed with Thomson as a person, with The rank growth of timothy and clover on his enthusiasm for the North, which Pine portage was very noticeable. Passed more than matched his own, and with through Dore Lake and River, and French his sketches. This early work was a Lake, reaching French portage which is world away from Thomson's later mas- 3 miles long at 10:30. Crossed, had dinner MacCallum and set off at 2 P.M. on Giant's Head terpieces, yet recognized of an au¬ Lake and River, and Brule Lake, reached the first faltering expression Brule portage at 5. Crossed and camped thentic genius that in a few short years having made 40 miles. Wind fair, a little was to find fulfilment. He knew the rain, caught 5 fish. North intimately, and he recognized the article when he saw whether The was The genuine it, year 1884. writer, on canvas or birch MacCallum's James Metcalfe a panels. MacCallum, young admiration for Thomson was recipro- medical student attached to the Depart¬ cated and lasted to the time of Thom¬ ment of Indian was on a sum¬ Affairs, son's death on July 8, 1917. It was a mer round of the Indian reserves, a A.Y. Jackson that would take him into remarkable association. journey deep has said, "It was the Doctor's unswerv- northwestern Ontario. His journal, belief in the of Thomson which can be found in ing genius the University that kept the artist going. It is hard to of archives, methodically do¬ James Metcalfe MacCallum (courtesy of believe that his brilliant impressions of cumented each day of his trip, but National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa). the north few admirers the and effort country found firm. discipline required and almost no save the Doctor."4 for such a allowed little buyers journey to the Here he became In 1913 MacCallum and Lawren conscious reflection on the present day. unique with a of Harris forces in a concrete at¬ flavour of our northern wilderness. Yet acquainted group eager young joined artists as the of to the of that was its It was who, Group Seven, tempt encourage burgeoning magic casting spell. move¬ new in Canadian MacCallum's with Canada's were to pioneer a fresh creative direction art they empathy ment in . MacCallum em¬ around them. erected North and his love for it that were recognized They a in Toronto to studio for his contribution braced their aspirations "to interpret building provide responsible unique Canada and to in the and serve as a for to Canadian art. his death in 1943 express paint space "workshop (On our artists Canadian work".5 he to the National of spirit of country".1 doing distinctly left Gallery is to con¬ Canada 83 Tom In 1911 , an original MacCallum reported have paintings by Thomson, one the funds that 40 members of the of Seven* member of the Arts and Letters Club, tributed quarter of by Group were when the two and 11 others by artists contemporary introduced to MacCallum J.E.H. Mac¬ required. Later, with Donald, the father figure of this group men renovated the famous "shack" in them.) of young artists. A.Y. Jackson credited the Rosedale ravine where Tom Thom¬ MacDonald with "the first to son was to spend his final winters, the friend of Canadian art being MacCallum, dream of a school of painting in Can¬ sharing of expenses is on the record: Dr. Lawren Har¬ MacCallum's contribution to art in ada that would realize the wealth of MacCallum, $62.45; Canada with the Arts and Letters motifs we had all around us".2 Mac¬ ris, $113.57.6 began Callum was determined that those In the same Arthur Club of of which he was an year (1913) Toronto, and later Jackson were member and to motifs would include our northern Lismer A.Y. early president (1916 woods and waters. He invited Mac¬ welcome to the 1918); he was the MD among the Georgian Bay cottage only Donald to the on Geor- and too, were to re- 40 who have presided over its affairs family cottage they, encouraged gian Bay in the summer of 1911, and create the grandeur of its setting. encouraged him to capture on can- "A.Y." had been contemplating going *F. Carmichael, L. Harris, A.Y. Jackson, F. vas the essence of that country. Later to the United States, which was ana- Johnston, A. Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald and the of thema to MacCallum: " Tf all fel¬ F.H. Varley. that year, "through prompting you Harris and the encouragement of the lows go off to the States' he growled, Reprint requests to: Dr. R.M. Matthews, 561 Weller St., Peterborough, ON K9H 2N9 doctor, MacDonald decided to devote 'art in Canada is never going to get CMA JOURNAL/APRIL 3, 1976/VOL. 114 621 anywhere'. Then he made me a sur¬ the memorial cairn that he, MacDonald tie and the waxed moustache, and the prising proposition: If I would take a and J.W. Beattyt designed and erected uninhibited bushman glorying in the studio in the building he and Harris at Canoe Lake and in the wording of freedom from the constraints of his were having erected, he would guaran- which he assuredly had a hand.) other life.16 tee my expenses for a year. Of course The group was now reforming and I This was accepted."7 perhaps "the Postwar years at their exhibition in May 1920 they most fateful and famous meeting in proclaimed their identity as "The A.Y.'s life".8 In the spring of 1918, as Lawren ". In January 1914 Tom Thomson gave Harris wrote, "Dr. MacCallum and I That fail Varley and Lismer painted up his job as a commercial artist and took a train to the Soo, and next mor¬ memorable canvases at MacCallum's is¬ moved into one of the newly com¬ ning went up the Algoma Central Rail- land; for years the doctor would de¬ pleted studios, which he shared with road and discovered a paradise for light in showing his guests the spot A.Y., who later recalled that "the Doc¬ Canadian painters wild, rugged, where, in 1920, Lismer had painted his tor was an old football player and again tumultuous country".14 Paradise had powerful "September Gale", and the he was getting a team together".4 to be regained, and that October, and place less than 30 m away where Harris, Jackson, MacDonald and Thom¬ for three subsequent ones, some of the Varley at the same time was making son were all working full time in the group travelled the Algoma Central sketches for "Stormy Weather, Geor- "Studio Building". Frank Carmichael railway in a converted box-car, pulled gian Bay". Both artists caught the moved in later that year. Tom Thom¬ by passenger train or way freight, every power and excitement of wind and son, in his turn, painted for a while 3 or 4 days changing their siding to water, just as MacCallum had hoped at the MacCallum cottage. At this time sketch another spectacular part of the they would when he first brought them Lismer and F. H. Varley were camping Algoma country. MacCallum accom¬ to his cottage. A.Y. Jackson rated these and sketching in Algonquin Park and panied Harris, MacDonald and Frank two paintings, together with Thomson's writing enthusiastic letters to MacCal¬ Johnston on the first excursion and "West Wind", as "three of the finest lum.9 The Group of Seven it would may have joined one of the other ex- paintings ever done in Canada";17 have been eight if Thomson had lived10 cursions, but briefly.15 These trips "without the doctor there would have was taking shape. Only Frank John¬ would have been sheer delight to been no 'West Wind' ".4 ston was MacCallum as he cast in New York not yet caught off his respon¬ Now that the Group of Seven was up in the excitement of the new revo¬ sibilities to his patients, his department established it was inevitable that Mac¬ lutionary ideas that were being ex¬ and his now important role in organ¬ Callum's unique association with them plored. Just as their momentum seemed ized medicine. The two sides to his would diminish. They had had wonder- irresistible, World War I began and personality were described by his ful years together and MacCallum must . the brought the movement virtually to a daughter proper, formal ap¬ have looked back on them with plea¬ halt. pearance of the professor of ophthal¬ sure and pride. mology with the wing collar, the bow It is reasonable to believe that the canvases The war inspired of the Group of years Seven, vibrant with their vision of the tJ.W. (Bill) Beatty was an artist of the period North, an role in re- MacCallum did his best to keep at who was closely associated with several members played important least some of the group together and of the Group