JOHN BOX (1863-1934) AND WILLIAM BOX (1905-1982)

JOHN BOX John Box was born in Footscray, a suburb of Melbourne, in 1863.’.’ He was determined to become a doctor, but first had to earn enough for the long course of study. For nine years he was a teacher in the Education Department before qualifying MB,BS (Melb) in 1892. After a period as a locum tenens in Tasmania he returned to Melbourne and became Resident Surgeon to The Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in 1893. He then commenced general practice in Footscray while maintaining an interest in eye and ear nose and throat (ENT) diseases. He was appointed honorary oculist and aurist to the Williamstown Hospital. On August 23, 1899, he became a member of the newly formed Ophthalmological Society of Melbourne.’

In 1902 he was one of the first three honorary clinical assistants to be appointed to The Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.J In 1910 he devoted himself entirely to diseases of eye and ENT,’ practising at 61 Collins Street, Melbourne. In 1913, the clinics at The Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital were divided into eye and ENT specialities. John Box was appointed honorary

OBITUARY

assistant ophthalmic surgeon to Dr James Rudall, and so his interests became increasingly ophthalmological.

When he died in 1934, James F. Rudall wrote of John Box’s “genial and kindly disposition. He was a man of high principles and sound judgement. In his profession he was a careful, thorough and unostentatious worker, ever ready to do his utmost for the welfare of his patients regardless of the probability or improbability of pecuniary reward. ln his relations with his professional confreres he was an example of integrity, conscientiousness and kindness.”’

John Box had four sons, two of whom were to graduate in medicine and follow his specialities. Noel was four years older than Bill; he followed the ENT speciality, and apart from other appointments was honorary ENT surgeon to The Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital 1935- 1939.‘

WILLIAM MITCHELL BOX Bill Box was a chip off the old block. He was born at Footscray on 28th January, 1905. He attended Scotch College when it was in East

5 1

Melbourne, and was a good footballer. By the time he proceeded to the University of Melbourne his stature had remained small and the big boys overpowered him. He turned to hockey and obtained a university half-blue in that sport. He graduated MB, BS in 1927 and became a resident at the Melbourne Hospital. In 1929 he was resident at the Children’s Hospital and in 1930 at The Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. He went to London in 1931 to attend Moorfields Hospital, qualified for the DOMS, and added experience in ophthalmology in Kent.

He returned to Melbourne early in 1932 and had a ready-made practice awaiting him with his father who had accumulated a considerable amount of surgery. He took over from his father as Honorary Ophthalmologist to the Williams- town Hospital, and on 23rd March, 1932, was appointed Honorary Clinical Assistant Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Alfred Hospital. He gave 25 years’ devoted service to the Alfred becoming Honorary Assistant Ophthalmic Surgeon in 1933. During World War 11, Bill was anxious to enlist for overseas service, but as his two seniors had joined the RAAF he was ordered to remain at the Alfred. He became a captain in the AAMC Reserve and was involved with examining recruits and medical boarding.

He was Acting Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Alfred from November, 1940, to June, 1946, then reverted to Honorary Assistant Ophthalmic Surgeon when his seniors returned, but after nine months he was appointed to full rank in March, 1947. On 30th June, 1956, he resigned from his clinic and on 26th July, 1956, was appointed Honorary Consulting Ophthalmic Surgeon. He had retired from the Williamstown Hospital in 1946.

Bill Box relinquished his clinical appointment to the Alfred Hospital at the early age of 51 years. The Alfred clinics had been very long and busy and he stated that with the onset of presbyopia he found hospital clinic surgery too demanding and more appropriate for younger eyes. He continued in private practice, but later he firmly decided to retire at the age of 70, by which time he had personal record cards of 40 000 patients. C?

In 1934, William Box obtained the FRACS (Ophth) and was elected secretary of the Ophthalmological Section of the Victorian Branch of the British Medical Association for one year. He was elected President of the Victorian Branch of the Ophthalmological Society of Australia (BMA) for 1949, and as a representative of the Alfred Hospital was a member of the Board of Examiners for the Diploma of Ophthalmology of the University 01 Melbourne, 1950-1956, and a member of the Control Committee of the Glaucoma Investiga. tion and Research Unit at The Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

In 1931 he married Jean Hillier. They were blessed with two beautiful daughters and five grandchildren. Bill loved his home-life and his most enjoyable spare-time activity was hi$ garden. In the spring his garden is a picture, with bright green lawn surrounded by low terrace! containing colourful primulas, camellias, azaleas and a large Magnolia soulangeana. He played golf but increasingly became a committed lawn bowler. He also enjoyed the mania of Australian Rules Football and regularly attended the matches of the Melbourne team. Bill and Jean at tended many congresses o f the Ophthalmological Society of Australia forming happy groups at social events.

In his latter years Bill Box required medical treatment for chronic glaucoma, but it interfered little with his activities. On 16th August, 1982, he was working with a little cement in his back garden, when he died very quickly, even retain< ing the small trowel in his hand.

The words that James Rudall wrote for John Box’s obituary may also have been written for Bill. Dr Percy Cowen has sent the following appreciation:

Dr W. M. Box gave very valuable help and encouragement to many young ophthalmologists while he was head of the Eye Clinic at the Alfred Hospital. I regard myself as very fortunate and privileged to have been one of them. I t was a grea pleasure to attend his clinic. He was a wonderful clinician and a very skilful surgeon. His sense 01 humour and kindness to patients was an inspira tion to us all. He also had a very large private practice from which he most generously referred

JL AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOQ

patients t o his younger colleagues. Many of the

were started due t o his generosity.

3. Lowe RF. The ophthalmological society of Melbourne

4 . Annual Reports. The Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital,

5 . Medical Staff Records, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne.

well-established Melbourne ophthalmic practices (1899-1913). Aust J OPhthalmol 198% 8: 257-270.

Public Record Office, Melbourne.

References 1. Smith 3 , ed. John Box. In: The Cyclopedia of Victoria.

2. Obituary. John Box. Med J Aust 1934; 1: 546. Vol 1. Melbourne: The Cyclopedia Co., 1903. Ronald F. Lowe

Melbourne

BlTUARY 53