Santa Clara County
Biographies
JAMES RUSSELL CURNOW, A. M., M. D.
J. R. CURNOW, A. M., M. D. Universally recognized as one
of the leading physicians of the state, Dr. J. R. Curnow occupies
a merited position of prominence among his contemporaries and enjoys the
highest confidence of those who have sought his advice professionally. In San
Jose, where he has made his home for many years, he is regarded as a citizen of
more than ordinary importance, for he has so thoroughly interested himself in
questions concerning the physical welfare of the community that he has brought
about results of incalculable benefit, among his most important enterprises
being his efforts in behalf of the city’s sewer system and board of health. He
is as well one of the framers of the present state asylum system, and in
various ways he has contributed materially to the health of the inhabitants. He
is unquestionably a man of much native ability and with this has brought to
bear in the prosecution of his profession an application and earnestness and an
intense love of the work which have given to him a merited success.
Dr. Curnow is the son of an old English and Scotch
family, his parents being James and Jennie (Russell) Curnow, the former of
English birth, the latter of Scotch. He was born near Falmouth, England, the
second in a family of six children. Two of his brothers have attained success
in mining ventures, Robert Curnow being general manager of the French Rand
Gold Mining Company, near Krugersdorp, South Africa, and is a very prominent
mining engineer. William Curnow is a mining man located in Nevada county,
Cal. Dr. Curnow received his preliminary education in the grammar schools
of England, and about 1872 he came to California on account of his health. He
continued his studies in the University of the Pacific, from which institution
he was graduated in 1880 with the degree of A. B., receiving the degree of
A. M. in 1883 from his Alma Mater. After graduation he entered the
medical department of Columbia College, N. Y., where he took a scientific
course, following this with an entrance into Bellevue Hospital Medical College,
where he graduated in 1883 with the degree of M. D. While in New York he
became acquainted with the health officer of the city and obtained an idea of
hygiene, public health and drainage, and how to decrease and prevent diseases.
As an assistant to one of the health officers he was indirectly connected with
the board of health in New York City, and when he came to San Jose, after his
graduation, he found from statistics that the town was unhealthful and the
drainage incomplete. With the energy and straightforwardness of purpose he went
to work at once, and through his efforts with the citizens obtained an
appropriation of $500,000 for sewers, with which a complete sewer system was
built, the city thoroughly cleaned up, all of which resulted in a great saving
in regard to public health and practically resulted in the building up of a new
San Jose. He also found many cases of tubercular meningitis which he traced to
diseased milk, and an examination of the herds followed, resulting in the
killing of about five hundred diseased cows. In all the death rate was
materially decreased in spite of the increased population.
The doctor was also one of the originators and father of
the board of health of San Jose, and was the commissioner of health here for
nine years, giving service which can never be forgotten among the appreciative
citizens of the community. Having made a special study of nervous diseases he
was appointed by Governor Budd as a director in the Agnew Insane Asylum and was
elected chairman of the board, and as such helped to draw up the bill to create
a state commission of lunacy, which is the present asylum system in the state.
He is a recognized authority on nervous diseases among the profession on the
Pacific coast, an expert in that line, and a close student of the celebrated
Dr. Gowers, of London; Dr. W. H. Erb, of Heidelberg; Dr. Charco,
of Paris, and others. In San Jose Dr. Curnow was united in marriage with
Lottie Crichton, a native of Santa Clara county,
and of this union were born three daughters. In his fraternal relations
Dr. Curnow is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 210,
F. & A. M.; Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M.;
and San Jose Commandery No. 10, K. T.; and also belongs to the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, in
which he officiates as vestryman. In the line of his work he is a valued member
of the State Medical Society, and is a member and ex-president of the Santa
Clara Medical Society.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 15 November 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
895-896. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.