of Seven. vealing to Canadians the treasure in solvent by proposing a "fun commis¬ sion". Thomson, MacDonald and Lis¬ 6i3K^;lB3BK^Sl mer responded in the same spirit, and wMBi;'. during the winter of 1915-16 they "|jfc. painted decorative murals on beaver- board panels for the interior of the MacCallum cottage. These were in¬ stalled in April 1916 as a birthday surprise for Mrs. MacCallum, where they gave "just the right note of buoy- ant gaiety and light hearted content."11 These panels, together with later ones by A.Y., are now in the National Gal¬ lery of Canada. It was a short interlude of enthusiasm, for the war further dis- rupted the cohesion of the group. And then, in the summer of 1917, came the tragic death of Tom Thomson. It was a heavy blow to MacCallum, who "of all painters . .. was most ravingly enthusiastic about Tom Thomson".12 MacCallum closed his own lovely trib- ute with these words: "These [his pictures] will remain for succeeding generations, the ultimate arbiters of the reputation of all artists. Confidently we leave to them the fame of Tom Thomson, artist and woodsman, who lived humbly but passionately with the wild'."13 (The quotation that Mac¬ "Cottage on a Rocky Shore" (the MacCallum cottage) by Tom Thomson, 1914 (cour- Callum used is from the inscription on tesy of National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, bequest of Dr. J.M. McCallum, Toronto). 622 CMA JOURNAL/APRIL 3, 1976/VOL. 114 their own backyard. (It was not always to use liquid green soap when scrubbing committee (chairman), the joint ad¬ this way. Our ancestors hated the bush and this was quite a change because visory committee, the prosecution com¬ and hewed down the forbidding forest sterile techniques and careful scrubbing mittee and, during the year, to another with grim determination. Those who was a little desultory at that time. . . . ad hoc committee a full plate for travelled either of the transcontinental His manner was brusque and his ap¬ a man of 71. Of the five official con- railroads through northern Ontario pearance a little foreboding because of ferences authorized that year by the Thomson country found it a monot- his waxed moustaches but he was kind- college, he was a principal in three. onous, dreary waste of muskeg. "It is ly beneath it all and there couldn't have The record shows that he actively par- bad enough to have to live in this been a better friend to young ophthal¬ ticipated in the debates of council, con¬ country" a lady once remarked to A.Y. mologists in Toronto." sistently carrying a heavy load of com¬ "without having pictures of it in your mittee work. home".) From the beginning, MacCal¬ MacCallum's contributions to medicine In 1914, after chairing the finance lum, preaching his gospel of "nature . .. committee for 4 years, he was able to unsullied the assur- by intruder man",13 MacCallum attended the first meet¬ report that the college was "out of the marched in van. was ediy the Who ing of the Medical Council of Canada red" for that year without an increase MacCallum who "had the personality in November 1912 and was no. 17 on in the annual $2 fee. This recalled the and creative force to match with the the Canadian Medical Register. As the story that A.Y. Jackson told of Joe, best artists of his time"?18 was What representative of the University of To¬ their Indian guide on a canoe trip down there to his professional life and what ronto he was a member of the council the Mississagi, thinking wistfully of was his stature in his own profession? from then until 1916, and again be¬ some of the American parties he had tween 1921 and 1929. He was elected known, who always referred to Mac¬ MacCallum the physician vice-president in 1922 and president the Callum as "the old tightwad".19 this was following year. Nevertheless, During these early years on council MacCallum was born in 1860 in not his major contribution to medicine, the Ontario Temperance Act raised Richmond Hill, Ont. He was about 10 which commanded his interest and some new issues. In the 1917 session years old when his father, a Methodist drive no less wholeheartedly than his (recorded in the annual announcements minister, was posted to Collingwood to