1864
Dr. F.E. Goldsmith appointed Colonial Surgeon and Protector of Aboriginals to accompany Finniss’ Expedition to Escape Cliffs.
As Colonial Surgeon his duties included the provision of medical and surgical attention without charge to officers and men of the expedition, the supervision of sanitation, the prevention of the introduction of disease from overseas, the control of communicable disease locally and the study of environment. Subject to the approval of the Government Resident he was permitted to attend persons other than members of the expedition and to retain fees for service.
As Protector of Aboriginals, he was to act as interpreter, to foster friendly relations between the races, to familiarise himself with the native social organization and to represent their interests in the framing of administrative policy, to prevent interference with the women and the debauching of natives with liquor, to foster trade between the races, to encourage natives to engage in labour, to attend the sick and to ration the sick and needy.
His endeavours to obey these comprehensive instructions brought him early into conflict with Finniss, whose distrust and antipathy to the natives induced him to reduce intercourse to a minimum and to intimidate the tribes by punitive expeditions involving killing. Following the shooting of a native in one such expedition under the command of Finniss’ son, Goldsmith endeavoured to have the offenders charged with murder. In his official capacity of Government Resident, Finniss thereafter made life at Escape Cliffs unbearable for him, refusing him assistance in the discharge of his many duties, denying him opportunities to conduct research and ridiculing his professional ability. He (Goldsmith) resigned in 1865 and was not replaced, his medical duties, until the recall of the expedition, being performed by Dr. Ninnis of H.M.S. Beatrice. Finniss was recalled late in 1865 and the expedition was abandoned.
1868-1869
Dr. J. Stokes Millner, Medical Officer to Goyder Survey Expedition which selected and surveyed Port Darwin as the site for a new settlement.
1870
Bloomfield Douglas appointed Government Resident and Dr. Millner Colonial Surgeon as his staff with the same instruction as had been issued Goldsmith.
The Medical Officers and Protectors were provided with no statutory power to give effect to these instructions either in respect of native or white. It was apparently intended that staff instructions issued by the Government Resident should serve this purpose, but the growth of a civil community alongside the official expedition rendered such a method of administration ineffective. Nevertheless, this method of administration continued for many years, the duties of the Medical Officer and Protector being confined to general practice, the annual issue of blankets to natives on the Queen’s birthday, the issue of orders for flour and tobacco to the destitute and infirm and arranging for the defence of natives brought to Court. Successive Government Residents appeared satisfied with this state of affairs and successive Colonial Surgeons appear to have been complacent. In 1864, however, Dr. R.J. Morice, Colonial Surgeon, 1877-1884, in defiance of a direction from Government Resident Parsons, arranged for the legal defence of certain aboriginals charged with murder. The office of Colonial Surgeon was abolished, and Morice returned to Adelaide. The duties of Colonial Surgeon were undertaken by Dr. Percy Moore-Wood (1885-1889) as Government Medical Officer and Protector. During the currency of the railway construction from Darwin to Pine Creek an additional Government Medical Officer was stationed at Burrundie (1884-1893). During Wood’s time annual admissions to the Palmerston hospital approximated 80.
The staff at the hospital at this time consisted of a matron and two wardsmen, Wood emphasised the necessity of establishing a quarantine station at Port Darwin and urged insistence upon overseas ships carrying surgeons. He reported in 1885 that 36 ships arrived at Port Darwin from overseas bringing a total of over 5,000 passengers and 3,000 crew all of whom were inspected by him in his capacity as quarantine officer. Only 3 of these ships carried surgeons. In 1886, the total passengers and crew arriving by sea in Darwin was 13,000. The urgent need for a quarantine station was again emphasised. During his term of office small-pox broke out in Port Darwin on three occasions, cases being isolated in temporary accommodation at Port Emery. Wood undertook mass immunisation of the native population in the vicinity of Port Darwin. During Wood’s time leprosy was first detected amongst Chinese at Port Darwin and Wood was responsible for the promulgation of the South Australian Leprosy Act, providing legal machinery for the control of this condition. This was the first act of this nature in Australia, and was subsequently copied by other States. Wood identified 10 cases of leprosy amongst Chinese in Palmerston, some of whom were repatriated, others were isolated in a camp for lepers on Mud Island, a tongue of land in Port Darwin opposite Fort Hill.
