DR. J.S. HELMCKEN'S MEDICAL PRACTICE IN VICTORIA
(VCA: Helmcken #53) |
Though Helmcken was not the first doctor in the colony, he was among the earliest. Dr. Helmcken served in as many different positions in his medical career as he did in his political one. He came to Victoria as the Hudson's Bay Company Doctor in 1850, and was later appointed as Surgeon to the Jail at Fort Victoria. On February 7, 1862, John was elected as president of the Royal Jubilee Hospital, later resigning as President from the Board of Directors for the Royal Hospital in March, 1872 (not retiring from the position until 1910).
Shortly after Helmcken's work in 1868 as a Confederation delegate, Helmcken wished to retire from politics. John's wife had died in 1865, so he felt it best to concentrate on his medical career, which provided a steady income, and kept him close to his young family.
Dr. Helmcken had started his private practice (situated in what is now down town Victoria) in approximately 1860, when there were only 9 other doctors (though the First Nations People and Chinese herbalists had their own system of medicine.). During this time, John continued working as a surgeon with the Hudson's Bay Company until 1885.
Doctor Helmcken played a large role in the development of medical care in Victoria. It was through the efforts of Helmcken and others that a vacant cottage was turned into a make shift hospital in 1858. The next year, the government had created the Royal Jubilee Hospital. His son James ("Dr. Jim"), followed in his dad's footsteps to become a doctor, and father and son helped to found the Victoria Medical Society, and the Nurses Training School at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. John was elected president of the British Columbia Medical Association when it formed in January 1885. The chief goal of the Society was to establish adequate standards , the result of which was the Medical Act of 1886. Under its auspice, the Medical council of BC came into being, with John Helmcken's name the first on the register.
Dr. Helmcken was much loved by his patients. The sight of him and his horse Julia meant that help from the good doctor was on the way. One young patient, who was later to become one of Canada's best loved authors and artists was Emily Carr, who fondly recalls visits from "Dr. Heal - my skin" (Dr. Helmcken) in her novel The Book of Small.
During Dr. Helmcken's career as a physician in Victoria, he was known as "Dr.", but did not actually earn the legally recognized title "Doctor". He was admitted as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1848, but received a different training than those trained as a physician in an English University would receive. This probably served him better in his practice as a pioneer doctor, as Physician training in England during this time tended to stay away from many aspects of medicine like pharmacy and midwifery. Categorizing him as a "surgeon" according to the criteria of mid-nineteenth century British medicine would have also been somewhat inaccurate as well. Helmcken would have been more of a general practitioner - those who practiced as surgeons or apothecaries outside the urban areas.
Surgeon to the Jail 
Doctor and Dentist
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