support of Canadian art, and over a of the College of Physicians and Sur¬ a mission that extended up the east longer period. geons of Ontario, 1909 to 1932fl Mac¬ coast of Georgian Bay. For many sum- In 1909, the credentials committee Callum moved that: mers he accompanied his father up "having found his credentials to be cor¬ through the islands and back again. rect," MacCallum was seated on the this council asks the assistance of the This was his introduction to part of council of the College of Physicians Globe and its editorial columns in putting the Canadian and his love of the and of an end to all patent and other subterfuges Shield, Surgeons Ontario, representing to evade the the of an Ontario Temperance Act, rugged beauty of Georgian Bay re¬ University Toronto, associa¬ the "Tanlac" tion was notably remedy advertised in mained an enduring passion. that to last for 23 years. He the columns of the Globe. This council In 1881 MacCallum with was elected vice-president in 1920 but desires to the graduated in express belief that the edi¬ a BA and a gold medal from the Uni¬ 1921, following his nomination for torial staff of the Globe, once appraised versity of Toronto. He received his president, he asked that his name be of the fact that "Tanlac" is a wine con¬ MD, CM from Victoria University in withdrawn. No reason was recorded. taining 17% alcohol, and its medical 1886. Sometime during these years he He resigned from the council in 1930 constituents of little medicinal virtue, will taught school at Harriston and at Up¬ but returned the following year for a at once take prompt measures to see that 2-year term. He was no further advertisements of "Tanlac" ap¬ per Canada College. He studied oph¬ enthusiastically in the Globe. thalmology in London, England, for 2 welcomed back and immediately was pear elected to the executive years, then returned to Toronto to committee, the His motion was the educational carried. Such vigil- practise both ophthalmology and oto¬ legislative committee, ance by MacCallum and the council laryngology. He also assisted the pro¬ sounds almost incredible today. Mac¬ fessor of gynecology. Not limiting him¬ Callum did not drink, but it was not self to these three disciplines, in 1890 only his Methodist upbringing that mo¬ MacCallum accepted the appointment tivated him to propose the resolution of lecturer in pharmacology and thera- the solid core of society wanted the peutics at the . serious, idealistic experiment of prohi- The next year he became professor, an bition to have a chance. appointment he retained until 1907. He He also took a clear position on spent a further year in postgraduate drugs. In 1930, in his presidential study in London and Berlin, returning address, Dr. G.M. Brodie made this to Toronto to practise ophthalmology reference: "Dr. James MacCallum, late alone. In 1903 he became an associate representative from Toronto University in ophthalmology at the University of on this council has proposed Govern¬ Toronto and professor in 1909, a post ment Control, somewhat after the pat¬ he held until his resignation and the tern of the Liquor Control Act, but assumption of emeritus status in 1929. more restricted in its application." During this period he performed most Brodie, who supported MacCallum, de¬ of his operations at the Toronto Gen¬ veloped the concept of registration and eral Hospital, although he retained the supervision of addicts, determination of active staff appointment he had held the amount of drug required and pro¬ since 1890 at The Hospital for Sick vision of the under Children. drug prescription "Snow and Rocks" by Tom Thomson, by the druggist at minimum cost. Mac¬ MacCallum is still remembered as Callum the in- "a but circa 1917 (courtesy of National Gallery promoted involuntary good conservative surgeon. ... of Canada, Ottawa, bequest of Dr. J.M. carceration of addicts and a controlled [Nevertheless] he was one of the first MacCallum, Toronto). supply of narcotics for less resistant CMA JOURNAL/APRIL 3, 1976/VOL. 114 623 cases - over 40 years before the report great sailor and knew every port and and help: H. Bishop, archivist/librarian, of the Le Dam Commission! haven on the Great Lakes. Almost by