Dr. Robert Gething
WAS born at Newport, Monmouthshire, in 1826, and received his early education at the local Grammar School; transferred to King's College, London, and became a medical student. Obtained the diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons and of the Apothecaries' Hall, and subsequently gained the Doctor of Medicine degree of the University of Edinburgh, at the early age of 23. His exceedingly youthful appearance prevented his commencing the practice of his profession at once, and his health not being good decided him on travelling. After visiting Western Australia, China, India, and Java, and returning to England, he resolved to visit South Australia, and arrived here in February, 1854. About this time one of the medical men at Port Adelaide died, and this afforded an early opportunity for Dr. Gething to commence practice. He was appointed Health Officer in succession to Dr. Duncan in 1878. How much he was appreciated will be best shown by a quotation from the obituary notice in the press on his decease, in October, 1883:—"A dark shadow has fallen upon Port Adelaide in the death of one of its foremost and most valued citizens, Dr. Gething. The blow is one that is keenly felt in many a South Australian home where the name of the true-hearted, genial doctor had become a household word. His removal from amongst us cannot alone be regarded as a painful domestic bereavement, or even a local misfortune; it is a great national loss. Placed by his eminent attainments in the first ranks of his profession, Dr. Gething devoted his talents to alleviating the sufferings of others, and in his efforts to minister to them entertained no thoughts of self. Summer and winter, day and night, sunshine or rain, he was ever the same, ready to obey the call of duty, to which he made himself the absolute slave. His energy was enormous and his labour herculean, which
