(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)

Supplement to Frearson’s Weekly, Saturday, August 18 1883

MEN OF MARK, NO 23

Accompanying this number, we present our readers with a portrait of the late Mr. S. Kidner, the well-known homœopathic physician, whose death occurred at Hindmarsh, on Saturday, August 1 at the venerable age of 74. The deceased gentleman was born at Rotherhithe, England, in 1809. In early boyhood he was apprenticed to the business of a large retail drapery establishment of that township. Disliking the business, however, he directed his attention to a study of the principles of Homœopathy, and became a firm adherent of that branch of the medical art when he found that his wife, who suffered from consumption, seemed to derive much benefit from homœopathic treatment.

He then established himself as a homœopathic chemist, while at the same time devoting himself ardently to literature. He also became famous as an advocate of the cause of temperance, making his debut as a lecturer in London, in conjunction with the well-known Cassell, of the firm of Cassell, Peter, & Galpin. Mr. Kidner had many severe trials to contend with while yet in youthful manhood, chief amongst which was the sudden loss of his devoted wife, and all but one of their children, through accidents. About this period he became acquainted with the late Dr. Epps*, who greatly assisted him in his medical studies, and urged him to apply for a certificate of legal qualification as a practitioner, a wise piece of advice which was unfortunately neglected, chiefly in consequence of excessive anxiety to obtain a change of scene, and to benefit of his health, now severely shaken by his late appalling misfortunes.

When the war initiated by Queen Isabella of Spain was being waged, he was entrusted by the Palmerston Government with the carrying of despatches to that illustrious lady; a mission he successfully executed. Still later, finding his health unimproved, he, with his only surviving child, bade farewell to old England, and shipped for Sydney, where he arrived in 1857, some friends having previously obtained for him a position as resident dispenser at one of the hospitals. Owing, however, to some delay in his letter of reply accepting the situation, he found, on arrival at Sydney, that the vacancy was already filled. He therefore sailed thence for Melbourne, where he started as a homœopathic practitioner, and established, in conjunction with a Mr. Gould, a pharmacy in that branch of medicine, in Collins-street. Here he gained the esteem and respect of all with whom he associated. At St. Kilda particularly there are many who derived comfort from his paternal and professional advice, and his practical assistance. His Collins-street establishment was the first of the kind in Melbourne.

During the same year [1860] he visited Mr. T. Magarey, in Adelaide, where there was no resident homœopath, and was waited upon, shortly after his arrival, by such a large number of applicants for professional aid, that he consented to stay for 12 months, until a qualified substitute could be obtained from England. Eventually, however, he elected to remain in Adelaide, where, as many of our readers are aware, he practised for many years.

Amongst his chief supporters at this time were the late Mr. W.K. Thomas (homœopath), Mr. G.F. Angas, and many other men of note. Allegedly marvellous cures were effected by his mode of treatment, even in cases regarded by many members of the allopathic school as absolutely incurable. One of these so relieved stood beside the grave of the departed physician on 13^th August, a living testimony to the rare skill and patience of Mr. Kidner. The individual we refer to was found by Mr. Kidner a helpless invalid, confined to his bed, but his worldly wealth having been well nigh exhausted in paying for medical assistance, which failed to bring him relief from his malady. Another such case occurred in North Adelaide, where a gentleman has been a sufferer from supposed rheumatism, and his case abandoned by his medical attendant as a hopeless case. On hearing of the arrival of the “new doctor”, the ailing man requested the favour of a visit. As a result, the patient was, in a few months, so far recovered as to be able to walk from his home to the heart of the city. This patient’s adulation of his benefactor was unbounded. Mr. Kidner’s generosity to many poor families who would otherwise have been in distress is matter of pleasing notoriety. He may be aptly termed the father of Homœopathy, so far as South Australia is concerned.

Of an active turn of mind, he, soon after arrival here, connected himself, as an expounder of gospel truths, with the Flinders-street Baptist Church, working on its behalf early and late, in addition to the performance of his professional routine duties. About the year 1860 he became connected with the Disciples of Christ, who met within a tenement at Hindmarsh, the property of Mr. T. Magarey, which may still be seen, situated at the side of the sect’s new chapel, shown in another of our illustrations. By continuous efforts, in conjunction with other of the “Disciples”, Mr. Kidner succeeded in increasing the numbers from some six members to nearly as many hundreds. And there are still in existence a literary club, a Bible class, and a society for the advancement of young men which evince the zeal of the promoter.

Speaking of his services to the young, his sympathy with such was very noteworthy, many being indebted to him for the positions they now occupy. As an instance of such disinterested sympathy, take the following: - During a severe winter’s night in 1860, he heard a noise at his front door. On opening it, he found, sitting on the door-step, and half-dead with cold, a lad evidently in his teens. Mr. Kidner found, on questioning him, that his widowed mother was a person known to him in the old country, and that she had sent him out to an Australian sheep station to gain colonial experience. This he did gain, by having all his money and clothes taken from him, and being turned out upon the world friendless, and without a shelter, Mr. Kidner thereupon took the lad in, and cared for him until his mother (part owner of a large foreign goods warehouse in London) could be communicated with, i.e., months afterwards. When, sometime afterwards, the young man was sent home by sailing ship, his emotion on parting with the kind physician was excessive. Mr. Kidner had stuck to him through good report and through evil report, and was at length rewarded for his devotion, when, in 1868, he re-visited England, and found his once outcast friend sitting in his office. On the physician making himself known, the young gentleman jumped up from his chair and embraced him, at the same time stating it as his intention to introduce his benefactor to his widowed mother, the result of which introduction he naively suggested might be his possessing his benefactor as a father as well as a friend.

