Dr James Mann Williamson.
This article is an attempt to relate the story of a respected doctor of Ventnor and to pay tribute to his life dedicated to the care of the sick and injured in the growing town of Ventnor and its sister village Bonchurch in the 19th century.
James Williamson, his father, was regarded a a hero in South Shields because when still a medical student sailed with a whaling fleet on the ‘Mary Jane’ to the Arctic in 1835 The ship was entrapped in the ice in the Davis Straits, Greenland for the whole winter, from October 5th toFebruary 19th 1836 year he provided medical care and helped prevent scurvy among the sailors but 27 of the crew died.
James Mann Williamson was the son of Dr James Williamson of South Shields and was born on Christmas Day 1849 Until he was 13 years of age he was educated in South Shields and at 13 years he attended the Edinburgh High School . He was under the educational care of Rev. Dr. Angus at the Regent’s Park College and matriculated at the London University. He decided to study Medicine like his father and took his first medical degree, M.B., C.M., at Edinburgh University in 1872 where he studied under Joseph Lister, Professor of Clinical Surgery, Edinburgh, James Spence, Professor of Surgery, Edinburgh and Alex Simpson, Professor of Midwifery. He was Medallist in Surgery and Midwifery in 1873. He then proceeded to an M. D., which he obtained, with Honours in 1875. His first appointment after qualifying was as House Surgeon and Resident Medical Officer at the Royal National Hospital, Ventnor, where he stayed for three and a half years. He left to become Medical Officer to the Welbeck Dispensary, Marylebone, London.
He returned to Ventnor in 1877.when he became the ‘Honorary Surgeon’ at the Royal National and began a private practice in the Undercliff of Ventnor in 1877-8. He lived at Grosvenor Villa, now part of the Wellington Hotel, Belgrave Road in Ventnor. He was a member of the Clinical and Pathological Societies of London. In 1882 he married, Janet Eliza Bruce, daughter of the Rev. Dr William Bruce D.D. and neice of the famous poet and preacher Robertson of Irvine. He moved across the road to Southcliff, Belgrave Road in 1878, where he carried on his practice. He and his wife took great interest in the Scientific and Literary Society of Ventnor and they had three children Hilda, Janet and James Bruce. Mrs Williamson was a fine singer and she gave recitals in aid of the hospital funds.
On the death of Dr Arthur Hill Hassall, the founder of the Hospital, Dr J.G..S. Coghill, was made Honorary Physician to the hospital, but later in 1897, on the death of Dr Coghill, Dr Williamson was made Physician, much to his pleasure. During his student days he suffered from rheumatic fever which left him with rheumatic carditis. This limited his ability for physical exertion and eventually resulted in heart failure. He lost his wife in 1900 and he died in 1901shortly after retiring with poor health. at the early age of 52. His patients presented him with an illuminated book of thanks a few days before hedied. He was a model practitioner of the art and science of medicine studying not only the diseases of the patient and the patient as a whole and he had belief in and enjoyment of his vocation. He was a gifted teacher and he passed on his knowledge to four assistants in his practice and they were generous in their praise of their mentor when they left Ventnor. He was a very successful clinician and kept meticulous records of his examinations. His clinical case notes for the years 1883-1900, in 12 volumes make fascinating reading and they have recently transferred from the Royal College of General Practitioners Library to the Welcome History of Medicine Library.
He had a large private practice and his letters show that his services were much appreciated by those in all walks of life. They included , young Winston Churchill, Karl Marx and many of the nobility and gentry that patronised Ventnor in this era.
He gave his Monday evening surgery free to patients and was Medical Officer to the Bonchurch Convalescent Home for boys part of the Hampshire County Hospital .He left his practice to his last assistant Dr T. A. Ross.
Publications: Ventnor and the Undercliff.
Life and Times of St Boniface.
Treatment of Bronchitis in Children in 3 parts in The ‘Mothers’ Magazine
On the supposed relation between Haemorrhage and barometric pressure 1879
Some Practical Points on the Treatment of Haemoptysis. B.M.J. Vol. I 1882
The Laryngeal Complications of Consumption. B.M.J. Vol II 1882
Lecture: Sleep and its relati0n to Dreams, Somnambulism and Trance 1880
A plea for the study of the Elimination of Drugs from the System 1887.
His son, Dr James Bruce Williamson, continued in his father’s footsteps and was a General Practitioner in Southcliff, Ventnor for 33 years, retiring in 1958.Reproduced with permission from Mrs Betty Williamson