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Charles Gosse MD, ChM, MRCS [1849-1885]


A photograph of Charles Gosse, circa 1885
A photograph of Charles Gosse, circa 1885.

Born in England in 1849, the youngest son of the future first President of the South Australian Branch of the BMA (later the AMA) William Gosse, Charles arrived in Adelaide as an infant. He was initially educated here, but completed his schooling in England and studied medicine in London and Aberdeen (MD, ChM, MRCS). He developed a special interest in diseases of the eye.


Returning in 1873, Charles joined his father in practice. He became Honorary Medical Officer at the Adelaide Hospital in 1876 and a member of the Board the year after. In 1881 he became the first ophthalmic surgeon at the hospital. Skilled at surgery, it was said that he had the advantage of being ambidextrous.


Being a Vice-President of the Church of England Institute, Charles was also on the committee of the Institute for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb as well as the Home for Incurables. He had the honour of opening the Gosse Wing in October 1884.


Charles gave medical lectures to the public and being a prominent member of the Adelaide Literary Society, in 1885 he spoke at the Society on the subject of 'Mesmerism'.


A keen cricket player, he was on the South Australian team playing against the visiting English team of W G Grace. Charles was a connoisseur of fine china, especially Minton ware, of which he had an appreciable collection.


In 1880 he married Mary Blanche Hawker (1858-1945), daughter of the parliamentarian G C Hawker. A daughter was born the following year.


His daughter was four, when riding in a carriage with her father in July 1885, the horses bolted and Charles, jumping from the vehicle attempting to save her, injured his leg. Unfortunately, gangrene developed and in spite of amputation, Charles died a week later. He was thirty-five.


Ater his death a memorial fund established a Chair of Ophthalmic Surgery and an annual Dr. Charles Gosse medal to be awarded to the best student in the final year ophthalmology examination at the University of Adelaide.


Charles Gosse was the sixth president of SA Branch of the BMA (later AMA). At the end of his tenure, a month before his death, he gave a formal valedictory address to the members, becoming the first president to do so and establishing a custom.


PK

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