During the agitation amongst the medical fraternity as to the rights of unqualified practitioners practising in the colony, which resulted in the present “Duly Qualified Medical Practitioners’ Act” being passed, Mr. Kidner took great interest in the large amount of correspondence which took place through the press; and many of his valuable suggestions as to its framing were made use of, although holding no medical certificate himself. This was about the year 1867, after which he decided to apply in person to his old friend Dr. Epps, as stated previously. Finding also that his health was suffering, he sailed for England, but only to meet with disappointment again, as Dr. Epps, the only person from whom he could obtain a certificate, died just as Mr. Kidner reached the English shore*. He remained, however, long enough to thoroughly recruit himself, and travelled through France (in which country he had near relatives) for that purpose. Returning in 1869, he settled at Willunga for some time, making there a host of friends, and adding many to the number of the “Disciples” in that township. The church at Stirling East for the Disciples was erected some 15 years since mainly by his efforts.

After this we find him again at practice in the vicinity of Bowden, and ultimately in Hindmarsh, where he ended his days, going about amongst the people performing good works as a preacher, a philanthropist, and a physician. Shortly after his final settlement in this township, he married again, after thirty years of widowhood. He was accounted a good speaker, enunciating what he had to say with clear distinctness and accurate pronunciation. As a writer he was excelled by few. He greatly aided, with his ever ready pen, the first issues of both our weekly and monthly illustrated papers, and took an interest in them to the last. Many of his productions of that time are worthy of re-perusal, giving one a good insight into his character as a literary man, his last production being a review upon a religious work, which will be issued in our next number of the Illustrated “Monthly”.

His death at the ripe age of 74 was somewhat sudden, few of his immediate friends even knowing of his illness until the fact of his decease was made public. This occurred at his residence, Hindmarsh, on Saturday, August 11, and on the Monday following his burial took place at the West-terrace Cemetery, attended by a large concourse of friends. His remains were borne from the hearse to the grave by young men, members of one of the many improvement societies he had originated during his lifetime. He had been announced as to speak on the Sunday immediately succeeding his death, and the audience who assembled to hear him little thought they should hear his familiar voice nevermore. He leaves a widow, and also a widowed daughter (Mrs. Philip Santo), who in all essential aspects greatly resembles him.

Adelaide Observer, 18 August 1883 &

South Australian Register, 13 August 1883

DEATH OF Mr. S. KIDNER

It will be learned with regret that Mr. S. Kidner, the well-known homœopathist, has passed away, his decease occurring early on Saturday morning. The deceased gentleman was born in London in 1809, and had thus attained the ripe age of seventy-four. It was whilst living in London that he first took up Homœopathy, as he found it beneficial to his first wife, who was suffering from consumption. He then established himself as a homœopathic chemist, and there are doubtless many in London who remember his name with gratitude, as hundreds of poor people unable to pay for medical assistance flocked to him to receive necessary and withal gratuitous aid. Owing to delicate health he endeavoured to obtain a position in Australia, and his friends in Sydney obtained for him there a position as resident dispenser at one of the hospitals, but owing to a delay in his reply letter he found that when he arrived at Sydney in 1857 the vacancy had been filled. He then sailed for Melbourne, where he started as a homœopathic practitioner, and established in conjunction with a Mr. Gould a pharmacy in that branch of medicine, in Collins-street, which was the first of the kind in Melbourne. He remained there for three years.

On paying a visit to Mr. T. Magarey in Adelaide, where there was no resident homœopath, the visits to him shortly after arrival were so overwhelming that he consented to say [sic] for twelve months until a qualified man was brought from England. Eventually, however, he decided to remain in Adelaide, where he practised for many years.

In 1868 he visited England for twelve months, and on his return repractised at North Adelaide, remaining there for a long time; but a few years ago he changed his residence to Hindmarsh, at which place he died.

On Wednesday morning he was out seeing a patient, when he was seized suddenly with shivering fits. He went to bed, and slightly recovered on Friday morning, but was re-attacked, and died early on Saturday. He was one of the pastors of the Christian church at Hindmarsh, and in fact had an appointment to preach there on Sunday. Drs. Magarey and Robertson attended the sufferer, who died from pleura-pneumonia, and though recovery was not expected, yet it was not anticipated that death would take place so quickly. Mr. Kidner will long be remembered for the warm-hearted interest he always took in the young and for his benevolent disposition.

On Saturday nearly all the places of business in Hindmarsh were partially closed our of respect to the memory of the deceased. Mr. Kidner, who was twice married, leaves a widow, and also a widowed daughter, Mrs. P. Santo, jun., of Angas-street.

South Australian Register, 14^th August, 1883

On Monday afternoon the remains of the late Mr. Kidner, homœopath, were removed from his late residence, Port-road, Hindmarsh. Three mourning coaches and twenty-six private conveyances followed the hearse, in which the coffin was covered with flowers, to West-terrace Cemetery.

Mr. H.D. Smith, pastor of Robert-street Church, officiated at the grave.

Kidner complained to a friend he had suffered from sitting in a draught at the preliminaries of a literary competition for the Robert-street Literary Society.

* Dr EPPS

Dr John Epps (1805 – 1869). Obtained his medical degree in Edinburgh at age 21. One of the first practitioners of Homœopathy in England. He wrote his first essay on Homœopathy in 1838. In London he established his practice in Edgeward Road, then South Audley Street, Seymour Street, Berners Street, and finally in Great Russell Street. In Edinburgh he joined the Scotch Baptists and was a lay preacher. Became paralysed on 31 January 1869 and died 12 February 1869.