Dr Edward Herbert Young, MD Durh, DPH London, MRCS England, Medical officer of health for Okehampton Town Council 1898 and 1920 and to Okehampton Rural District Council RESIDING at Darley House, Station Road, Okehampton, he was in practice as a doctor and surgeon in Okehampton for many years, alongside the equally well known Dr George Van House Burd of East Street. Being the only two practising doctors in Okehampton for a long period they had to work their duties so that at least one of them was available to give instant service to the public. They were both familiar figures in their pony and traps or on their bicycles. Besides his general practice, Dr Young was also medical officer of health for both the Okehampton Town Council and the Okehampton Rural District Council. In this position to the town council, he had to report on just about everything connected with health at every council meeting as well as compiling an annul written report. This report would be most comprehensive, dealing with ?housing of the working classes?, slaughterhouses and the implementation of the Factory Act. Besides factories, the Factory Act included laundries, workplaces and ?homework?. He had to record all the deaths including unusual causes and ages. All births were recorded and, as an example, in 1907 with a population of 2,900 there were 64 births of which five were reported as illegitimate, as the council always requested separate record. Dr Young had little leisure time and, like many medical practitioners of the era, took few holidays. He did, however, provide much useful information on the history of Okehampton which he conveyed to the council. One major project was his paper on Okehampton which he did for the advancement of parochial history section of the Devonshire Association. This was well received and converted into an 81-page book, but sadly few copies seem to have survived. He also submitted a paper regarding Okehampton during the civil war,1642/46, and did a copy of a collection of transcripts of documents, etc, relating to Okehampton and Brightly Priory in 1931. He was a member of the Church of England men?s society and in one address on the perils of drink he made the following comments: 1: Some are born drunkards. Owing to hereditary tendencies and lack of moral force, many are unable to lead a sober life unaided. 2: Some achieve drunkenness. This represents the majority of drunkards. They drink, not because they like the taste, but because they are pleased with the effects it produces. 3: Some have drunkenness ?thrust upon them? owing to sorrowing etc. Dr Young also showed how alcohol, used to excess, caused the brain to shrink and took away all power of self-control from he who indulged. He was a great supporter of the convalescent home at Woodlands, Station Road, but saw the need for an up-to-date hospital. Tenby House was suggested but he, like the other practitioners, did not think ?it was worthy of the town?. Dr Young, however, was part of the committee of Okehampton that did so much to ensure that the Okehampton and District War Memorial Hospital came to fruition on October 20 1926 after some 30 years discussion. Dr Edward Herbert Young did much for the health and wellbeing of the inhabitants of Okehampton over such a long period, also supporting many organisations and providing a lot of hitherto unknown history to the council. Hilary and Mike Wreford
