Arthur Pearson—Pathological Wizard

NZ Truth, Issue 1179, 5 July 1928, Page 6

Arthur Pearson — Pathological Wizard

FROM a layman's point of view, Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, has the worst and most unsavory job m the city, although if the doctor were asked for his view he would no doubt tell you with a smile that it was a matter of opinion, and, anyway, every man to his job! v _ ... Arthur Pearson, the wizard of the post-mortem knife, is, m the opinion of people who are- qualified to know, the cleverest pathologist m New Zealand to-day. To Christchurch, 'at least, he is what Sir Bernard TSpilsbury, thd celebrated English pathologist, is to the Home Office. If you doubt this, Coroner E. D. Mosley, S.M., would have enough to say m praise of Dr. Pearson to convince the unsophisticated that this claim is well-founded.* Dr. ' Pearson's services m clearing up cases of mysterious deaths have been invaluable to the Christchurch coroner and the police. Coroner Mosley never loses an opportunity of putting on record his appreciation of those services. Dr. Pearson's job is, m its very nature, an unpleasant one. Some of the duties that devolve on him are literally frightful from the lay point of view, but he is a skilled scientist. To him, pathological science is a life work m which is sunk all his energies and all his ability, which is very much above the average. Dr. Pearson is 60 busy doing his job that he has no time for much else. Certainly, seeking publicity is no hobby of his, for when it comes to talking about himself the doctor is extremely modest and uncommunicative. One thing is certain, however, that although Arthur B. Pearson is of a very retiring disposition, his work for the coroner has been more than once publicly commended. The public knows his value-iand importance to the community. And so long as Dr. Pearson presides over the pathological destinies of coroners' inquests, no person will ever be. consigned to the grave with the cause of death unknown. He is known as the "wizard of the post-mortem," and the title is not so much a compliment as a bare statement of fact.