Death of Dr. Henry

Manawatu Herald, 12 April 1894, Page 3

Death of Dr. Henry

The N.Z. Times says: — Very general and deep will be the regret felt by the public of Wellington and the medical profession at large at j the sudden demise of Dr. Henry at j this city* who expired on Monday night after a brief and most unex • pected illness, at the comparatively early ago of 59. Up to nearly one o'clock yester | day (Monday), Dr Henry was in his office in the Government Insurance ! Buildings, where he had been chief i rofeittoal officer since early in 1889, ( succeeding Dr Alexander Johnston in the position. He was yesterday in bit usual health and spirits. He I'-ft the : office about one o'clock to return to his surgery, as he was re- J quuvd to aitend at the Police Office to examine a lunatic. But on his way he was suddenly seized with j violent pains about the lumbar i region, which afc first was deemed to be renal colio. Morphia injections were , Buboiifcaneously administered, an ( the doctor resumed his usual choertul manner. But, by and bye, he told Dr King (his assistant) and Dr Anson, who was called at the outset of his illness, that he feared the trouble was indicative of angina pectoris, and that he thought it ptobable the pain would ascend to his heart, and that there was little time to lose. He thereupon had a will made which, during the afternoon; was signed in presence of his medical friends above-named. His own diagnosis of his sudden seizure ployed unfortunately too correct, and Dr Henry breathed his last a few minutes before 11 o'clock on Monday night, leaving a son in London, and two daughters, for whom the greatest sympathy will bo experienced in (Heir gad and sudden bereavement. jP^ JJenrj was a native of Ireland, wnere he was born about the year 1885^which would make him 59 at the time of his death. He finished his iiduoation at Trinity College, where he,, graduated, and taking to medicine became Licentiate of the Irish College of Surgeons in 1862. Coming t0... the Colony, very soon after,£,hd iound the Waikato war raging and volunteering his services wajfn%pppinted one of the surgeons to the forces. In that capacity he went th&ugh the campaign, was frequently under fire in the discharge of ikis .duty* undergoing many narrow eajtpit," aia coolness and courage beittg"mnch~ remarked. After the wat-he went South, to the Western goldfields of the South Island, which were then attracting a large population. The -Westport district, in whjgh^he practised his profession, I waf JsQg the scene of his labours | and there he became- vastly popular, j JJrpro, 1,876 to 187& Dr Henry; represented the Buller in the House of Representatives. After his re- j tirement from public life Dr Henry . went Home to bring himself up to date, by . studying the most modern ! systems of surgery and physic, and increased his experience by visiting ' (he great" hospitals of London and

Dublin. In 1880, while in London he took the degree of Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of that city. About twelve years ago he came to Wellington and settled, and obtained by the same sterling qualities and unalloyed kindness of heart which had appealed so powerfully to the miners of the West Coast the respect of his fellowcitizens. At the time of his death he was a member of the Board of Governors of Wellington College and the Girls' High School, a Justice of the Peace for the Colony, and Chief Medical Officer of the Government Life Insurance Department. The late Premier, Mr Ballance, was one of hi 3 patients, and expressed himself as deeply grateful to him for his kindness and unremitting care. Dr Henry married a Miss Armstrong, a member of a military family, who died some three years ago in Wellington. He leaves two daughters unmarried, and a son (Claude) aged 24, who passed his medical examinations in January last, and is now one of the junior physicians at St Bartholomew's Hospital. We understand that Mr Claude Henry, to whom the sad news has been cabled, will return to Wellington by an early steamer. Dr Henry will be greatly missed in the city. Peace be to his ashes.