Norman Bethune (1830-1939) was born in Gravenhurst, Ontario. He went to the
University of Toronto, where his education was interrupted when he enlisted as a stretcher bearer in
World War I. He received his M.D. in 1916.
When Bethune became sick and was diagnosed with tuberculosis, he left Detroit for Calydor
Sanitorium in Gravenhurst, Ontario. His wife, Frances, was determined to stay by his side, but
Bethune demanded a divorce and sent Frances back to Scotland; Bethune had accepted his
inevitable death, and didn't want to waste Frances' time. Even after their divorce, however, they
frequently wrote to each other, remaining close.
Bethune had given up but a letter from the Trudeau sanatorium at Saranac Lake, New York
allowing him admittance changed his life. While at Trudeau, Bethune read about a new and
controversial treatment for tuberculosis called compression therapy, or artificial pnemothorax
(insertion of air into the chest so as to collapse one lung either permanently or temporarily
depending on the case). There were currently only 13 doctors in the world experienced in this
technique; on was Dr. Archibald who was currently practicing in Montreal. Bethune, always a
forceful character, demanded compression therapy and received in at Trudeau. His left lung was
compressed, he recovered and was cured. Bethune left Trudeau for Montreal to study thoracic
surgery under Dr. Archibald.
From 1928 to 1936, Bethune worked as a thoracic surgeon in Montreal. He became famous there for
his treatment of tuberculosis patients. Although he cured hundreds of cases successfully, many of
his poorer patients became ill again when they returned to crowded, unsanitary homes. Bethune
realized they could not be cured without proper living conditions and medical care. He wanted the
medical system to provide the same level of health care for everyone. Bethune, and others with
similar ideas, developed a plan for socialized medicine. However, when they presented it to the
government they received a strong negative reaction. Bethune became unpopular among other doctors
who thought his ideas were too radical.
At the time that the Spanish Civil War was raging (1936-1939), a spokesman from the
Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy visited Bethune. The Committee had chosen Bethune, if
he would accept, to head the Canadian Medical Unit in Madrid. Bethune was one of the top paid
doctors in Canada, 39, and one of the world's top thoracic surgeons. He found it a hard decision
to make, but left for Madrid on November 3, 1936.
While in Spain, Bethune did pioneering work with blood transfusions, developing the world's first
mobile medical unit. This whole unit contained dressings for 500 wounds, and enough supplies
and medicine for 100 operations. It could also be carried by just one mule. The service collected
blood from donors and delivered it to hospitals and to soldiers at the battlefront. On many
occasions, Bethune risked his life to deliver blood to the front line. Bethune and his
colleagues discovered difficulties with some patients, however, in that the blood they transfused
didn't work, and the patient died. The discovery of blood types by Dr. Landsteiner solved this
mystery. Bethune returned to Canada on June 6, 1937.
In 1938, Bethune went to China to help Mao Tse-tung and the Red Army fight the Japanese. He
became the Red Army’s Medical Chief and trained thousands of Chinese as medics and doctors. He
also designed the world’s first mobile medical unit despite limited equipment. The unit saved
the lives of many soldiers. Unfortunately, Bethune soon lost his life assisting the Chinese. He
died on November 12, 1939, from blood poisoning. The world lost a great unselfish hero with
Bethune’s death.
Other Links of interest
Canadians in the Spanish civil war
