66 MEN and Books: SIR JAMES HECTOR the Story of James
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Canad. Med. Ass. J. 66 MEN AND BooKs: SIR JAMES HECTOR July 14, 1962, vol. 87 THE story of James Hector, a medical truant1 lectures in geology, minerology and paleontology to geology, merits recital. He ranks with Mungo delivered by Macadam, Rose and Page. When in Park (1771-1806) and David Livingstone (1813- 1854 Edward Forbes occupied the Chair of Natural 73). Yet neither texts nor the monument erected History, his lectures interested Hector, who worked to his memory at the Great Divide claims this re- zealously as his assistant. markable man for the medical profession. In 1856, at the age of 22, Hector took his M.D. Very early in the nineteenth century, there lived His graduation thesis was entitled "The Antiquity in Edinburgh a writer to the Signet, and a Con- of Man". This title was later chosen by Lyell for veyancer of note, named Alexander Hector. Mem- his famous book. For a short time after taking his ber of an old family with excellent connections, medical degree, James Hector acted as assistant Alexander Hector enjoyed the friendship of Sir to Sir James Y. Simpson (1811-70), who nine years Walter Scott, for whom he transcribed and trans- earlier, on November 10, 1847, communicated lated old manuscripts. his account of a new anesthetic agent to the Edin- His wife, Margaret Macrostie, was a niece of burgh Medico-Chirurgical Society. This assistant- John Barclay (1758-1826), the first anatomist who ship with Simpson was the only definitely medical did not also practise medicine or surgery. Teacher appointment which Hector ever held. of Owen Knox, Ballingal, Campbell and a host of In March 1857, an opportunity for which Hector other surgeons and anatomists of renown, Barclay proved to be eminently qualified presented itself was the founder of the Museum of the Royal Col- when the Imperial Commission of the British lege of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Crown planned an expedition to the western part A son, James Hector,2 was born in Edinburgh of British North America. Her Majesty's Govern- on March 16, 1834. Like most Edinburgh boys, ment was anxious to obtain correct information James Hector received his elementary education at about the facilities or difficulties of communication the Edinburgh Academy and City's High School. between the Canadas and the country west of Lake At 14 he entered his father's office, but soon left on Superior and north of the 49th parallel. The being articled to an actuary. Here he remained for Government was also desirous of obtaining in- three years, at the same time attending classes at formation relative to a large belt of country until the University and School of Arts. James Hector then almost unknown, namely that comprised be- early manifested a strong inclination towards tween longitude 970 W. and the Rocky Mountains, chemistry and natural sciences. At the age of 18 and ranging from the 49th parallel of latitude to he gave up all office work. the North Saskatchewan. In addition, the Govern- James Hector matriculated at the University of ment wished to ascertain whether any practicable Edinburgh in November 1852. Earnest as a medi- pass or passes available for horses existed across cal student, he felt most strongly the spell of the Rocky Mountains within the British territory, geology. Under its influence he developed the and south of that known to exist between Mount instincts of exploration and adventure. Summer Brown and Mount Hooker in latitude 54010P.* holidays were spent in long excursions in the high- The formation of the expedition under the direc- lands of Scotland, England or Ireland. tion of Captain Palliser, at the several recommenda- Resourceful, accurate, quick, the general value tions of General Sabina, Sir Roderick Murchison, of Hector's work attracted the attention of his Dr. Purcell and Sir William Hooker, also included teachers. Thus while attending Balfour's classes in *During the summer of 1955, my wife Gertrude, my son botany, he was selected to give an account to the Samuel (who served as photographer) and I enjoyed the exhilarating experience, aboard a scenic Canadian Pacific Botanical Society of the geological and physical dome train, of journeying westward through E. Pauline ex- Johnson's world of prairie, plain and grain, to the land of features of the ground gone over in student totem folklore. The circumstances which prompted us to of Geology at the modify our original prudent intent, and subsequently not only cursions. There being no Chair brought us face to face with geological antiquity, but resulted University, Hector attended extra - academic in our retracing a number of Hector's steps, occurred just beyond Calgary. When our train guide began to discourse about the "shining mountains" of the Kootenays, known to the Crees as the "Assinwati" or the Rocky Mountains, and *Department of Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal. neglected the Selkirks. he was subdued by a previously un- tIn abridged form, this narrative was presented before the noticed dark and deeply sun-tanned gentleman about five Osler Society of McGill University on February 6, 1956, as feet ten. He had piercing coal black eyes, greying black hair the Honorary President's Address. Dr. William Willoughby and a similar scraggly beard. He wore a broad, black, short Francis (1878-1959) attended. Dr. Francis's comments were hanging tie and a blue-black beret. As we approached intellectual treats, and on this occasion his flash of quaint Kicking Horse River, which flows out of Lake Wapta. my dry humour, accompanied by his characteristic twinkle and curiosity was stirred by our unknown mentor's reference to chuckle, found expression in amusing references, which in- the fact that Kicking Horse river and Kicking Horse pass cluded Hector the Pointer. Because Dr Francis, always had been named after James Hector, a surgeon and geologist. generous in the disposal of his stores, enriched my life with Fortuitous preparation beforehand enabled us to reroute our his friendship, I returned to the completion of this article as return motor and walking trips. an expression of my gratitude. Canad. Med. Ass. .MEN AND BOOKS: SIR TAMES HECTOR 67 July 14, 1962, vol. 87 Lieut. Blakiston, R.A., Dr. Hector, Mr. Sullivan, and M. Bourgeau (Fig. 1). The manner in which the selections were made is not clear. The reports and observations by Palliser, Hector and Bourgeau are detailed in the Palliser Journals, which cover the years 1857 to 1860* (Fig. 2). Dr. Hector, Mr. Sullivan and M. Bourgeau started with Captain John Palliser, of the Water- ford Artillery Militia, from Liverpool to New York on May 16, 1857, in the Arabia, Captain Stone in command. Twelve days later, they entered the Hudson. Owing to their unwillingness to unpack cases containing barometers, thermometers and other fragile instruments, they experienced considerable difficulty with the Custom House authorities. On June 2, they started from New York for Detroit, to await the American lake steamer Illinois, in order to proceed to Sault Ste. Marie. There Palliser expected two canoes, "which he had by directions from England several mails prior to his departure, arranged to meet him from LaChine in Canada." On June 10, 1857, at Sault Ste. Marie, they were joined by the voyagers with their two canoes. Fig. 1.-Captain John Palliser and Dr. James Hector Among them was old Jack Sakorontikitato who had (courtesy william C. Ireland, Provincial Librarian and served Sir George Simpson as guide and steersman, Archivist. Victoria, B.C.). and for 30 consecutive years had not missed one VT-;:. .*.**..--, - season of the journey from LaChine to Norway House on Lake Winnipeg. James Beads, also trans- ferred by Simpson, joined the second canoe. On June 12 they came within sight of Isle Royal, and on Hamishee (Thunder) Bay landed on a small islet consisting of red trap rock. At Fort William, upon the advice of Sir George Simpson, they .:.:.Ps ,, changed canoes for others more suitable for carry- * ing over the portages. On June 14 they camped opposite the mouth of White Fish River. A Journal entry dated Tuesday, June 23, 1857, stated that the party was now on the watershed of the continent, which divides the waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico from those which run into . Hudson's Bay, and was the boundary between Canada and the Hudson Bay Company territory. On June 30 at 9:00 a.m., Hector entered Lower Sturgeon Lake and halted on the right bank of the river. Here the party found the remains of an Indian - - camp, among which, in a secluded grove, were several platform burials upon raised posts five or six feet above the ground. In one of the coffins, which they had the curiosity to open, they found the skeleton of a child. Dr. Hector was of the opinion that the child had died from disease of the bones of the skull, which was much enlarged and thickened. f . July 1, 1857: At Fort Frances they received an Indian deputation. The chief commenced his harangue by an assurance that his tribe had not .william C. Ireland, Provincial Librarian and Archivist in dealing Victoria,withofficesHector'sof providedRoy life.MacKie,meAt withthegeneralVancouvera numbermanagerlibrary,of ofpublicationstheI C.P.R.had myhotels,first Fig. 2.-Frontispiece of the Palliser Journals. (Courtesy of and the Redpath library, I was permitted to study the . Thiiifii. Railway ' Palltser Journals, leisurely. Canad. Med. Ass. J. 68 MEN AND BOOKS: SIR JAMES HECTOR July 14, 1962, vol. 87 assembled to beg. His own importance was indi- According to custom, the Indian had thrown all cated by the statement "that his arms extended far his clothes away to celebrate the event. back into time, and that he thought long." The Doctor also reported that he had slept in an From Rainy River they proceeded to Lake of the adjacent Indian camp on the Coteau.