1896
Dr. L. S. O’Flaherty, in common with Wood and subsequent protectors as late as Strangman (1910) remarked upon the infrequency of his contact with aboriginals and his inability to assess the prevalence of disease amongst them. He reported the first aboriginal leper, a native from the Alligator River – 1894.
1897-1903
Dr. F. Goldsmith
Hospital admissions annually averaged about 70. Hospital damaged by cyclone January 1897. Matron’s quarters demolished.
Goldsmith, like his predecessors, claimed to have little knowledge of or contact with natives outside the Port Darwin area. He was rarely consulted by natives for medical advice and his experience extended chiefly to the very ill or moribund admitted to hospital. He showed great interest in the native populations and was insistent in his advocacy of legislation to enable the protector to perform his duties effectually. He repeatedly called attention to the plight of the growing half caste population and sought benevolent intervention to assure their welfare. He called attention to the increasing prevalence of leprosy in natives of the Alligator River area and advocated energetic measures to prevent further spread before the disease attained proportions beyond control. He publicly advocated the establishment of an institute of tropical medicine in Northern Australia.
1904
Kennington Fulton.
1905-1911
Cecil Strangman.
Strangman, in 1908 on request, was relieved of his duties as protector owning to the pressure of medical practice.
1906
Ramsay Smith, Chairman of the Central Board of Health, Adelaide, reported upon health in the Northern Territory. Medical administration began and ended at Port Darwin where there was one medical officer and a hospital. Nearest help 700 miles away at Thursday Island. He recommended a medical officer at Pine Creek who should be a Protector of Aboriginals and Medical Inspector. He recommended opening the hospital to paying patients. The staff at the hospital (2 nurses) was considered inadequate. He advocated investigations into the prevalence of tropical disease. Tuberculosis, he reported, as not common. He remarked that the leper station at Port Darwin was “unsuitable for any being of human species”. He stated that dengue, a disease of unknown aetiology, reached Darwin from Overseas in 1904. Leprosy was found only in the Alligator River tribes of aboriginals. Since 1895 there had been 18 cases, 12 Chinese males, 3 males, 2 females – aboriginals, 1 half caste male. It may be inferred from Smith’s report that the medical practitioner played little part in sanitary supervision of the town or territory. In acknowledging the assistance given him by local officers, he mentions by name the members of the local Board of Health but on no occasion mentions any contact with the local practitioner. The history of health administration in the Territory since the formation of the local Board of Health in 1885 suggests that local practitioner left health administration entirely to that body which appears, most of its time, to have been uninformed, indolent and ineffectual.
1909
Strangman reported 176 admissions to Palmerston Hospital a daily average of 23.
1911
Northern Territory transferred to the Commonwealth under the administration of the Department of Home and Territories, and Palmerston was renamed Darwin. Strangman, Government Medical Officer in practice and at hospital. Dr. Basedow appointed Chief Protector for Aboriginals brought Dr. M.J. Holmes and Dr. S.R. Burston to the Territory to act as Regional medical officers in the Aboriginal Department. Basedow resigned within 3 months and Baldwin Spencer, who followed him, did not agree with this aspect of his policy. The Administrator, Gilruth, appointed Holmes Chief Health Officer, Darwin, and local Board of Health ceased to exist.
Holmes devoted himself energetically to improvement of sanitation in the Darwin area (and) in the medical survey of the native population in the northern part of the Territory. Private practitioner continued in practice and in charge of the hospital in Darwin (formerly Palmerston) and another medical officer was appointed to the railway construction for the Pine Creek – Katherine extension.
1916
Holmes left for active War service and all medical duties in the Territory were undertaken by Dr. H.L. Jones.
A.I.M. hospital opened at Maranboy.