Arts and Letters Club of Toronto; A.R. In December 1924 the Canadian instinct he would find his way in fog MacCallum, son of J.M. MacCallum; Drs. and darkness through the intricate H.M. Macrae and A.E. MacDonald, Mac- Medical Association convened the first Callum's confreres in ophthalmology in national conference of the medical channels of the Georgian Bay.... One later years; and Miss A. Wilcox, assistant services in Canada. The 75 delegates has memories of long canoe trips and registrar, the Medical Council of Canada; represented the Medical Council of rough portages, and camp fires on de- Dr. J.C.C. Dawson, registrar, College of Canada, all the medical associations, lectable islands."4 Of one particular trip Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario; Mrs. the licensing bodies, the universities and he said: "Though he was sixty-one at S. Swanson, librarian, Academy of Med- the departments of health across the the time he was a good old sport; going icine, Toronto; and the staff of the Uni- country.20 MacCallum presented the over portages he always picked out versity of Toronto archives. first paper, on licensure; it proposed the heaviest canoes or packsacks. interprovincial reciprocity on the basis he was always in a hurry."19 His sons References of uniform standards and accreditation were along on this trip and Arthur 1. JACKSON AY: A Painter's Country, Toronto, Clarke, Irwin, 1958, p 51 by the Medical Council of Canada. He MacCallum remembers his father carry- 2. Ibid, p 23 ing a canoe over one 6½-km portage 3. REID D: The MacCallum Bequest of Paintings concluded, as was his custom, by call- by Tom Thomson and Other Canadian Paint- ing a spade a spade: "This brief r6sum. with only one stop. ers and the Mr. and Mrs. H.R. Jackman Gift, Ottawa, National Gallery of Canada, 1969, of the [provincial] requirements for MacCallum was known as "a char- p 13 licensure reveals a state of 4. JACKSON AY: Dr. MacCallum, loyal friend of chaos."21 acter" and certainly took some pride art. Saturday Night 59: Dec 11, 1943 As a result the conference delegates in his reputation, a human failing 5. MELLEN P: The Group of Seven, Toronto, McClelland, 1970, p 38 recommended a minimum requirement that seems illustrated in a letter written 6. GROVES NJ: A.Y.'s Canada, Toronto, Clarke, for medical study of 5 years of 32 Irwin, 1968 in his 81st year: "At the Club a man 7. JACKSON AY: A Painter's Country, op cii, teaching weeks (amended to 30 weeks), said to me 'where do you get your p 24 8. GROVES NJ: A.Y.'s Canada, op cit, p 102 of which 3 years should be devoted ctothes. You always have distinction'. 9. MELLEN P: The Group of Seven, op cit, p 40 10. JACKSON AY: A Painter's Country, op cit, largely to clinical subjects. The resolu- I had on just that day a suit made p 51 tion was adopted.22 It was a start. of kitchen towelling.... Not one man 11. REID D: The MacCallum Bequest ofPaiotings by Tom Thomson and Other Canadian Paint- Two years later, at a second con- in a hundred has the nerve to admit ers and the Mr. and Mrs. HR. Jackman that he wears kitchen towels as Gift, op cit, p 59 ference, the participants resolved that 12. BRIDLE A: The Story of the Club, Toronto, a possible arrangement between medical clothes."27 Perhaps in a similar vein is Arts and Letters Club, 1945, p 49 13. MACCALLUM JM: Tom Thomson, painter of schools and the licensing bodies where- part of an exchange made during the the north. Canadian Magazine, Nov 1917- debate on his paper during the Apr 1918 by one examination would qualify can- first 14. HARRIS B, COLOROVE RG (eds): Lawren didates for degree and licence "be care- conference on medical services. "Some Harris, Toronto, Macmillan, 1969, p 45 15. REID D: The MacCallum Bequest of Paint- fully considered and studied during the of my friends say I love a fight. Can- ings by Tom Thomson and Other Canadian didly I confess I do."28 The Painters and the Mr. and Mrs. HR. Jackman coming year".23 Once again it was a evidence Gift, op cit, p 25 step forward and MacCallum's efforts shows that these harmless indulgences 16. Ibid, p 27 17. GRovEs NJ: A.Y.'s Canada, op cit, p 110 had been significant. did not obscure his virtues. 