Sacramento County

Biographies

 

 

 

 

  

WILLIAM ROBERT CLUNESS, M. D. 

(1835-1918)

 

 

   William Robert Cluness (1835-1918), the son of David and Annie Ross Cluness, was born on a farm near London, Ontario, Canada, December 29, 1835.  He was one of twelve brothers and sisters.  Of them, in 1890, three brothers and four sisters, with the mother, the surviving remainder of the family, resided in Canada.  Dr. Cluness' preliminary education was received in his home community.  At the age of twelve he was sent away to school to prepare for entry at Queen's College in the old “limestone  city” of Kingston.  Here he graduated A.B. in 1855 and immediately thereafter entered a medical course, receiving the degree of M.D. in 1859.  In 1871 he graduated M.R.C.P., receiving his M.A. in 1872 and graduated F. R. C. P. the same year.  All the degrees were received from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.¹

   He practiced medicine but a short time in Canada.  Of this experience he later told having been called 'into the country to attend an old lady who, when he was ready to leave, indicated in strong Gaelic, difficult for the Doctor to understand, that she wished to pay him.  Removing a wisp of cotton cloth from her pocket she unfolded a Canadian ten cent piece, which she offered in payment for the visit.'

    Dr. Cluness came to the States in 1859 intending to join a friend in Chili.  Learning it would be necessary to pass a Spanish examination in medicine ere he would be permitted to practice, he decided to forego the plan and sailed on the “Golden Age” from New York for California, arriving July 16, 1859.

   His first location was Petaluma.  There he practiced from July, 1859 to June, 1863.  Doctor Cluness often alluded to his personal and professional experienced while at Petaluma.  He told of one day sitting on his hotel balcony, not long after arrival, and while there the proprietor walked out near him and glancing down called out to a man below wielding pick and shovel: “Well, Doc., how goes it?”  Catching the word “Doc.” (a new one to him), and somewhat startled, inquired if the man was a qualified physician.  When the answer was “Yes,” he began to wonder if his turn would come to wield pick and shovel for his money was fast diminishing.  It gave him serious reflection.²  However, confidence and respect was soon enjoyed.  Only because of wishes to practice in a larger field did Doctor Cluness decide to remove to Sacramento.  Medicine, apparently, did not demand his full time.  On September 17, 1863 he returned to Petaluma and claimed Mary Laird for his bride.

   In the latter part of June, 1863, Doctor Cluness arrived in Sacramento.  His first office at the northeast corner of K and Second streets was situated in the Morse building, where he remained over ten years.  From 1863 to 1869, Dr. and Mrs. Cluness made the Morse building their home.  In 1869 their residence was located at the southwest corner of Ninth and E streets.³  In 1870 they lived at the Brannan House, 12 J street,4  now Hotel Espanol.  Some time in 1871 the Morse building was again their home.  There they remained until 1875 then removing to a home at Eighth and H streets.  This continued to be the Clujness residence until his departure to reside in San Francisco.

   Doctor Cluness experienced an excellent practice for the thirty years he remained in Sacramento.  A gentleman of the old school, pleasant and genial mannered, courteous and affable to all . . .impeccably neat . . . quiet, and proportionate in actions . . . learned. . . deliberate, confident.  Such attributes gave a personal force making his special forte gynecology and obstetrics successful.  Being also a beloved family doctor lent enjoyment to himself and generous satisfaction among patients.  His beneficence is a treasured memory of many still living.  “W. R. Cluness was one of Nature's gentlemen; one of God's noblemen.  Nothing more need be said.  Nothing less could be written.”5   On leaving Sacramento in 1892 the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement paid him tribute by a dinner at the Sutter Club.  Doctor Simmons, in part, had this to say:  “And now, what can I say of his long professional life in Sacramento, that is not to all as an open book?  The long hours of waiting at the bedside of pain; the irregular time for sleep and meals; the deprivation of social engagements, and the surrendering of family pleasures, have all been his, in common with us all.  But when we consider that his chief work was been in that special line which requires the closest and most long-continued 'watching and waiting', and that his practice in this branch was for years larger than any other practitioner enjoyed in Sacramento, we wonder that he is able to be here tonight to respond to our request to do him honor.”

