Canad. M. A. J. 351 April 1951, vol.64 j MEN AND BOOKS: JOHN CLARENCE WEBSTER

Not onily may they assist in this program by devoted entirely to peediatric subjects by reducing their transfusion therapy to an ab- French-Canadian peadiatricians. The fifty arti- cles in the two issues represent a panorama of solute minimum, but their influence in their modern paediatric problems, dealing with sub- own communities can do much to stimulate the jects varying from Prematurity to Modern enrolment of thousands of additional blood Psychology, and from Training Programs to donors without whom the project cannot be Hospital Planning, and are in a great measure successful. W.S.S. a tribute to the significant advances made by our French-Canadian colleagues in Pwdiatrics generally. The articles are all on a high scientific level and comprising, as they do, an EDITORIAL COMMENT overall picture of pediatric thought, -our L'Union Medicale du Canada French pediatric colleagues and the Editorial The issues of November, 1950, and- of Janu- staff of L'Union AMedicale du Canada merit our arv 1951, of L'Union Meldicale du Canada, are felicitations. A.G.

MEN and BOOKS degree was received at the age of 19 and Webster planned to begin the study of medi- DR. JOHN CLARENCE WEBSTER cine in Edinburgh in the fall of 1882. Illness, however, detained his admission there until the Fred 0. Priest, M.D. following year. In Edinburgh he found anl atmosphere quite different from that in which Chicago, Ill. he had lived. The university was at the height [We are glad to publish the following additional ac- of its fame and had an extremely large enroll- count of a notable Canadian surgeon. This was presented ment. A five-year course was offered, after on October 80, 1950, at the annual meeting of The Cana- which the Master of Surgery and Bachelor of dian Gynxecologioal Travel Society, a small but select group which, originating in Montreal, knows no inter- Medicine degrees were given, two years' addi- national boundaries.-EDITOR.] tional work being required if the Doctor of Medicine degree was given. Webster found the To find a subject not essentially medical, of competition keen and the professors superb at interest to a group of distinguished obstetiri- Edinburgh. In 1890 he received the degree of cians and gynecologists of Canada, to my own Doctor of Medicine and was awarded the gold colleagues and friends, is not an easy assign- prize for original work. He was stimulated ment. Our avocations and hobbies are so by meeting the many famous visitors to the diversified that a topic of great interest to one university, the great names in medicine, the of us may be boring to another. I have, there- arts and letters. He was a shy fellow and had fore, 'tried to select a subject of which taken little part in student activities. But this both you and we may claim joint ownership. had given him much time to explore the city The subject, a man, born one of you, spent his and for the study of Scottish history. This early life in Caniada, came to us and, more early study was to show its influence in his specifically, to our own medical college and later life. hospital and, after twenty years of arduous and Shortly after his graduation he was ap- devoted service here, returned to Canada to pointed assistant to Sir Alexander Simpson, give to you the remnainder of his busy life. Professor of midwifery. He seemed marked This man, of course, was Dr. John Clarence as Simpson's successor for he remained in this Webster. While it was not my privilege to capacity for six years. He had come to feel know Dr. Webster, those who did will remem- himself a part of Edinburgh and planned to ber him as a man of outstanding personality, a make it his permanent home. Illness, a chronic human dynamo unitil the day of his death. upper respiratory infection, influenced him to John Clarence Webster, of Scottish and leave, however, and he returned to Canada Yorkshire stock. was born in Shediac, New where he became demonstrator in gynaecology Brunswick, October 21, 1863. His early educa- at McGill University and assistant gynaecolo- tion was at the Westmoreland County School gist at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. where he developed a great admiration for his Here he developed septicaemia from an infected teacher, Mr. D. B. White. who had been edu- patient. This influenced him to introduce the cated in Edinburgh. This teacher and Web- use of rubber gloves in surgery, a technique ster's father were the incentive for his own which he brought with him to the Presbyterian later medical education in Edinburgh. He Hospital. entered Mount Allison at the age of fifteen. In 1899 Dr. Webster accepted the professor- Here little is recorded except that he had a ship of obstetrics and gynaecology at Rush definite dislike for Latin and Greek, which he Medical College of the University of Chicago always considered a waste of time. An Arts and the chairmanship of those departments in [Canad. M. A. J. 352 MEN AND BOOKS: JOHN CLARENCE WEBSTER April 1951,vol. 64 the Presbyterian Hospital. Shortly before his continu41 nagging and said: " Doctor coming here he was married to Alice Lusk, the Webster, if you'll attend to your end of the daughter of William T. Lusk, an eminent New patient, I'll