Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/989

NAME REESE 967 REES phoid fever, in erysipelas, and in cholera did much to improve our knowledge of these dis- eases; his influence as a teacher was singularly deep and far-reaching; while the good done during the long years of quiet unrecognized service as a post surgeon brought an amount of health and happiness into many lives which can never be estimated. A list of his writings may be found in the Catalogue of the Surgeon-General's Office, Washington, D. C. Caroline W. Latimer. Rees, William William Rees, pioneer Canadian alienist, an Englishman by birth and education, came from England in 1819 and began the practice of his profession in Quebec. Toward the close of 1829 he went to York (now Toronto), and having passed the examination of the Medi- cal Board, January, 1830, purchased the prac- tice of Dr. Daly. This inscription appeared in the Upper Canada Gase^tte: "Dr. Rees has taken rooms, corner of Market Square, King Street. He will vaccinate and give advice gratis to the poor, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday." In 1832 he disposed of his prac- tice to Dr. Grasett and removed to Cobourg. The following card later appeared in the Co- bourg Star: "Dr. Rees, professionally edu- cated in England, pupil of Sir Astley Cooper, and 10 years a practitioner in the Canadas, respectively tenders his services to the inhabi- tants of Cobourg and vicinity, October 21, 1832." But his stay at Cobourg was a short one, and he returned to Toronto. Dr. Rees was a many-sided man. He con- ceived various projects of a scientific and be- nevolent character. He was regarded as of a speculative rather than practical disposition and of unusual intelligence and public spirit. Mrs. Jameson, in her entertaining narrative of her sojourn in Canada, says that Dr. Rees entertained the idea of founding a house of reception for destitute female immigrants, where, without depending on charity, they might be boarded and lodged at the smallest possible cost and be resjpectably protected until employment was obtained. He presented a petition to Parliament in 1836 praying the grant of a sum of money for the erection of a provincial museum. He planned to establish in connection with the museum a botanical and zoological garden on a grant of land on the government reserve in the western part of the city. It, however, came to nothing. He was surgeon to the first West New York Battalion, 1837. It is stated that Dr. Rees was also the originator of the present To- ronto Club. Up to 1841 no insane asylum existed in Upper Canada. In January of this year the Provincial Asylum was first opened in To- ronto by virtue of an act passed in 1839, large- ly through the activity of Dr. Rees. The pro- vincial authorities had acquired the old gaol at the east side of Toronto Street, north of King Street, after the new gaol in the east end had been completed. He was the first superin- tendent of the asylum, which at first had 17 patients. This building was soon densely filled, and it became necessary to procure fur- ther accommodation for the numerous appli- cants for admission. The eastern wing of the Parliament buildings was appropriated to this purpose, and subsequently a still further ad- dition was made by the occupation of a vacant house near the old garrison. The three build- ings were used until the present asylum was ready for occupancy. Dr. Rees held the po- sition of superintendent until he was suc- ceeded by Dr. Telfer. Dr. Rees, notwithstanding his evident ability and enterprise, unfortunately seems to have been wanting in a proper mental balance. Con- cerning his connection with the Provincial Lunatic Asylum, the following memoran- dum was made by a friend : "Dr. Rees was a learned man on some things, but an eccentric and most sanguine man — was always considered flighty and never had much practice. Through his energy the first lunatic asylum was estab- lished in Toronto, and he was appointed to the superintendency, and management thereof (upon the principle, I suppose, of setting a madman to watch a madman). He was seri- ously injured by a blow on the head from one of the patients, the effects of which he felt to his dying day. Very properly after this he was removed from his position, and the asy- lum placed in other and undoubtedly, more able hands .... But poor Reese never recovered from the eflfects of the step, which, no doubt, the government felt constrained to take. He brooded on the injustice that hcg thought had been done him, and he never ceased to mourn over the neglect that the country had shown him. In all his madness he made several good speculations in land, but the benefit of these was reaped by others." Opposite the old Parliament buildings, on what was called the "Broken Front," Dr. Rees constructed a wharf, which was long known as "Rees' Wharf." Near it, under the hill, he built a small but comfortable house, in which