Maud Menten and Mary Jane Hutton

Local doctors Maud Menten and Mary Jane Hutton have both impacted the medical field.

Maud Menten

Maud Menten was born March 20, 1879 in Port Lambton. One of the first Canadian women to receive a medical degree, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1911. At that time women were not allowed to do research in Canada, so Maud traveled to Germany in 1912. She worked with Dr. Leonor Michaelis on the the Michaelis-Menten equation, which scientists use to analyze biological reactions. This concept brought her international recognition and continues to be used in biochemistry today. Maud conducted other important research and made additional discoveries concerning blood sugar, hemoglobin and kidney functions.

Mary Jane Hutton

Mary Jane Hutton was the first individual from Forest to receive a medical degree and the first woman in Lambton County to practice medicine. The Sarnia Observer reported on May 23, 1890 shortly after Mary had graduated and decided to practice in Forest, “Her career will be watched with interested by her many friends. Her father was the first doctor who located in Forest.”

Below is an advertisement for Mary Jane Hutton's practice, which appeared in the Forest Free Press on September 21, 1893. Her husband James was also a doctor. The advertisement has also been transcribed for easier reading.

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DRS HUTTON & HUTTON,

James Hutton, M.D., Mem. Phar. College of Ontario, &e.

Dr. Mary J. Hutton, M.D., C.M., Mem. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Special attention given to diseases of women and children.

Office and residence, Main St., Forest, Ont.      20

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