take care of my end." When York obstetrician. In Chicago Webster found Webster later began to limit his obstetrical an atmosphere very different from that to practice he referred many of his patients to which he had been accustomed. Here was a this man. Once he was out of the operating spirit of newness; new ideas and initiative were rooms he became himself again and really encouraged and he stated that he found a enjoyed the respect and admiration of his group of colleagues comparable to those with subordinates. whom he had worked in Edinburgh. He was He enjoyed the meetings of the faculty and welcomed by the heads of the other depart- staff, these being educational in value, but ments and was given a free rein in the develop- found many of the medical society meetings ment of his own department. This he conducted unprofitable. At the latter he was a severe with an iron hand. His keen intellect, un- critic, particularly at the Chicago Gynaecologi- limited energy, advanced surgical principles cal Society. The younger essayists were and deft technique brought him prompt recog- always pleased when he was absent for he nition and a large and remunerative surgical demanded proof of any statement made. practice. He spared himself no pains and ac- Webster did very little socially while in cepted no excuses for mediocrity in others. He Chicago-both because his program of work was a difficult taskmaster but, always in the was so heavy and because he chose not to do interest of the patient or of accurate teaching. so. But it was here that he and Mrs. Webster His department was soon well organized and became interested in oriental art and began the much of the didactic teaching was left to his collection of Japanese and Chinese art objects. subordinates. Thus he obtained more time in This was continued for many years and became which to carry on his research, the develop- one of the most famous in the world. They ment of an excellent departmental museum later presented the collection to the New Bruns- and the writing of medical papers and books. wick Museum. He had been and continued to be a prolific In 1920, at the age of 57 and at the height writer. He had published five books or mono- of his medical career, he abruptly withdrew graphs on obstetrics or gynaecology while in from all medical activities and returned to his Edinburgh and he published five additional native Shediac, New Brunswick, and resumed ones during his first eight years in Chicago. his Canadian citizenship. He had offered his His original work on human placentation, on services to the Canadian Medical authorities in ectopic pregnancy, and on the anatomy of 1941 and, to the United States authorities in pregnancy through serial sections gave him 1917 but had not been accepted. Many of the world renown. Many of the beautiful illustra- younger men were in service and he had been tive drawings in his papers were done by him- overburdened with work during the war. His self or his accomplished wife. He published resignation was accepted with many regrets by 65 medical papers during his stay in Chicago. the College and the Presbyterian Hospital. I think that you should know something of At the age of 57 Webster was not in the best Webster, the man, while here. He had a great of health, had acquired a comfortable financial fear of upper respiratory infections and alwaiys status, and, had he been like many of us, would tried to avoid being chilled. In the operating have retired to a life of ease. But it was dur- theatre he was quite unpopular. Besides the ing the last thirty years of his life, after he warmth of the surgical attire and the room, left the field of medicine, that he accomplished he could easily increase his temperature by the those things for which he will be remembered smallest irritations. At the end of each surgi- longest and most loved. When questioned as cal case a large blanket was brought to him to which of the two fields of his life had been and he draped himself somewhat like "Stand- of most interest to him he replied that he had ing Bull "-hence he was soon designated as found as much satisfaction in one as in the "The Chief" in more senses than one. other, but that his historical research had car- He enjoyed the distinction of having more ried him through the perils of old age and interns quit his service, or threaten to do so, saved him from the horrors of doddering than any other head of a department. After senility. Also it was in his second field of en- one of his episodes in surgery, a red-haired deavour that he worked closely with Mrs. Scottish intern reached into the instrument tray Webster and spent most of his time with her. and picked out a hanging speculum. "And It was in Edinburgh that he had first interested what do you intend to do with that?" asked himself in Scottish and Canadian history, music Webster. When told that he knew very well and painting. Together they had continued what he intended to do with it, Webster re- these studies throughout the years. After his plied: "Come, come, my boy, one damned fool retirement from medicine he and Mrs. Webster in the operating room is enough." On another devoted themselves to research in Canadian occasion the intern who was giving anaesthesia history. For ten yVears they visited