1922
Commonwealth Department of Health appointed a quarantine officer to Darwin with the right of private practice. This office was held by Dr. J.D.Norris.
1924
A.I.M. hospital opened at Victoria River Downs.
1925
The Commonwealth Department of Health in association with the London School of Tropical Medicine, conducted a leprosy survey of the native population of the Territory. The medical officer conducting the Survey (Dr. C.E. Cook) reported that leprosy must be expected to spread extensively through the native population and to imperil the safety of the future white population. He emphasised that other tropical diseases existing or likely to be introduced into the Territory must be expected to flourish under the conditions of native life and the association of the white population with the natives in their domestic relations and in employment. It must be expected to involve risk of a dangerous endemicity of several important diseases in the white population. He expressed the opinion that disease in the native and in the white could not be controlled unless the health authority of the Territory were invested with the powers and functions of the Chief Protector.
1927
Northern Territory split into North Australia and Central Australia. Alice Springs remained Stuart.
On the death of Dr. Norris the office of quarantine officer had become vacant and Dr. C.E. Cook was appointed Chief Medical Officer, Chief Health Officer, Quarantine Officer and Chief Protector of Aboriginals for North Australia. No appointment was made for Central Australia. Dr. H.L. Jones continued in private practice. Relations between Cook and Jones were not easy and the latter decided to sell his practice. The former recommended to the Government Resident that the administration should buy Dr. Jones’ drugs and equipment, at valuation, and appoint a second medical officer of suitable qualifications to undertake general practice in the Darwin area, thereby assuring that the practice would not be sold to an incompetent individual.
He argued that economic conditions and social problem in the Territory were closely inter-related with the co-existence of a preponderantly male white population living amongst a primitive native people, poor sanitation, bad housing, lack of amenities and lack of enterprise created a vicious cycle of social degradation and apathy which could only be effectually broken by substantial accession of white women and the rearing of white families. A condition precedent to the development of the policy in this direction was the establishment of a medical and health service, promising security for women and children. The only effective method of using the available financial resources to the optimum advantage in order to provide the health organization and medical service which the typical environment demanded and the highly qualified medical and surgical service which were necessary if the health and prosperous white population ws to be encouraged was to mobilise professional and material resources available in the Territory in an organised service directed towards progressive improvement and expansion and the utilisation of health and medical revenue for the extension of the service to new fields instead of permitting it to be retained by private practitioners. At the same time, an organised service would permit one clinical record of the individual to be perpetually available to his medical advisers. This would not only be to his own advantage but would permit enlightened clinical and epidemiological study and research to guide health administration in an area with problems unfamiliar to the medical profession in Australia.
The purchase was affected towards the end of 1927. Dr. W.B. Kirkland, Medical Officer, Katherine-Daly Waters railway extension, was appointed second medical officer but continued at Katherine. No second appointment was made to Darwin until June 1934 when Dr. C.C. Fenton was appointed third medical officer and stationed at Darwin. Consulting rooms were provided and equipped in a central position in Darwin and staffed by a sister who also acted District Nurse and conducted a pre-natal and infant welfare clinic. Dr. Fenton resigned late in 1928 and was succeeded by Dr. W.L. Fothergill.
1928
Routine medical examination of all pearling indents was commenced.
During this year the medical service was extended into several fields previously neglected. The hospital staff consisted of a matron and 4 sisters but arrangements were made for the appointment in training of probationer nurses. These were trained to requirements of the Queensland Nurses Registration Board and subsequently sat for and passed the W.M.R.B. examination for registration. Inpatients for the Darwin Hospital for the year numbered 279, compared to 191 in the previous year. A new clinic for the treatment of aboriginals was provided and 211 patients were admitted during the year. A new X-Ray plant and new maternity wing were provided at the Darwin Hospital. The systematic inspection of aboriginals in contact was ordered and natives in employment were medically examined at the time of entering employment and annually thereafter. A venereal diseases Clinic was constituted and endemic diseases Ordinance was passed to permit the routine examination of immigrants to the Territory likely to introduce endemic diseases.
Pre-natal and Infant Health Clinic Pine Creek.
