Dr Paulson was a local doctor from 1871 to 1913 and this
article about Dr Paulson appeared in the local newspaper.
A Long and Useful Life
The life of a doctor affords many opportunities of observing history in the making, particularly when a long professional career is passed in one district, and Dr. William Paulson, who came to Mountsorrel as a young man of 24, and is now at the great age of 87, passing his time with his sons and daughters in the neighbourhood, affords an example of the fact. Having had some experiences in India and China, he came to settle in Mountsorrel with decided opinions as to the evils of overcrowding: "I have seen.....[line missing here].
One of his early activities was in conection with the accident cases from the Mountsorrel Granite Company's works. These were formerly taken at once to the Leicester Infirmary, and Dr. Paulson not unnaturally objected to this as the means of transit being, of course, by horse vehicle, were not favourable to the injured, and the Infirmary was not then by any means the up to date place that it is today. Hence the local Infirmary on the hill.
Dr. Paulson's practice was a wide one and included Anstey, in those days not connected with the city water works, although its pipes skirted the village, which was entirely served with wells, some of which, according to the doctor, were none too clean. His activities in getting this abuse put right, and in connections with epidemics in the village secured him the good opinion of Anstey, which was more than once shown by a piece of plate.
The Old Windmill
An idea of his long memories is shown by his remembering the windmill which stood high up on the site of the large quarry. The key of the mill, about a foot long is now in the possession of his son, Mr Geoffery Paulson of Quorn. Amongst his old acquaintances was the Rev. Richard Burton, for upwards of fifty years, the bachelor vicar of Rothley, who, to attend the magistrates meetings at Loughborough, used to stop in his walk to Loughborough and have a cup og tea with the doctor.
In Dr. Paulson's early days at Mountsorrel it was no uncommon experience to be stopped, when going to an urgent case, by having to arouse a sleeping toll bar keeper, and his work which was done mostly on or behind a horse necessitated the keeping of two or three of these useful animals.
Riding through Quorn to Walton, in the great flood of 1875, his horse was twice swept off its legs. The memories of a man who remembers the Crimea War, and who passed through the Suez Canal within a few months of its opening are many, and, as the doctor says, "More improvements in sanitary matters have taken place in my life of 87 years than in the previous 200 years."
It is interesting to note that his coming to Mountsorrel was quite by chance. His mother had known Dr. Wright, his predecessor, and his wife, and visited him., at a time when he was growing old and likely to retire, and at his death, which occurred about that time, Dr. Paulson, being on the spot decided to take over the practice.
The fact that after so many years he is still alive and well and able to revisit his old haunts, shows that he has practised what he has preached and his many fiends will join in wishing him a peaceful old age.
