The Thane Family of Wellington

From Edward Thane the following:-
Dr. Philip Thornton Thane, 1859-1944, M.R.C.S.Eng. 1881, L.R.C.P., 1882, son of a London general prectitioner, completed his four-year general medicine training at Middlesex Hospital, London, winning many prizes. He first came to Sydney, with his brother, Tom, both being susceptible to the tuberculosis which had already killed another brother, Charles, in 1878. Thane travelled out as ship's doctor on the "Parramatta" which concluded it's sailing advertisment with the words: "cow, nurse and doctor carried"!

Without any capital, he first set up practice in Walgett but - after two drought-ridden summers and many professional adventures - moved to Yass in June 1884, taking up a partnership with the elderley Dr Allan Campbell. He was immediately elected Medical Officer to the Yass Hospital. His first operation, an emergency proceedure on a young boy suffering from a strangulated inguinal hernia, was carried out on 1 July in a room normally used for meetings by the Hospital committee. Chloroform was given by Dr. Blake, then aged 72, the boy being discharged "quite well" a few weeks later. Thane quickly gained a widely recognised reputation for his treatment of hydatids which seemed to be particularly prevalent in the Yass district. He delivered two papers on the subject, the first in 1892, the second when he was President of the Central Southern Branch of the British Medical Association in 1912.

Thane was able to enlist the services of his brother, Edgar Thane, M.D. [London], Fellow of University College, Gower Street, London, at the end of 1891, just as a bad epidemic of influenza affecting almost the whole of NSW was at it's peak. Edgar had never ridden a horse but was forced to do so in making house calls. the normally quiet mare, well aware that she was the boss whilst ever Edgar was on her back, put him - and others! - into considerable danger. He survived, though with frequent loss of dignity! Dr. Edgar later practised in Wagga Wagga and Gordon. [in Sydney]

Dr. P.T.Thane returned to England for a holiday in 1895, following the death of his first wife; and whilst there took out a course in Practical Bacteriology at University College - and remarried! Tubercular problems flared during their return sea voyage, leading to his enlistment of the support of Dr. Denis Doolan. Their partnership continued until his full recovery about five years later.

Thane became municipal alderman about 1898 and mayor in 1902, for the express purpose of ridding the town of it's cess-pits. By 1903-4 these had all been replaced by a pan system. the number of typhoid cases dropped dramatically and Thane resigned from Council, his mission successfully completed. Interestingly, he acquired his first car, a single cylinder De Dion, in 1906.

Thane had served on committees of the Mechanics' Institute and the Pastoral and Agricultural Association for many years and by 1913 was a trustee of both, as of the Yass Hospital. By then he had become the father of a second family, three boys and a daughter and he suddenly decided to take them to Sydhey for all the opportunities if might offer. He sold out to Dr Colquhoun, from Melbourne.