   Doctor Cluness was one of the organizers, in 1888, of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company.  He became Medical Director February, 1889; appointed all medical examiners and decided all applications for life insurance.  He continued that capacity until April 1, 1907, when he resigned.  The Doctor was a charter member, and helped organize the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement in 1868.  Of the twelve original members he outlived all.

   From an early day the Doctor had interests outside medicine---a well known trait among physician; most, an expensive adventure.  He, with Mr. C. W. Reid, purchased the celebrated “Oak Shade Orchard” in Yolo County, near Davisville (now Davis), twelve miles from Sacramento.  The 350 acres were planted to mulberry trees, several thousand having been set out.  Two large cocooneries, each 150 feet in length, were built, and preparations made on an extensive scale for silk-raising.  Winfield J. Davis 6  states it was 'by far the largest establishment in the State, and the experiment was watched with very great interest generally throughout the State.'  The project progressed for several years, 'several million cocoons were produced, eggs hatched, etc., but it was at last discovered to be a premature enterprise and was consequently abandoned.'7   The land was afterwards planted to fruit trees.

    Doctor Cluness was appointed to the City Board of Health June 1, 1867, replacing Doctor Montgomery.  He became Secretary of the Board December 2d, on Doctor Logan's resignation, but relinquished the position, January 1869, when Doctor Logan returned.  He was elected President of the Board, March, 1883, and served until 1886.  Doctor Cluness replaced Doctor Montgomery on the State Board of Health January 16, 1880 and served to June 30, 1892.  In the same year he, with Drs. Murphy and Shurtleff, were a committee to establish a State Board of Medical Examiners.

   Sensible of the grave duties imposed upon a member of these Boards of Health, Doctor Cluness gave them devoted attention for twenty-three consecutive years (without salary).  He brought these Health Boards acumen imbued with progressive viewpoints, and supported disciplinary action.  Some of his papers on sanitary matters give a photograph of the man.  In a paper he stated 'man's destiny is in his own hands, and he can invite disease or repel it at his option.  In accordance with his observance of the laws of health so will be his immunity from disease.  We have been grossly violating those laws, otherwise there would be no necessity for this assemblage.'8  Dr. Cluness, in 1875, regarded bad drainage and want of cleanliness about premises not a cause of scarlet fever but 'greatly accounted for the epidemic.'  Questions of contagion of the disease and communication in clothing were considered.

    In 1888 he was on the staff of the Sacramento Medical Times, regularly reporting on Public Health, and continued as long as the magazine was printed.  A successful case of tracheotomy for diphtheria was performed by Dr. Cluness in 1887.  Eight previous tracheotomies terminated disastrously, principally 'from constitutional effects.'

   Cluness was President of the State Medical Society during 1890-1891.  The Annual Meeting, April, 1891, was held in Sacramento.  In his Annual Address the Doctor spoke on “The Obligations and Derelictions of Medical Practitioners to Professional Character,” a subject in harmony with his daily and professional life.  'On Tuesday evening, April 21st, the President, Dr. W. R. Cluness, entertained the Society in a very handsome manner at his residence, Eighth and H streets.  The house was beautifully decorated, the grounds illuminated with Japanese lanterns and a special platform communicating with an extensive porch, that had been canvassed in, was erected for dancing.'9 

    A son, Robert L., three years and nine months old, died November 14, 1876 of diphtheria; a four and one-half year old daughter, Emily L., died August 18, 1883; and an older daughter, Mary E., an invalid for many years, died in 1942.  W. R. Cluness, Jr., a graduate of the Medical Department, University of California, November 15, 1887, was a practicing physician in Sacramento for many years, and a daughter, Mabel Taylor Cluness, now lives in Redwood City.

