"Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult." - Charlotte Whitton.
Alexandra Mathieson must have been such a woman. Born a twin in 1900, she was a hospital surgeon when she died. A bottle of carbolic acid (aka phenol) broke and she died of the chemical burns. Its usefulness as a killer of germs did for her.
Her death was a tragedy in many more ways than the merely personal. It must have been an easily avoidable accident. And Dr Alexandra, though unsung by any publication I've been able to find, must have been a beacon for the hopes of the women of New Zealand.
It's a real shame that Alexandra's entry on the DCC "Cemeteries Search" website has her occupation listed as "Spinster," presumably because she wasn't married. She deserves much better than that.
FATALITY IN HOSPITAL.
DR MATHIESON’S DEATH.
SPLASHED WITH CARBOLIC ACID.
(Per United Press Association.) GORE, January 12. A sad accident resulting in the death of Dr A. Mathieson, resident lady medical officer of the Gore Hospital, occurred at that institution at 11.15 o’clock this morning. Dr Mathieson was working with carbolic acid when by some means the bottle was smashed. The acid was splashed over her body and face and immediately began its deadly work. Dr Mathieson also suffered severely from shock and in a short while became unconscious. Dr Lillie was immediately called in and resuscitation efforts were continued for three hours. These efforts were of no avail. Dr Mathieson slowly sank and death occurred, between 1.50 and 2 o’clock this afternoon. Dr Mathieson came to the Gore Hospital from Dunedin some four or five months ago, and proved herself a very popular and efficient officer.
Dr Alexandra Mathieson was a daughter of the late Inspector W. Mathieson, of the police force. She acted as house surgeon in the Dunedin Hospital for some time before she went to Gore. - Otago Daily Times, 14/1/1929.
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| Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. |
OBITUARY
THE LATE DR. MATHIESON.
"The late Dr. Alexandra Carson Mathieson, who died at Gore Hospital on Sunday, as the result of an accident, was a twin daughter of the late William Mathieson, Superintendent of Police, who died at Dunedin some two years ago. Dr. Mathieson, who was 28 years of age, received her education at the Mornington Public School and the Otago Girls' High School. She subsequently attended the Medical School at the Otago University, and in 1927 graduated M.B., Ch.B. Early last year she was appointed medical officer at the Gore Hospital, prior to that having acted as house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital. She was an efficient officer and was popular with the patients and staff. Dr. Mathieson is survived by her mother, who resides at Moriiington, Dunedin, her elder sister, who is married to Mr W. W. Millar, Invercargill, and her twin sister, Annie, who is unmarried, and lives with her mother. The Press, 15/1/1929.
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ReplyDeleteInteresting, i've never forgotten this story. The Mathieson family history "South Ardoyne to Southland" (which also has a not very clear photo of "Bud" or "Pod") states that one morning Alexandra, described as "dark haired, handsome and with a pleasant personality" was sent to the dispensary, lifted a bottle of Lysol off a shelf as, as she handled it, the bottle broke, spilling the contents over the top half of her body. It was believed that the bottle was already cracked. When she realised what had happened she cried out to the sister nearby for help. Sadly. because of Alexandra's shocking death the health of her twin sister Annie (Nan) deteriorated and she died, as noted on the headstone, only ten years later in 1939
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