CANTLIE, Dr. J. (1).
CANTLIE Dr. J.
>
98
No history of Hongkong would be complete without reference to Dr. James Cantlie, pioneer of tropical medicine, literary connoisseur, and philanthropist. When Dr. Cantlie left Hongkong in February, 1896, he was given an enthusiastic "send-off" by representatives of every section of the community. The City Hall was packed on February 5, when he was presented with a handsome tea and coffee service. A number of illuminated addresses were also handed to the departing guest.
Among the large number present were Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary, Rector of the College of Medicine for Chinese and Chairman of the Senate of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. Mr. T. H. Whitehead, Hon. Mr. E. R. Belilios, C.M.G., General Black, C.B., Drs. Thompson and Stedman, Hon. Mr. W. M. Goodran (Acting Chief Justice), Messrs. J. J. Francis, Q.C., I. Jackson, G. H. Potts, E. C. Reece, N. J. Ede, W. E. Crow, G. W. Playfair, H. N. Mody, A. S. Coxon.
The Chairman, Mr. A. S. Coxon, read a letter from the Governor, Sir William Robinson, apologising for his non-attendance. "May I ask you to say," wrote Sir William, "how sorry I am that Dr. Cantlie is obliged, on account of ill-health, to leave the Colony. Will you add that I much appreciate the energy and ability he has displayed, not only in connection with the College of Medicine for Chinese, but as founder and late President of the Odd Volumes Society, Dr. Cantlie has for many years, and on many occasions, devoted much of his valuable time and his great ability, unhesitatingly and ungrudgingly to the service of the community. That he will be much missed goes without saying, and I should be glad if you would assure him that on public, as well as on private grounds, I deeply regret his departure."
Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., made the presentation on behalf of the community. When Dr. Cantlie arrived in Hongkong, said Mr. Francis, there was only one disease recognised by the medical faculty in the Colony, and that was "liver." There were only two prescriptions for this disease, one a blue pill, and if that did not succeed, a P. and O. steamer. Thanks to Dr. Cantlie and a number of men like him, great progress had been made, until the medical profession in Hongkong at that time was unequalled in any colony on the face of the earth.
Addressing their guest, Mr. Francis continued: "Not content, Doctor, with the very fatiguing practice of your profession here in Hongkong, you have devoted yourself, your time, and your attention to many matters, some medical and some public, in the interest of the Colony, and you have given time to these things which, probably, you ought to have devoted to rest and recreation.
"You became a member of the Sanitary Board, and you gave the best possible advice to that institution while it existed. You joined the Volunteers as Surgeon Captain. You trained the men in ambulance work and first aid to the wounded. You established a small Ambulance Corps, of which you yourself took the lead. I need hardly remind my hearers that, if not the actual founder, you were certainly one of the most active supporters of the Volunteer medical staff in London."