224 Obituary. 



OBITUARY. 



JAMES BARNSTON, M. D. 



Since the last number of the Naturalist was issued, the 

 most active member of its Editing Committee, and one of 

 the principal and most valued contributors to its columns, 

 has passed to his rest. On Thursday the 20th May last, 

 Prof. James Barnston, M.D., after a long and severe illness, 

 breathed his last, at his residence in Little St. James Street, 

 in this city. The deceased was the eldest son of George 

 Barnston, Esquire, Chief Factor of the Hon. Hudson's Bay 

 Company. He was born at Norway House, in the Terri- 

 tories of that Company, on the 3rd July, 1831 ; and, con- 

 sequently, at the time of his death, had not completed his 

 twenty-seventh year. He began his studies at Red River 

 Settlement in 1840, and remained there for a period of 

 five years. He was then removed to Canada, where his 

 education was principally of a private nature ; but he early 

 distinguished himself by his thirst for knowledge, and es- 

 pecially pursued with assiduity those preparatory studies 

 suited for the learned and honorable profession it was his 

 intention to enter ; and of which, had his life been spared, 

 he would have become a distinguished ornament. In 1847 

 he went to Edinburgh, and entered upon the study of 

 Medicine at the University there. He went through the 

 usual course, and in 1851 passed the final examination for 

 his degree with the greatest credit. Being then under age, 

 he did not receive his diploma till the following year. 

 During the third year of his course he filled the post of 

 House-Surgeon to the Royal Maternity Hospital ; an office 

 which he resigned on passing his examination. He subse- 

 quently became assistant to a Physician in extensive prac- 

 tice in the town of Selkirk and adjacent country ; but on 

 receiving his diploma in the Spring of 1852, he went to 

 the continent, with the view of " walking " the Hospitals 

 there, acquiring additional knowledge of his profession, 

 and completing his medical studies. He remained there 

 over a year, principally in Paris and Vienna, and received 

 the highest certificates from the Medical Directors of the 



