THE LATE DR. HULME.

Evening Star, Issue 4316, 27 December 1876, Page 2

THE LATE DR. HULME.

With great regret we have to-day to record the death of Dr. Edward Hulme. who has for many years held the office of Provincial Surgeon in Otago. Dr. Hulme appeared to be in more than usually good spirits at breakfast this morning, whioh he took at his usual time, about 9.30 a.m.; but shortly afterwards he was seized with a fit, which, however, did not so completely render him unconscious as to prevent his calling for assistance. His nephew without delay sent for Dr. Borrows, who promptly attended. Dr. Hulme had then partially recovered consciousness, and conversed with Dr. Borrows, who sugfested immediately sending for Mr tart, nephew to Dr. Hulme, and another friend and medical practitioner. Before they coold. possibly arrive, Dr. Hulme suffered a second attack, and, notwithstanding every effort to restore him, he died in a few minutes. The late Dr. Hulme was born at Hyde, in Kent, on the 18th May, 1812. At sixteen years of age he was articled as a pupil in the Kojal College of Surgeons in London, and studied under Sir Charles Bell at the Middlesex Hospital, in the capacity of dresser to that eminent physician. Having obtained his diploma, and subsequently graduated in medieine, he settled in the city of Exeter, and practised there as a physician. He was, after a severe contest, elected by a large majority one of the physicians of the Exeter Dispensary, an institution of so extensive a character as to find employment lor no less than twelve medical men as its ordinary staff. He subsequently retired from practice, and spent some time on the Continent, pursuing the study of the profession he had adopted. He entered the Prosceteur's Cabinet in the School of Medicine, of Paris, and studied lunacy at the Salpetriere, an institution made justly famous by the great men who have been at its head. After his return from Paris he resided for some time at the Rotunda (lying-in) Hospital, at Dublin, shortly afterwards he decided to relinquish his profession, and came out to Utago in the Stratbmore, in 1856, in company with many well-known members of this community, with the intention of engaging in pastoral pursuits. ' He was, however, persuaded to resume practice in Dunedin. He was, in January, 1857, elected Provincial Surgeon, the duties, of which office he has fulfilled up to the hour of his death. Shortly afterwards, on the occasion of a murder on the harbor Bide, he received the then vacant office of Coroner, which he relinquished in 1860. He held also for many years the office of Health Officer for this port. Dr. Holme's fame as a medical man is by no means confined to the narrow sphere of Otago. In Exeter his abilities were amply recognised, and his resignation of his connection with the county institution was marked by a public expression of the manner in which his services were esteemed by his fellow, citizens. For his essay ''Asphyxia and its causes, forms, and treatment," he was awarded the Jacksonian prize by the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons in June, 1848. The following remarks from the annual report of the Royal Humane Society for 1852 refer to this subject, and may not be without interest to the. many friends of Dr. Hulme in this Province. "At the last meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons, the prize founded by the late Mr Samuel Jackson was awarded to Mr Edward Hulme of Exeter, Devon, for his dissectation on. Asphyxia, its causes, forms, and treatment. A manuscript, entitled by Dr. Hulme a demonstration of the pathology and treatment of asEhyxia from submersion, has een most generously forwarded by him to the Committee of the Reyal Humane Society, and will form a valuable addition to the many scientific works collected on the subject of the restoration of suspended animation. At a recent meeting of the committee it was resolved—'That the members of the Medical Committee be requested to draw up a circular letter to be addressed to the Society's medical assistants on the subject of recommending inflation through the nostrils only, in cases where artificial respiration may be considered necessary.'" The above particulars are obtained from the ' Leader.'