February 15th,: It's Frederick Treves' Birthday, by Ann Li Oz
It's Sir Frederick Treves birthday today!(15 Feb 1853)
Actually though, I'm not completely certain on my feelings about him - while of course if it were not for him I'm sure Joseph wouldn't have lasted long after he arrived back in England, having been ''rescued'' by Treves at the station...My feelings are coloured because of how upset I am at what was done to Joseph after he died....and another instance in where he never allowed Norman to visit Joseph at the Hospital - for example. I feel sometimes that Treves wanted Joseph '' for himself'' in a way. I don't know. It's all very complicated - Treves is definately a complex and enigmatic character...
Thanks for letting us know it's his birthday, Ann. I agree, Treves probably had mixed motives with Joseph - he cared enough to provide him a home and give him new experiences like going to the theater and the country, yet he continued to treat Joseph as a "specimen" and expected him to be available for display at any time.
ReplyDeleteReally, he was a very gifted artist, humanitarian, scientist and surgeon. Quite extraordinary! In fact, just last week his grandnephew passed away. He was a distinguished actor also named Frederick Treves.
Ann Li Oz I'll have to read up about him. It might help me make up my mind. :)
Jackpot! An interesting downloadable PDF article, an online bio, and a full-length bio of Freddie.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1293648/pdf/jrsocmed00107-0069.pdf
Detailed history of Treves's various accomplishments.
http://dorset-ancestors.com/?p=592
Not entirely accurate but has some fun and interesting anecdotes that aren't usually mentioned. Shows Treves's faults as well as abilities. Typical description of Joseph as "victim" of showman. Also, there has been a bio written of Treves.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sir-Frederick-Treves-The-Extra-Ordinary-Edwardian-/110705728079?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item19c6935a4f#ht_500wt_949
Ann Li Oz Thanks very much!:)
It makes me wonder what Treves was thinking when Joseph died. Did he have any feelings when the time came to prepare his patient's body? I like to think that his mind wasn't completely devoted to impartial, disconnected reason. From what we know from the literature, Treves took the time to visit Joseph every day, and spend up to an hour with him on Sunday. Surely he came to have fond feelings for him.
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ReplyDeleteIt must have been frustrating for Treves. As the years passed, all he could do was watch his patient deteriorate, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me wonder what he would think of all the future doctors taking such interest in Joseph.
I think Treves made a point of documenting Joseph's condition for future scientists, so that they could make an informed diagnosis. Treves wrote up Joseph's case and took photographs for various medical journals, commissioned the postmortem casts, and assembled Joseph's remains,where they have been studied for generations in the Medical College. However, they've never been on public display.
ReplyDeleteHere's a haunting example of how Treves had to separate emotions from professional work: when his own daughter Hetty came down with appendicitis. Treves hesitated to intervene, then finally operated on her himself, but it was too late. Imagine how awful that must have felt as a surgeon and a father!
I think when it came time to write his memoirs, Treves remembered Joseph fondly. His account is far from cold and clinical. He presents Joseph in the best light, as a highly intelligent, sensitive man, even noble. For that, Treves deserves our undying gratitude.