JAMES BELL, M. D.
Notable service in the field of abdominal surgery won for Dr. James Bell an international reputation. His broad study and research made him a scientist of renown and his opinions were largely accepted as authority by the profession which recognized him not only as an eminent surgeon, but equally capable educator. He was born at North Gower, Ontario, in 1852, and after acquiring his early education in local schools and by private tuition, he entered McGill University and was graduated as Holmes’ gold medallist in 1877, a fact indicative of the excellent work which he had done in his student days. He was immediately appointed house surgeon in the Montreal General Hospital, which position he held until 1882, gaining that broad practical experience and knowledge which only hospital practice can bring. In 1880 he became medical superintendent of the Montreal General Hospital and in 1885 was appointed to the position of assistant surgeon, followed by appointment as surgeon a year later. He filled the position with distinction for eight years and then became surgeon of the new Royal Victoria Hospital in 1894, remaining in that connection until his demise. As the years passed his skill and ability constantly increased and developed and his reputation spread abroad until he was acknowledged not only one of the eminent surgeons of Canada, but also, by reason of his specialty in abdominal work, as one of the most distinguished representatives of the profession on the American continent. He became just as widely known in connection with surgical work for the treatment of gall stones and kidney diseases. In addition to his other hospital service he was consulting surgeon of the Children’s Hospital. After going to Victoria Hospital he remained a consulting surgeon of the Montreal General Hospital and also acted in a similar capacity at the Maternity Hospital.
DR. JAMES BELL
His connection with McGill University was equally brilliant, for through many years he was one of its able educators in the medical department. In 1888 he was appointed associate professor of clinical surgery. In 1890 he was made assistant professor of surgery and clinical surgery; in 1895, professor of clinical surgery, and in 1907, professor of surgery and clinical surgery. He held membership in the American Surgical Association and the Canadian Surgical Association, and he served as surgeon major in charge of the field hospital corps in the Riel rebellion, receiving a medal for his services, while between 1880 and 1888, he was surgeon to the Sixth Battalion of Fusiliers. He was the author of various valuable papers, including one entitled Tubercular Family History, and his contributions to the press have ever been eagerly received. He was the author of the chapter on Surgical Diseases and Wounds of the Kidneys and Ureters in American Practice of Surgery as well as numerous valuable treatises on the kidneys. He was a member of the Genito-Urinary branch of the American Medical Association in which he represented the Canadian Medical Association. As a diagnostician he had few equals and he possessed a medical technique that was marvelous. One of his strongest traits of character was his utter fearlessness. He spoke his own mind and was seldom misunderstood. He never catered to cheaply acquired popularity or public opinion and always had the courage of his convictions. He spoke what he thought to be the truth no matter who it opposed or offended. He thoroughly detested sham or deceit and was self-contained, quiet and self-reliant in connection with all of his professional service.
Dr. Bell was married in June, 1889, to Miss Edith Mary Arnton, the eldest daughter of the late John J. Arnton, of Montreal, and they had one son, James Stuart Ethelwyn Wallace, who was born February 15, 1899, and in accordance with the wish of his father is preparing for the medical course at McGill. Dr. Bell was a member of a number of the leading clubs, including St. James, the Montreal Jockey, the Mount Royal and the University Clubs. He was for more than twenty years one of the enthusiastic members of the Montreal Hunt Club and for many years followed the hounds. He greatly enjoyed outdoor life, much more than so-called society and said with Byron,
“I love not man the less but nature more.”
He was fond of hunting and fishing and it was his custom each year to hunt big game in New Brunswick where he was often a guest at August Belmont’s private shooting preserve. Dr. Bell was also a member of the Chapleau Club in the Laurentians where he went for his fishing. His country home, Saraguay, was his residence during four months in the year for more than eighteen years. Here he maintained a fine breeding establishment of driving and saddle horses and was able to gratify the great pleasure his excellent stock afforded him, for he was a lover of a good horse.
No man ever more fully, however, recognized the duties and obligations of the profession or more conscientiously met them. The regard entertained for him by his professional brethren is indicated in the fact that Dr. C. E. Church termed him “the ablest surgeon in America,” while Dr. T. G. Roddick said, “the death of Dr. James Bell is a distinct loss to the medical and surgical profession. He was a man of marked ability, with conscientious devotion to his work, which earned him the respect of his fellows, as well as success amongst his patients. And he was not only respected by the profession throughout the country, but loved by his friends.” In comment upon his death the Montreal Gazette wrote, “One of the men who have done much for the advancement of the medical profession in Canada passed away yesterday when Dr. James Bell, in the ripe fullness of a useful career, was carried off by appendicitis. It was by a curious irony of fate that Dr. Bell died most unexpectedly at the Royal Victoria Hospital, in whose wards still lay many upon whom he had operated, and whose lives he had probably saved by his skill. For many years Dr. Bell had been recognized as one of Canada’s leading surgeons, in fact one of the greatest surgeons in abdominal work on this continent and his services were in great demand, not only in Montreal, but wherever the work of a skillful scientist whose immediate judgment and power might be efficacious to save human life, was needed. Day by day he had been working in the operating room of the Royal Victoria Hospital and the sick rooms of patients, in circumstances where a single mistake might mean loss of life. The strain was much greater than ordinary people could have imagined. He was one of those men who devoted themselves to their work so well and performed it so efficiently that there was no need to fight for prominence. His work was such that it inevitably grew. As his ability became known his services became more in demand and in a quiet and conscientious way he gradually became one of the recognized surgical authorities of his time and one of the busiest. Not only in Montreal but in many parts of Canada he was called upon wherever there was a stern fight against death, and frequently he was called to exercise his skill even farther afield in the United States. Those who knew him as either surgeon or as friend will remember him as one who knew his work and did it well, without thought of public recognition.”