Can you imagine going to the doctor in Blantyre and him placing leeches on to your body!? This practice was still happening even in late Victorian times, even right here.
In January 1893, Alexander Dunn , a draper of Low Blantyre brought charges against Blantyre Dr Cowan Wilson of Parkville owing to the fact that his three year old child died whilst under the Doctors examination. The charge was one of carelessness and want of professional skill, with a sum of £200 damages being pursued.
The case made it to the Hamilton courts on 18th January 1893 where Alexander Dunn’s case was upheld and he was awarded damages, the court finding Dr Cowan Wilson had been negligent in his practices.
But what had he done? Or not done? Dr Cowan Wilson was a notable and qualified practitioner, who even was recognised later in life for his long service. The case was heard in some detail with the judge making it clear that somebody passing away whilst a doctor was in attendance was not necessarily the fault of the doctor.
In this instance Dr Cowan Wilson had ordered that leeches be brought and placed on the child’s throat. Doctors in the 19th century sometimes applied leeches to a patient’s throat to treat conditions such as:
- Severe throat inflammation (e.g. tonsillitis, pharyngitis)
- Croup or diphtheria (serious infections causing throat swelling and airway blockage)
- Quinsy (a peritonsillar abscess)
- General respiratory distress due to inflammation
The idea was that leeches could reduce local blood pressure and swelling in the area, potentially alleviating life-threatening symptoms like airway obstruction. Since antibiotics were not yet available (penicillin wouldn’t be discovered until 1928), such methods were often used out of necessity.
In this instance, it was alleged by Mr Dunn that the leeches, rapidly becoming an outdated practice, were put on to an area of the child’s throat which actually caused more inflammatory harm than good. Indeed with the swelling now critical, and the child’s life now in danger with such an inflamed throat, a tracheotomy was performed (deliberate puncturing of the throat to create a new airway). It was alleged that a tube placed in the throat of the child by the Doctor had a fatal effect.
By 1893, many in the medical profession considered leeching outdated, particularly in more scientifically progressive circles, but it still lingered in use among some physicians and in rural or less advanced medical settings. The case was later appealed successfully in the Court of Session and I wonder if Dr Cowan Wilson ever used leeches in his career again.
It is worth noting that Dr Cowan Wilson went on to become one of Blantyre’s most long serving and proven doctors. Following his death in the 1930’s, a memorial arch was erected in his honour in Stonefield Public Park.
