DR. JOHN DICK.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 291, 26 September 1874, Page 2

DR. JOHN DICK.

We hardly know hew to perform our task of this week—how trace out in journalistic form, and yet not in form, a true idea of the loss the district has sustained in the sudden death, at the untimely age of twenty-eight, of Dr. John Dick. If he" had n'ot been-so-close to us the task would be an easy, one ; we could speak of "his extraordinary skill and success -as a physician y and altogether iniss the idea of his life, which so sweetly creeps into the imagination of those who loved him - Apparelled in more precious habit, More moving, delicate, and full of life, Into the eye and prospect of their souls Than when he lived indeed.-

Dr. Dick was born at the village of Douglas Bridge, at the farm of Knockanillar, County of Tyrone, Ireland, He matriculated at Queen's College, Belfast, 1865, and graduated as MQ. at,the earliest possible period in 18(59. Daring these four years he was engaged in a study so intense and enthusiastic as to very seriously shatter his constitution. On graduating he went, for the sake of the mild climate, to thesouth of England, and engaged therein the practice of his profession for a short s time. Before going to England, he applied to be allowed to compete in the examination for the vacancy among the Fellows of his College, an office which stamps the holders as being the highest in their profession, the seniors among them enjoying emoluments of from £6OO to £1,200 a-year. On account of his youth he was, however, debarred from the contest for so - honorable a post. About this time he. was pressed to enter the "Indian medf T cal civil service, which presents" great prizes to professional merit. The climate, however, it was ."considered, would be very much, against his health, and finally he was "advised,- on his return home in 1871, rather to take a long "sea voyage. Accordingly, early in 1872 he shipped in the Mar-* g'aret Galbraith for Otago, as surgeon of that vessel, with the full intention of at- once returning Home, so much so as to leave everything behind him that would notaccually be needed for Mb work in case he should feel tempted to remain. A few days after landing in Dunedin he observed the Mount Ida Hospital Committee's first advertisement for a surgeon, and, on the spur of the moment, sent up his application, which was accepted. In April, 1872, he came to Naseby, where he has rer sided continuously until the day of his death, his health steadily, as he thought,, improving.

Shortly after his arrival the sudden death of Dr. JME'Canibridge threw on ' his shoulders' the sole charge of the district.

The good-Di\ Dick has done daring these two years and--a half cannot easily be told."" Always-ready, always willing"; his time and • talents were freely spent. The poor mother struggling to support her family, the Chinaman in his bare' hut—all sharedequally of his best according to their r need. He was tenderly considerate in everything, save, perhaps, the duty he owed to. his own body. Dr. John •Brown, writing to Dr. Cairns, says:— " Not only has each organism a resi- " dent doctor, placed there by Him' "who can thus heal all our diseases ; ." but this doctor, if watched and waited . ■" on, informs any man or woman of " ordinary Bense what things to do and ' " what not to do. And I would have " you, who not unfrequently sin in the " same way, and all • our ardent, self- " sacrificing young men, to reflect whe- " ther, after destroying themselves and " dying- young, they have lost" or "gained." Dr. Dick was'also an offender, in" this respect. It is true hia .. constitutional disease did not take him from us, but his early over-work and his unresting round of work in our" midst undermined what strength there should hare been to resist the temporary attack he succumbed to. "On Tuesday',lsth Sept., he was taken seriously ill, inflammatory symptoms in the bowels showing themselves—it is thought the result of cold from a sudden exposure'on the Monday morning, when called to a case of emergency, in which' his promptness undoubtedly saved a life. During the week he continued suffering, but would, nevertheless, be at his work." On Friday he had himself driven -to the liospital, and on Saturday evening would go out,- although entreated not to do" so, to see a patient whom tie "was anxious "about. On the Sunday he was worse. In the afternoon of that day "Ins frieuds, who had unceasingly watched him, insisted on telegraphing.for medical assistance That afternoon he awoke from a dreamy stupor to recognise that he was sinking, to tell "those around him he was dying, and to bid them farewell. So the stranger died in a far land, away from home and those who loved him, yet guarded by others who would freely have given themselves for him, drawn in bonds closer than those of a brother' to the great, loving heart of tie who was being taken from them. What can we add ? It was meet that that tender soul—how brave let those say who knew him—should fall on sleep gently as a child, murmuring those wonderful words— ' Though I walk through the Valley ofShadow of Death I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Our, pen fails us." It matters little,,: hiß lif« and his works are enshrined in the hearts and homes of those--fbr whom he lived and died, and, his "deeds do follow him. - ' _ O man, greatly beloved, go thou thy "way till the end, for thou shalt rest and stand '"in thy lot-at the end of the days. ~