The Island Midsomer Norton

[LizzieL]

There is a newspaper report dated 29 July 1927 concerning the inquest on a lady named Henrietta Wise age 92 of the Island House, who unfortunately fell downstairs on 28th June and died of her injuries. A Dr Pollard, said to live a few yards away, attended her. Doesn't seem to quite fit with censuses.

[LizzieL]

A 1929 newspaper has details of sale of household furniture and effects by Dr Pollard of Island house (who is leaving)
Later in 1929 the house was up for sale.
1930 - advert for a private school situated at Island House.

If Dr Pollard was actually the owner/ occupier of Island House in 1927 (and Mrs Wise did not live there but was a near neighbour - newspaper could have muddled the detail), then he might have had patients staying there. Judging from 1911 census it had quite a number of rooms.

[AlanBoyd]

Interesting idea! In 1911 there are three unrelated visitors ages 29, 33 and 14. They are born Bristol, Isle of Wight and Devon. Could they be patients?

[LizzieL]

Interesting idea! In 1911 there are three unrelated visitors ages 29, 33 and 14. They are born Bristol, Isle of Wight and Devon. Could they be patients?

I wondered that too.
The good doctor seems to have gone AWOL in 1921. His leaving MN in 1929 would roughly coincide with his 70th birthday, presumably retiring. He turns up in 1939, not gone far, nice place by the seaside.

[AlanBoyd]

Kelly's Directory 1923
Pollard George Samuel L. R. C. P. Edin., M. R. C. S. Eng. physician, hon. surgeon to the Paulton Hospital, certifying factory surgeon, medical officer & public vaccinator, Midsomer Norton district, Clutton union (firm, Pollard & Mitchell), Island house. TN I0

[LizzieL]

Kelly's Directory 1923
Pollard George Samuel L. R. C. P. Edin., M. R. C. S. Eng. physician, hon. surgeon to the Paulton Hospital, certifying factory surgeon, medical officer & public vaccinator, Midsomer Norton district, Clutton union (firm, Pollard & Mitchell), Island house. TN I0

He was at Island House in 1891 and 1901. Looks like he was well established in the area and lived at Island Huse for many years. I suspect his 1921 census return has got lost somewhere. In 1881 he was in London - med student at Guys, In 1871 with family in Weston super Mare. His father was a vicar, but of South Walsham NFK, not in Weston s-M. Presumably he must have been in Scotland at some time between censuses to get his qualification in Edinburgh.

[AlanBoyd]

OP has the death certificate, I wonder who communicated the death?

[KGarrad]

There is an obituary for George Samuel Pollard in the British Medical Journal of 15th April 1944. (death March 26th)

[AlanBoyd]

I found a copy of The Medical Officer's Report for Midsomer Norton for 1925 at archive.org. It summarises tuberculosis deaths:

pulmonary tuberculosis: 2 male, 1 female
other tuberculosis: 0 male, 2 female

There is also a breakdown of tuberculosis deaths by age which doesn't quite match those numbers (there is an extra female pulmonary tuberculosis death). For females the age breakdown is:

pulmonary
1 death 15-20
1 death 35-40
non pulmonary
2 deaths 30-35

Gertrude Hayter was ~32 when she died, so she could have been one of the non-pulmonary cases. The report mentions that there is no tuberculosis hospital funded by the Local or County authorities, but I don't see any mention of Island House or of Dr Pollard.

Does the death certificate specify the type of tuberculosis?