MEDICAL INSPECTOR DIES SUDDENLY
(Br TELEGRAM — PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, This Day.
Dr. John Bell Thomson, Medical Inspector of Schools, died suddenly to-day. He was spending a holiday in Dunedin, and practised at Arrow town for many years. In his younger days he was a noted interprovincial rugby half-back and played against Stoddart's team. -Evening Post, 20/2/1915.
DEATH OF DR J. B. THOMSON.
About 10 a.m. on the 20th the police wore advised that Dr John Bell Thomson, aged 46 years, had been found dead in his bed at his residence, 211 Cargill street.
The deceased practised his profession at Arrowtown for a number of years, and ne also practised at Kaitangata. He held the position of medical inspector of schools at Auckland until about four months ago, when he was granted leave of absence owing to being in indifferent health. Dr Thomson was a well-known representative footballer in his day, and played for the High School, Pirates, and University. He represented his province in 12 matches, and was one of the best backs Otago ever had. He played against Stoddart’s English team in 1888.
John Bell Thomson, or “Jack,” as he was known to all those who were associated with him, was one of the most distinguished boys that the High School has ever produced, and his early death, coming as it has done with such suddenness, will cause a great shock to all his friends, and particularly to those old boys of the school who were associated with him for so many years. He was a brilliant scholar, and was dux of the school in 1885, when only in his sixteenth year. But it is chiefly as an athlete that he was famous, and it is safe to say that he was the finest all-round athlete that ever wore the blue-and-white jersey. Along with Dr Irwin Hunter, he had the distinguished honour of representing his province in football when he was still a schoolboy, and his wonderful skill as a half back, with his accurate punting with either foot and his tricky, dodgy running, will be talked of by footballers who knew him as long as the game is played. In cricket he was captain of the eleven for three years, and frequently had to do the lion’s share of the work, both as a batsman and a bowler. He never lost any of his enthusiasm for his old school and its doings in the athletic field, and nothing gave him greater pleasure when he came to town than to go and see the boys playing football or cricket. As a matter of fact he spent last Saturday week on the school cricket ground in the afternoon watching the school eleven play their match. He was a true “sport ” in every sense of the word, and his quiet, unassuming manner endeared him to all those with whom he came in contact. Subjoined is his record: — Junior and senior provincial scholar; junior University scholar; dux of Otago Boys’ High School 1885; M.B.C.M. Edinburgh 1892. Athletics: Cricket eleven, 1883£6 (captain 1885 and 86); Football Fifteen, 1883 (captain 1885 and 1886); Otago Football Fifteen, 1886-88. School sports, 1884. Record in high jump (5ft 4 1/2in), 120yds Hurdles, Long Jump.
THE INQUEST.
An inquest was held at the late residence of the deceased on the 22nd before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., coroner. Seniorrsergeant Dart represented the police.
Isabella B. Thomson, wife of the deceased, said that her late husband was 46 years of age. He was a duly qualified medical practitioner. For some time he had not been well, but had made no particular complaint. He had no particular worry, but his time was not fully occupied, and he suffered from sleeplessness occasionally. On Friday night he was in his ordinary health, and retired shortly after 10 o’clock. He slept soundly until 3 a.m. on Saturday, when he appeared restless. At half-past 7 he appeared to be dozing, and witness left him. About 9.45 a.m. witness returned and found him partly lying on the floor, his head not reaching the ground. Witness did not notice any handkerchief supporting his head. He was unconscious, and witness, on touching his forehead, found it not quite cold. She called Dr Macdonald, and also Dr Fitzgerald, who arrived shortly after his colleague. On their arrival they pronounced Dr Thomson to be dead. Witness did not see a handkerchief removed from the neck of the deceased.
Dr Fitzgerald said that he knew the deceased well, and had seen a good deal of him for the last three months since he had come to Dunedin. He had recently given up his practice at Arrowtown and accepted an appointment as medical inspector of schools at Auckland. He came to Dunedin on sick leave, and consulted witness, who found him to be suffering from nervous depression and insomnia. He seemed to improve when he came to Dunedin, and witness had never anticipated any such termination as had occurred. On being called on Saturday morning, and entering the room of the deceased, witness found the body lying on the floor. Dr Macdonald had arrived before, and had removed a handkerchief which had been around the neck of the deceased, and fastened to the bed post. A mark was left on the neck, and strangulation was evidently the cause of death. The deceased was naturally of a nervous temperament.
The Coroner said that strangulation had evidently been the cause of death, and the deceased had apparently been suffering from temporary mental aberration. He had been well known as an athlete, and had been forward in every sport. He had been of a nervous temperament. If he had been contemplating suicide, as a medical man, he would have taken a more satisfactory means of committing it. Slow strangulation was a most painful mode of death, and he must have been suffering from temporary mental aberration. The case was a sad one.
The verdict was “ That the deceased had died of self-strangulation while he was in a temporary state of insanity.”
A former resident of the Lakes district has forwarded to us the following tribute to Dr Thomson’s memory: —
“John Bell Thomson was not only an able physician, but a friend. All that was best and noblest found practical expression in his life. He was ‘a man.’ During his lengthy residence in the Lakes District he was over animated by a high sense of duty, and his quiet, kindly ways and sympathetic manner made his presence welcome in the homes that were shadowed by sickness. To the writer’s knowledge he unobstrusively performed many acts of generosity, and never charged a penny to the poor and needy who sought his advice. It has been said ‘True goodness is like the glow-worm in this — that it shines most when no eyes, except those of Heaven, are upon it.’ Such were the traits in the character of John Bell Thomson, whose whole life was marked by a keen sense of duty, deep and unostentatious piety, and unswerving rectitude and integrity.” -Otago Witness, 24/2/1915.
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