   A testimonial banquet at the Sutter Club, was given by the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement, January 24, 1893.  The occasion was Dr. Cluness' retirement to live in San Francisco, 'not to practice, but to escape from the wear and tear of the life of the busy general practitioner.'10   Twenty-one of the Doctor's associates were present. Eulogy, accorded in truth, from goodness of the heart, depicts insight into thoughts and actions of a man. Extracts from the address of Dr. G. L. Simmons illustrates devotion: 'To no one man are we so much indebted for this effort to live up to the grand Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association as to Dr. Cluness' . . . 'his zeal was never more apparent than at the organization of your Society, and always, with pen and pencil, he was ready to advance the cause of medical discussion and investigation'. . . and 'with a professional record unstained by affiliation with quackish practices or neglect of the “Code of Ethics”.'  Dr. Cluness had oratorical abilities to be observed in reading fully his reply to the amenities.  He exhorted his colleagues to 'let not that jealous or envious rivalry which begets a desire to obtain unworthily that which our neighbor possesses, ever find a place in our hearts . . . no underhanded biddings for preferment . . .(the doctor) should be as true to himself as the needle to the pole, and he will surely be just and true to others . . .(to the younger members) place before you high aims and lofty ambitions; be inspired with literary and scientific tastes, and cherish the highest moral and intellectual ideal; aim high; be ambitious and contribute to the world's progress'.11   

   Essays on several subject, from the pen of Doctor Cluness, contain interest even though written in a remote age:

 

1.  “Use and Abuse of Alcohol in Disease.”

2.  “Vaccination.”

3.  “Tetanus treated by Chloral.”

4.  “Traumatic Aneurism.”

5.  “Reflections of the 'Social Evil'  Question.”

6.  “Ovariotomy.”  'The third successful, out of four cases operated in Sacramento, and was considered a surgical triumph.

     Dr. Cluness performed the operation on a kitchen table, in a small house, north of the slough, surrounded by stagnant

     water and filth,' and in a locality 'redolent with malaria.'12 

7.  “Anal Fissure---Some Practical Observations on its Importance and Treatment.”

8.  “Notes on Albuminuria.”

9.  “Recent Progress of Sanitation in California, and our present Sanitary Needs.”

10. “Albuminuria and its bearing on Life Insurance.”

11. “Successful Case of Tracheotomy for Diphtheria.”

12. “The Dual Duties and Obligations of the Medical Examiner in Life Insurance.”

13. “Will the Cholera reach America this Season?”

 

   Doctor Cluness again received special honors at the forty-fifth Annual Banquet of the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement.  He and Doctor Nichols were the, then, only surviving charter members. 'Dr. Cluness' smiling face, handsome silvery hair, top hat, immaculate attire, and general habiliments of a popular physician of the old school, make him an attractive figure wherever he goes,' commented the Sacramento Bee.  Each year the Sacramento Society sent a special invitation to its charter member . . . to its revered friend.  He was an eyewitness and a spectator of all that was known of the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement.  His memory connected every link, and caused the years to live again.

   Time, however, laid calming hands over Doctor Cluness' activities.  His visitations were henceforth only by correspondence.  “Though lost to sight, to memory dear.”  This last charter member departed to join earlier colleagues, September 26, 1918.  No finer obituary could be written for this noble gentleman than that expressed by Dr. A. M. Henderson, who knew him well:  “Of all the medical men we have known here he surpassed all in the niceties of personal contact.”

 

 

 

    1  From Pioneer Record, California State Library (the card was filled in by Dr. Cluness).

     2  An Illustrated History of Sacramento, Davis, 1890.

     3  Sacramento Directory, 1869.

     4  Sacramento Directory, 1870. (The Brannan House was a prohibition hotel, and there the prohibition paper was            

         published.)

     5  From newspaper clipping at the time of his death.

     6  An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, Davis, 1890.

     7  Ibid.

     8  Pacific Medical and Surgical Journal, v. XXXVI, 1893, p.375-6.

     9  Occidental Medical Times, v. 5, 1891, p. 233-242.

    10  Dr. G. L. Simmons.

    11  Occidental Medical Times, v. 7, 1893, p. 106-110.

    12   Minutes of the Society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transcribed 3-9-17  Marilyn R. Pankey.

­­­­Source: “Memories, Men and Medicine A History of Medicine In Sacramento, California by J. Roy Jones, M.D., Pages 363-369. Publ. Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement, 1950.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Nugget Library's Sacramento County

Golden Nugget Library