David Keith Ballow facts for kids
David Keith Ballow (born 1804 – died 1850) was an important doctor in early Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was the official Government Medical Officer and also the first doctor to open his own private clinic in the city.
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Early Life and Education
David Keith Ballow was born in October 1804 in a town called Montrose in Scotland. He was the oldest son of John Ballow. David went to university at the University of Edinburgh to study medicine.
Starting His Medical Career in Sydney
In 1834, Dr. Ballow moved to Sydney, Australia. On October 21, 1837, he married Catherine Campbell in Sydney. She was the youngest daughter of Captain D. McArthur. Later that year, in December 1837, Dr. Ballow was given a job as an Assistant Colonial Surgeon in Sydney.
Helping People in Brisbane
In March 1838, Dr. Ballow was put in charge of the Government Hospital in Brisbane. He and his wife arrived in Brisbane when it was changing from a prison colony to a free settlement. He later became the main surgeon at the Moreton Bay General Hospital. Dr. Ballow also worked as the coroner for the Brisbane area, investigating deaths. He was also the visiting doctor for the local jail.
In August 1850, a ship called the Emigrant arrived in Moreton Bay. Sadly, many people on board had a serious illness called typhus. The ship was sent to Dunwich on Stradbroke Island to keep the illness from spreading to Brisbane. Forty people on the ship died, including the ship's own doctor.
Another doctor, Dr. Mallon, came from Brisbane to help the sick people at Dunwich. But he also caught the illness. Dr. Ballow bravely took his place to care for the patients. Sadly, Dr. Ballow also got sick with typhus.
After Dr. Ballow's death, Dr. Kearsey Cannan took over. He set up his tent on Bird Island and visited his patients from there. This helped him avoid catching the disease himself.
While Dr. Mallon recovered from the illness, Dr. Ballow sadly died at Dunwich on September 29, 1850.
Remembering Dr. Ballow
Dr. Ballow was buried in the Dunwich Cemetery. There is a special memorial stone there for him and the other people who died from typhus. A road in Dunwich, called Ballow Road, is thought to be named after him.
A white marble memorial was also placed inside St John's Cathedral in Brisbane. A historic building in Brisbane, called Ballow Chambers, is named in his honor. This building has a plaque that tells Dr. Ballow's story.
