biographies

Burke, Stephen Joseph (1835 - 1898)

M.R.C.S. (Eng.), L.K.Q.C.P. (Ireland)

Born
1835
County Roscommon, Ireland
Died
24 November 1898
Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Medical practitioner, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Details

Written by Dr Colin Macdonald and published in "The Book of Remembrance", The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, 1956.


STEPHEN JOSEPH BURKE
(1879 - 1892)

Stephen Joseph Burke, born in County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1835 (the year Melbourne was founded) studied medicine in Dublin and became a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1856, and Licentiate of the King and Queen’s Colleges of Physicians, Ireland in 1862. He joined the Royal Navy and as surgeon on H.M.S. “Cordelia” saw active service in the Crimean War (1853–55). Resigning from the Navy, he arrived in Australia in 1864 and practiced in Toowoomba and Gympie, Queensland, during the gold rush days.

In 1865 he married Miss Marion Allen (of Cornwall) and left for Melbourne where he was registered by the Medical Board on November 22nd 1870, and secured a residence in Victoria Street, North Melbourne. He quickly became established as a fashionable Obstetrician with a further reputation for breast surgery. He did not confine his attention to wealthy patients and had many in the poorer classes, amongst whom his private acts of charity made his name a household word in the North Melbourne district.

His practice was soon largely obstetrical and it is stated that he could account for an average of one confinement for every day of the year. The wives of many of the doctors of Melbourne at that time were amongst his maternity patients.

Soon becoming interested in the Women’s Hospital (or Lying-In Hospital as it was then called) in 1877 he was one of those who supported the appeal to finance a new building on its present site. Burke was present when the buildings were opened in January 1878. In this year he was appointed by the Committee of the Lying-In Hospital as locum tenens for Dr. Martin who had obtained leave to visit Europe, and when Dr. Martin died in 1879 Burke obtained a permanent appointment; there was considerable interest in this position which was filled (as was then the rule) by vote of hospital subscribers on 22nd April 1879. The three applicants were Dr. Burke, Dr. James Jamieson and Dr. Fulton. Dr. Jamieson had recently been appointed Lecturer in Obstetrics in the University and required the Physicianship of the Lying–In Hospital to complete his status. But Dr. Burke was in possession as locum and was personally held in well deserved respect. The contest was between Burke and Jamieson, and on the vote, popularity and possession won the day by 272 to 119.

In 1880 an interesting case in one of his hospital patients was reported in the “Australian Medical Journal”. The patient came into hospital in obstructed labour, the obstruction being found to be due to a hydatid cyst in the vagina. The cyst was tapped, forceps applied, and delivery accomplished. The mother and child left the hospital well.

In 1887 Dr. Burke was involved in the distressing Beedham case in which he was submitted to severe censure by the then Coroner, Dr. Youl. Mrs Jane Beedham, a widow, was licensee of the Waterloo Hotel in Little Collins Street West. She had an abortion procured illegally and when on account of haemorrhage, was unable longer to serve in her bar, she announced that “one life was worth more that sixty tankers”, closed the bar, and retired to bed. Dr. Burke was called in against the wishes of the patient and without a true knowledge of the attendant circumstances, sent to a nearby chemist for ergot of rye which was administered in two doses, a painter who was working in the hotel measuring the amount. Burke called next morning and found the patient’s condition unaltered. He then informed her that operation was necessary to prevent the onset of blood poisoning. The operation, presumably curettage, was performed forthwith in the bedroom without any assistant. Bleeding was brought under control, and recovery from the anaesthetic was rapid. Before leaving to obtain the services of a visiting nurse, Dr. Burke gave strict and definite instructions that on no account must his patient get out of bed. Dr. Burke subsequently gave a death certificate recording death from haemorrhage. His friends claimed that his kindliness of heart, good natured disposition and faculty for the believing the best in all circumstances led him to the decision that an enquiry would only do harm. Other men thought differently, and an inquest was ordered forthwith. A post-mortem examination was subsequently made by Professor H.B. Allen and Dr. William Moore, in the presence of Dr, Burke, Dr. Lloyd, Dr. Meyer and Dr. Cutts, Jnr. Though the uterus was the organ in which interest centered, it was examined by Professor Allen alone at the Melbourne Hospital, and death was recorded as due to heamorrhage from a laceration made during the illegal operation which had taken place a few days before. At the inquest, the implication put before the jury was that Dr. Burke himself had caused the woman’s death by the abortion, and had issued a false and misleading death certificate. The case was adjourned for two weeks, and during that time evidence was forthcoming of the time and place where the abortion had been induced, and Dr. Burke was completely exonerated.

The majority of the medical profession felt strongly for Burke, and at the conclusion of the case presented him with an address expressing sympathy “on account of the trouble and anxiety which that enquiry must have caused you”; concluding “we feel the more called upon to give this expression of opinion since it may happen to any medical man involved in similar circumstances and with as little real cause for blame as there was in your case”. The document was signed by G.H. Fetherston and 50 other well known doctors, amongst them members of the Women’s Hospital staff. This document is now in the possession of the Medical Society of Victoria, having been presented by Dr. Godfrey Baldwin, (grandson of Dr. Burke) of Sale, Victoria.

During a serious illness in 1897, Dr. Burke took as his partner, Dr. Gerald Baldwin, F.R.C.S. (Eng.) who later married his daughter, Ida, and Baldwin continued practicing at Victoria Street, North Melbourne on Burke’s death. His widow for a number of years was in charge of the outpatient department of the Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.

Dr. Burke remained an active member of the Women’s staff for twenty years. He died on 24th November 1898 aged 63 years, and was buried from St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, West Melbourne.

Archival/Heritage Resources

Royal Women's Hospital Archives

  • Book of Remembrance, 1956 - 1975; Royal Women's Hospital Archives [ Details... ].

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Prepared by: Robyn Waymouth

Created: 31 July 2006, Last modified: 26 November 2006