UWO
Medical Artifact Collection

Local Practitioners

Many objects in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection were once owned by London practitioners and former members of the Faculty of Medicine. In some cases, the medical ledgers, casebooks and scrapbooks belonging to many London practitioners also survived and are now stored in the university archives located at the Archives and Research Collections Centre (ARCC) in Weldon Library, UWO. Together, these sources reveal aspects of the history of the UWO medical school, its teaching practices and general medical practice in London and the surrounding area.

Photo Name & Bio Description of Material
Baker, Milton (1870-1906) graduated from Trinity Medical College, Toronto, in 1894, and that year began practising medicine in Springfield, Elgin County, Ontario. In 1904, he undertook postgraduate work in eye, ear, nose and throat specialties and then practised in Brantford, Ontario, before dying of meningitis. There are 7 objects in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection that were probably owned by Dr Baker including several thermometers (2004.056.01.01; 2004.057.01.01), sutures (2004.259.01.01), and forceps (2004.404.01.01)
Bucke, Richard Maurice (1837-1902) was Superintendent of the London Ontario Asylum from 1876 until his death in 1902. Scrapbooks and Medical Records relating to Dr Bucke and the London Ontario Asylum are located in ARCC
Campbell, Clarence T. (1843-1922) was a homeopathic doctor who lived and worked in the London area.  He lectured at various institutions including Victoria Hospital, London. Photograph Album, Memorial Book, and Notebooks relating to Dr Campbell and to homeopathic practices in Ontario are located in ARCC
Collip, James Bertram (1892-1965) was a graduate of Trinity College in Toronto with a doctorate in Biochemistry.  While on leave from the University of Alberta, he assisted Dr Frederick Banting and Charles Best in the development of insulin.  Collip became Dean of Medicine and Professor of Medical Research at UWO in 1947, retired as Dean in 1961 but continued as Professor of Medical Research until his death in 1965. The papers of Dr Collip are located in ARCC
Crane, J.W. (1877-1959) was a member of the UWO Faculty of Medicine from 1913 to 1940. Dr Crane probably owned this Monocular Compound Microscope (2004.161.01.01) in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection.  His diaries are also stored in ARCC.
Fenwick, Alexander Greig was a doctor in London and served as Surgeon to the 3rd Battalion of the Two Moutains Militia. The papers, diaries and account books of Dr Fenwick are located in ARCC.
Foucar, H. Olding was Chief of Surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London from 1921 to 1967. Journal articles of Dr Foucar are located in ARCC.
Geddes, Donald Currie graduated from the University of Toronto and thereafter practiced dentistry in Clinton and London. Dental papers, letters and family albums of Dr Geddes are located in ARCC.
Hall, George Edward (1907-1972) was one of Canada’s foremost medical scientists, university administrators and public figures during a career that spanned four decades.  He became Dean of Medicine in 1945 and actively recruited a group of outstanding medical scientists and clinicians who elevated Western’s medical faculty into a position of national and international prominence. In 1947, Dr Hall became President and Vice Chancellor of UWO, a position he held for twenty years, during a period of momentous changes in post-secondary education in Canada. For example, there were under 1000 students enrolled at UWO in 1947 but this number rose to over 10,000 by the time Dr Hall resigned in 1967. Papers relating to Dr Hall’s medical research during WWII are located in ARCC.
Harding, Paul worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital, London. There are 14 objects in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection that were probably owned by Dr Harding, including a neurological percussion hammer (2004.537.01.01), midwifery forceps (2004.541.01.01, 2004, 542.01.01), among other objects.
MacLaren, Alexander practised in Delaware, just south of London, between 1873 and 1892. He also served as coroner for London and Middlesex county.     There are 167 objects in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection that belonged to Dr MacLaren ranging from surgical items (2004.601.01.01, 2004.652.01.01, 2004.731.01.01, 2004.759.01.01) to tonsil-removing instruments (2004.604.01.01, 2004.620.01.01, 2004.629.01.01, 2004.703.01.01) to eye tools (2004.724.01.01, 2004.757.01.01).
Ollerhead, W.W. was an orthopedic surgeon and assisted with teaching gross anatomy in the UWO Department of Anatomy. In the UWO Medical Artifact Collection, there are microscope slides (2004.586.01.01, 2004.899.01.01) and lantern slides (2004.876.01.01, 2004.878.01.01) that were owned by Dr Ollerhead. 