Motor ambulance provided.
1929
Tuberculosis Clinic provided. Dispense-dresser appointed Darwin Hospital.
Medical Benefit Fund was established entitling contributors and dependants in return for a small weekly contribution to free medical advice, drugs and dressings, free hospitalization and free ambulance transport. The medical benefit fund was an important integral part of the general medical policy and was intended –
- To secure young medical service from extinction by competitive private practice;
- To provide the necessary funds for expansion. These were extremely difficult to obtain by Parliamentary vote, at first because of the official suspicion “of a nationalised medical service” and later because of the acute financial stringency arising from national economic depression.
- To assure to all residents of the Territory adequate medical attention within their limited means even when resident hundred of miles from medical attention.
The success of the fund as a source of financing expansion was soon apparent. For the year ended June, 1926 the total revenue for medical services was £53.10.6. For the year ended June 1929 – £1,423. 1935/36 – £5,857 (of which the Medical Benefit Fund provided £4,083). 1937/38 – £6,612 (Medical Benefit Fund provided £4,805).
Routine medical inspection of school children inaugurated. Annual admissions Darwin Hospital 452. Average daily cost 15/- per patient. Kahlin Hospital 315. 230 new arrivals examined under the epidemic Disease Ordinance. Field surveys of aboriginals. Legislation: Registration of Nurses and Midwives, Leprosy Ordinance, Food and Drugs Ordinance, Wells and Water Regulations, Nuisance Prevention Registration.
1930
Temporary Hospital opened at Katherine. Maranboy closed. Shops Regulations, Nuisance Regulations, Education Ordinance – amendment to provide for the medical and dental inspection of school children.
Medical Benefit Fund extended to cover pearling indents by agreement by employers.
Post-natal and Infant Health Clinic, Katherine.
1931
Central Australia combined with North Australia into Northern Territory 11th June, 1931. Northern Australia Medical Service becomes Northern Territory Medical Service. Darwin Hospital daily average was 24.8. Cost per day 12/6d. Channel Island Leprosarium opened with 60 patients (17 from Western Australia). Dr. Kirkland appointed to Alice Springs. Several amendments to Health Regulations.
1932 – 33
Dispenser trained in laboratory techniques and assistant dispenser appointed. Surveys by medical officers supplemented by bacteriological and parasitological surveys conducted in the field by travelling laboratory technician. Surveys which were directed towards the detection and treatment of natives and others suffering from malaria, hookworm, leprosy and tuberculosis, were systematically conducted throughout the northern end of the Territory.
Amendment of Aboriginals Regs., obligating an employer to report sickness or injury and provide transport and pay for Medical attention, also, Central Australia medical Benefit Fund created – employer contributed on scale governed by number employed.
1934
Dr. C.C. Fenton rejoined the service, and was stationed at Katherine, from which centre by use of the Aerial Transport, he serviced the portions of the Territory remote from centres provided with a medical officer.
Two medical Officers doing general practice Darwin, plus a Commonwealth Medical Officer.
1935
Hospital opened at Tennant Creek and medical officer appointed. Regular Inspection of Missions undertaken by Dr. Fenton. New buildings Ordinance and Regulations. Prenatal and Infant Health clinic at Tennant Creek.
1936
New Tennant Creek Hospital. Commonwealth Laboratory opened in Darwin. Field surveys by travelling N.T.M.S. Laboratory technician extended.
1937
Fox Moth Ambulance provided by Administration for Dr. Fenton.
1938
Alice Springs Hospital completed. Plan was completed for a new Darwin Hospital on the side of the Kahlin Compound and erection of one ward commenced. Daily average Darwin Hospital, 44. Ante-natal and infant health clinic and infant Hospital established at the Bagot Compound to which Kahlin Compound had been transferred.
April 1939
Northern Territory Medical Service transferred to the Commonwealth Department of Health. Six Medical Officers engaged with N.T.M.S. at:
Darwin 3
Katherine 1
Tennant Creek 1 Plus 1 Commonwealth Laboratory M.O. after 1936
Alice Springs 1