18. REID D: The MacCallum Bequest of Paint- ings by Tom Thomson and Other Canadian In November 1943 MacCallum was Painters and the Mr. and Mrs. HR. Jackman MacCallum the man the guest of honour at a dinner in the Gift, op cit, p 31 19. JACKSON AY: A Painter's Country, op cit, Art Gallery of Toronto, presided over p 71 From the sparse evidence of minutes, by his old friend A.Y. Jackson. Colour 20. Report of the Conference on the Medical Services in Canada. Can Med Assoc J 15: resolutions and reports, James Mac- reproductions of the paintings of Tom 243, 1925 Callum emerges as an outspoken leader, Thomson and the Group of Seven were 21. MACCALLUM 3M: Medical licensure. Ibid, p strong in his own convictions, shown. It was a happy occasion. A few 257 conserva- 22. Report of the Conference on the Medical tive without being reactionary, forward- weeks later on Dec. 4 he died suddenly Services in Canada. Report of the resolu- looking without being naive. His in his office in the Medical Arts Build- tions committee. Ibid, p 303 son 23. ROUTLEY TC: Association notes. Can Med Arthur spoke of his dislike of "stuffed ing, which he still visited every day. Assoc J 16: 603, 1926 shirts" and his delight in 24. Obituary: James Metcalfe MacCallum. Bull deflating Foremost among the medical greats Acad Med Toronto 17: 60, 1943-44 them, of his uncompromising position are those who have advanced the art 25. REED TA: The Blue and the White. A Record on ethical behaviour of SO Years of Athletic Endeavour, Toronto, and his desire to and the science of healing, and this is U of Toronto Pr, 1944 make his feelings known even when as it should be. But there are many 26. COLGATL W: An appreciation. Can Med As- the actions of close colleagues were in others, like MacCallum, faithful to their soc J 50: 285, 1944 27. REID D: The MacCallum Bequest of Painting, question. calling and notable in service to their by Tom Thomson and Other Canadian Paint- ers and the Mr. and Mrs. HR. Jackman Gift, He was an athlete and a believer in colleagues, whose enthusiasm, energy op cit, p 35 sport. He was an outstanding runner: and capacity for work are not to be 28. Report of the Conference on the Medical Services in Canada. Can Med Assoc J 15: in good weather, as a student, he would contained within the limits of their own 271, 1925 run the 24 km to University College discipline. Their contributions beyond from Richmond Hill, where his family medicine and the distinction they were again living, and run home again achieve in other fields are wide and CONTROL OF LITHIUM TREMOR in the evening.24 He played on one of varied, and bring credit to their profes- Continued from page 620 the first organized teams of the newly sion as well as to themselves. Surely 4. MARSDEN CD, OwItN DA: The effect of adrenaline on physiological tremor in man. developed rugby football at the Uni- these physicians deserve an inscription J Physiol (Lond) 188 (2): 40, 1967 somewhere on the honour role of our 5. MARSDEN CD, FOLEY TH, Owase DA, et al: versity of Toronto in the 1879-80 Peripheral beta-adrenergic receptors con- season.25 As a young high-school teach- profession. cerned with tremor. Clin Sd 33: 53, 1967 6. BARBEAU A: Traitement du tremblement es- er he taught his pupils games, in the sentiel familial par le propranolol. Union Med belief that they developed manliness I wish to thank the National Gallery of Can 102: 899, 1973 Canada, Ottawa (bequest of Dr. J.M. 7. ScoPA J, LONGLY BP, Fosmit JB: Beta-adren- and self-reliance. "Always he laid em- ergic blockers in benign essential tremor. MacCallum, Toronto) for permission to Curr Ther Res 15: 48, 1973 phasis on character rather than scholar- reproduce "The Pool" by Tom Thomson, 8. DUPONT F., HANSEN HJ, DALBY MA: Treat- ship."26 But closest to his heart were ment of benign essential tremor with pro- which appears on the front cover of this pranolol. Acta Neurol Scand 49: 74, 1973 sailing and canoeing. A.Y. Jackson issue of the Journal. I would also like to 9. AGARWAL SL, BOSE D: A study of the role of brain catecholamines in drug induced commented on these loves: "He was a thank the following for their information tremor. Br J Pharmacol 30: 349, 1967 624 CMA JOURNAL/APRIL 3, 1976/VOL. 114