Europe for Webster became somewhat irritated with annually, studying the related archives anid Canad. M. A. J. 1 MEDICAL ECONOMICS 353 April 1951, vol. 64il laying the foundation of the "Webster Collec- historical museums. His favourite was perhaps tion of Canadiana ". This collection was the museum at Fort Beausejour. Many donated to the New Brunswick Museum also, presentations were made here through his is valued at one million dollars, and is rivalled generosity and at his own expense. It was only by the collection in the National Archives quite fitting that an addition to the museum in in Ottawa. Mrs. Webster played an inestim- 1949 should be named 'The John Clarence able part in this work and is as tireless a Webster Wing". He has, I believe, done more worker as was her husband. Dr. Bartlett for the preservation of historic sites in the Brebner, an historian at Columbia, has said: Maritimes than any other man. "It is faulty mathematics to add a Webster to He received honorary degrees from five uni- a Webster and get two Websters. In order to versities and honours from the governments of understand all they have been able to do, you several countries. His active later life in multiply Webster by Webster and get Webster Canadian history and literature was so full squared." that many may forget his contribution to medi- In 1923 Webster was made a member of the cine but it is as a physician that we wish to "Historic Sites and Monuments Board," an remember Dr. Webster. honorary group of Canadian historians to ad- vise the government in the marking of historic ADDENDUM sites and national historic parks. Twenty Since I did not have the opportunity of knowing Dr. Webster personally, I obtained my information from the years later he was made chairman of this board following sources: and remained in that capacity until his death "Those Crowded Years". By J. Clarence Webster. this year at 87 years of age. This was perhaps (His autobiography, written for his children.) Dr. Stanley Pargellis, Librarian of the Newberry his most cherished appointment because of its Library, Chicago, a friend of Dr. Webster in his later connection with the history of Canada. In this life. span of his life he published 50 papers and Webster's personal correspondence with Mrs. Edwin several books, dealing with Canadian history. Miller of Chicago. Various medical and historical magazines of the His thesis on the life of General Wolfe is a British Empire. classic. He was largely responsible for the Conversations with staff members and with former establishment or restoration of numerous interns of Dr. Webster at the Presbyterian Hospital.

"That the conference instructs the General Medical MEDICAL ECONOMICS Services Committee to make preparations forthwith for the termination of contracts by general medical practi- tioners in the N.H.S. and that if and when it becomes MEDICAL SERVICES: FURTHER evident that there is no prospect of a satisfactory settle- ment of the claim, a conference be called to name a date COMMENTS AND CONCLUSIONS at which general practitioners shall be advised to end their contracts with executive councils and that in any Harris McPhedran, M.D. case a conference be called to consider the position in December, 1950, if a satisfactory settlement has not been Toronto, Ont. reached by that time. " (The date for withdrawal from the Service has now been advanced to March, 1951.) In my first paper,* I set forth my, impressions of the results of the N.H.S.A. in Great Britain Here the matter rests, the medical profession and ended with a summary of the benefits and convinced that the practice of medicine has been defects of this experiment in Soeialized Medi- degraded in the past two years and determined cine. From this, we in Canada should gain (even though conceding that the principle of valuable lessons when considering changes in the insurance is sound) to effect changes leading to present methods of rendering medical services. the betterment of general medical services. Before drawing any conclusions, however, it In Canada, all national political parties have is timely to review: (1) The course of events committed, themselves to a policy of National Health Insurance including general health serv- regarding medical services in Great Britain since ices varying in degree from partial to complete May, 1950, when I was there. (2) The situation nationalization. As far as I know, the present regarding National Health Insurance in Canada. government of Canada is still committed to-the (3) Plans in New Zealand and-Australia. (4) policy outlined by the late Prime Minister, Mr. The policy of the Canadian Medical Association. Mackenzie King. In a speech to Parliament on After two years of operation of the N.H.S.A. May 14, 1948, two statements were made by him. what has been the result? At the Southport 1. He proposed legislation, subsequently ad- meeting of the Representative Body of the Gpted by Parliament, setting aside $30,000,000 B.M.A. in July, 1950, the following resolution a year for the next 5 years as from May, 1948 was passed. for: (a) Health survey grant to determine the * Medical Services in Great Britain, Canad. Mt. A. J., health needs in the provinces. (b) Health 63: 511, 1950. grants to the provinces, mostly to aid in extend-