Saunders, William (1836-1914) opened a drug store after an apprenticeship to Dr John Salter.  Saunders pioneered in the preparation of fluid extracts of drugs, which led to the establishment of a wholesale firm for their manufacture and distribution.  He took an active part in founding the Canadian Pharmaceutical Society in 1867 and the Ontario College of Pharmacy in 1871.  He was Professor of Materia Medica in the London Medical College during the 1880s until moving to Ottawa in 1886 to become the first director of Canada’s five experimental farms with headquarters in Ottawa.  His eldest son, William E. Saunders graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and carried on his father’s pharmaceutical and physicians’ supplies business in London.  He taught chemistry from 1884 to 1892 at the London Medical College. There are many objects in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection that were distributed by the William E. Saunders Company in London, such as a hemometer case (2004.060.01.01), gauze bandage (2004.507.01.01),  ophthalmoscope (2004.530.01.01), and various instruments in one doctor’s bag (2004.911.01.01). In ARCC, some papers of Dr Saunders (Sr) are available.
Seaborn, Edwin (1872-1951) graduated from UWO in 1895, practised as a doctor in London, and began demonstrating anatomy at UWO in 1897.  He was the Chair of Anatomy at UWO from 1903 to 1911, then taught surgery. During WWI, he commanded the 10th Stationary Hospital in France and in England. There are 8 objects in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection that probably belonged to Dr Seaborn, including stethoscopes (2004.046.01.01, 2004.048.01.01), syringes (2004.102.01.01, 2004.116.01.01), and surgical instruments (2004.149.01.01, 2004.230.01.01).  In ARCC, there are scrapbooks and papers related to Dr Seaborn’s work in medicine and his historical writing.
Tew, William Penton (1889-1976) graduated in medicine at the University of Toronto in 1917, and then served in WWI as a naval surgeon-lieutenant until 1919. His postgraduate work was at Toronto General Hospital in obstetrics and gynecology under Professor B.P. Watson. Tew was the first doctor in London to restrict his practice to obstetrics and gynecology. He was appointed an instructor at the UWO medical school in 1920, Associate Professor in 1927, and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1936-57. From 1957-1973 he was a consultant for London hospitals. There are 7 objects in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection that were most likely used by Dr Tew such as a Hey’s Saw (2004.375.01.01), a Cautery Tool (2004.376.01.01), Bone Holding Forceps (2004.379.01.01), and Fluoroscope (2004.380.01.01)
Thompson, Hamlet registered for his Ontario license in 1906, and initially practised in Toronto. He later practised in the Thedford/Arkona area. Dr Hamlet Thompson probably owned 24 objects currently in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection ranging from diagnostic instruments (2004.031.01.01, 2004.050.01.01, 2004.068.01.01, 2004.210.01.01, 2004.211.01.01)  to surgical tools (2004.189.01.01, 2004.217.01.01, 2004.228.01.01, 2004.867.01.01)
Thompson, Septimus (1876-1956) was born in Strathroy, Ontario, graduated from UWO medical school in 1900, interned at Victoria Hospital, London (1900-01), and then practiced with his brother A.S. Thompson in Strathroy for 2 years. From 1903-06, he took postgraduate training at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, N.Y., and established a specialty practice in London. In 1907 he began teaching ophthalmology and otolaryngology at UWO. He retired in 1946 and was awarded an honourary LLD by UWO in 1949. He also was surgeon at Victoria Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital. There are 5 objects in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection that probably belonged to Dr Thompson including an elaborate French-made Luer surgical set (2004.147.01.01) and two amputation sets (2004.119.01.01, 2004.892.01.01)
Waugh, William (1851-1936) served an apprenticeship with Dr Alexander Anderson in London, then studied medicine at McGill University.  He returned to London, taking over Anderson's practice. In 1883 he joined the UWO Medical Faculty as Professor of General, Descriptive and Surgical Anatomy. He later became the Registrar and the Chair of Principles and Practice of Surgery in 1886, and the medical school bursar and Emeritus Professor of Surgery from 1913 to 1936.   There are 2 objects in the UWO Medical Artifact Collection that were used by Dr Waugh, probably at the university. These are an anatomical model (2004.288.01.01) and a microscope (2004.340.01.01).  In ARCC, there is an address by Dr Waugh, dated 6 February 1932, describing his 60 years of medical practice in London.