Notable South Australians/Handasyde Duncan, M.D.
Handasyde Duncan, M.D.,
WAS born at Glasgow, Scotland, November 13, 1811, and passed his boyhood in that town. He received the first part of his medical education at the University of Glasgow, and obtained his degree of M.D. in 1831, before he had attained the age of 21. He passed some time in Paris, where he learned the use of the stethescope, then a new discovery; travelled through the south of France on foot, and later on continued his studies in Germany. In 1836 he became a Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1839, and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. He settled in Bath for two years, and there he married, but the damp climate of England affected his health, and he sought the more genial climate of Australia, with the intention of abandoning his profession and of devoting his attention to farming pursuits. He took passage by the "Katherine Stewart Forbes" to Port Adelaide, and arrived in Holdfast Bay, March 21, 1839. Having bought a small farm at St. Mary's, South Road, near the River Sturt, Dr. Duncan put up a Manning's Cottage, which he had brought from England, and, with some servants, began farming operations. He remained here for some years, but owing to the scarcity of medical men he returned to medical practice. In 1845 he became a member of the Medical Board of South Australia, and in 1849, after having acted as locum tenens for a year, he succeeded Captain Butler as Immigration Agent at Fort Adelaide. In the same year he was appointed Health Officer to the colony, a position which he held until his death. From this time he continued to reside at Port Adelaide and to identify himself with the interests of the place. He took an active part in the establishment of the first Church of England there, a wooden building on piles, afterwards replaced by the present stone building. Mrs. Duncan conducted the music and singing here, and Dr. Duncan also took a keen interest in the discussions of Synod, and represented St. Paul's Church for many years. In 1855 an immigrant ship, the "Taymouth Castle," arrived off the Semaphore, having on board several cases of smallpox, but by a judicious mode of quarantine the disease was stamped out. Again in 1877 the ship "British Enterprise" brought smallpox, measles, typhus, and scarlatina, and great difficulty was experienced in enforcing the laws regarding infected ships, as there was no shore quarantine station. The "Fitzjames," now used as a reformatory hulk, had been fitted up as a temporary expedient, but it was necessary to charter several more vessels to enable the medical attendants to divide the healthy and convalescent from the sick. The ships remained in quarantine for some time, and the expense to the colony amounted to between ten and twelve thousand pounds; but although there were several fatal cases within a mile of the shore the disease was eradicated, and none entered the colony during Dr. Duncan's term of office. He spent much thought and time upon the question of a suitable site for a quarantine station, and in August 1873 was sent by the Government to Melbourne to collect information and report upon the management and details of the institution in Yictoria. He was of opinion that complete isolation could be best insured by quarantine ships; but this method had many disadvantages, and Torrens Island has since been judged a suitable site for a quarantine station. The office of Immigration Agent was abolished in 1868 or 1869, when immigration was discontinued, but in Feb. 1873 it was resumed, and Dr. Duncan took his old position, which he held until his death. The strain of the anxiety and trouble in connection with the "British Enterprise" proved too great for Dr. Duncan's never robust, and at that time failing health. When the ship was released from quarantine he applied to the Government for twelve months' leave of absence; but the rest came too late, and, after being confined to his room for weeks, he died on February 24, 1878, aged 66. Dr. Duncan was a man of sedentary tastes, and although his duties brought him much into active life, his preference was for that of a scholar. His reading was extensive, and comprised, besides professional and modern works, an intimate acquaintance with the Latin and Greek classical authors, and he also took much interest in chemical studies and experiments. Dr. Duncan was one of the Governors of St. Peter's College for many years.