Page 7 - Pharmacy History 34 February 2008

A tale of two chemists (with apologies to Charles Dickens) or
A scrupulous* pair
(*Scruple: an archaic weight of the apothecaries system roughly equivalent to 1.3grams.)
By Barry Bryant OAM MSc, Hon.MSc, PhC, FPS, MAIBiol, JP(CDec)
On 25 January 1872, the 167 ton brig Maria passed through Sydney Heads, carrying 76 adventurers to the Fly River and the goldfields of New Guinea. After a painfully slow journey north in the unseaworthy and leaking vessel, squalls drove the ship onto Bramble Reef, about 50 kilometres east of Cardwell
on February 26. Using hastily constructed rafts and whatever else would float, the survivors eventually came ashore some 10 kilometres north of the Johnstone River in North Queensland. After many trials and tribulations 34 survivors were rescued and returned to Sydney aboard the HMS Basilisk (Capt Moresby RN). Among those on this ill-conceived quest for riches was Thomas Ingham, a chemist.1,2
Tom Ingham returned north in 1873 aboard the Lord Ashley to the Palmer River goldfields. During the voyage the vessel was wrecked. On the Palmer, he opened a chemist’s shop, selling out two years later and returning south accompanied by 60 ounces of gold,
in the steamer Western. In keeping with Tom’s tradition for attracting maritime disaster, the sea was once again in a malevolent mood and the ship was dismasted in a cyclone on her voyage from Cooktown to Sydney putting in to Rockhampton for repairs.2 Tom was taking no further chances with the sea and decided to stay and to set up shop in Rockhampton, on the corner of East and William Streets, founding his ‘Medical Hall’ and becoming widely known as ‘Uncle Tom’.
Tom Ingham was born at Giggleswick, a small town in western Yorkshire, England about 25 miles north-east of Blackpool in 1845, was schooled at
Tom Ingham
the local Grammar School and learnt his future calling in Blackpool in Lancashire. Although the relationship is as yet unclear, a contemporary record in an old recipe book in the author’s possession lists a Mr John Ingham of Mount Pleasant Hill Top, Carnforth which is some 25 miles north of Blackpool. The coincidence is too much for them not to be father and son. On arrival in Australia,
time was spent on the Victorian goldfields and Tom briefly went into business in Elizabeth Street, Sydney.3 He indulged in mining activities on various southern goldfields and at one stage travelled for a wholesale drug warehouse. Orthodoxy seemed to
pale however and a taste for a more robust and adventurous life led him to undertake the ill-fated trip aboard the Maria.
The Register of Pharmacists (1880) recorded Tom’s qualifications as: ‘Five years Apprenticeship to a Chemist and Druggist, Indentures dated 19th February 1862’ (sic). His Registration was recorded on 1st June 1876. Tom Ingham established his ‘Medical
Hall’ at 134 East cnr William Streets, Rockhampton and his home address is recorded in the ubiquitous and ever-useful Post Office Directories of the time from 1889 to 1903 as Henry Street.
Tom developed a reputation as a most colourful personality, being known
as ‘the Mayor Maker’ and much
given to practical jokes. One such involved the distribution of lollies one evening at the pharmacy, which was an acknowledged meeting place for the leading citizens of the day. After the box of fancy chocolates had been passed around, the distributor vanished discreetly through the door before the recipients discovered the chocolates had rubber centres!3
Illustrating the therapeutics of the time, a contemporary report indicated that a Dr Thurston had sent a man to collect leeches from Crescent Lagoon (then the town’s water supply) because ‘Ingham’s shop had no stock left’.2,4
Stories were legion but one more in particular will serve to illustrate the atmosphere of the time. One day, Tom was approached by a local man and SP bookmaker who wished to buy a bottle of strychnine, ostensibly for dingo control. Such a purchase was fairly common in that era, and unlike today when very strict control is exercised over such lethal substances, no difficulty was found in concluding a transaction. Later that evening, as was his wont, Tom visited a local hostelry, the ‘Glasgow Arms’, in time to hear his erstwhile customer plying the leading citizens with free ale in the back parlour. After encouraging all present to drink deeply of the jug of ale, he announced that he was committing suicide and would be accompanied into the next world by his drinking
volume 4 no 35 September 2008
Pharmacy History Australia 7