Quite Unusual

If not for the work of one Jonah Boyle. We would not have surgeons washing their hands before they worked on you. Dr. Jonah Boyle was one of the very first doctors that washed their hands before operating on his patient. Making his patient death percentage much lower than his fellow surgeons. A fact that others adopted during and after his death in June eleventh, 1866. A man that performed various operations during combat in his years in the military. Saving countless lives while in the process and rising to the rank of Inspecter General. Having died of dysentery much like his other fellow soldiers.

What was unlike his fellow soldiers was the fact that Jonah Boyle was transgender.

Jonah Boyle was born Mackenzie Behan on October tenth, 1788.

From what is known about his life he dressed masculine privately and publicly. Doing his best to present and pass as such while in medical school. As would anyone in his position would to keep his secret safe. It was only known after his death as they were preparing his body for his funeral. Several doctors and nurses had seen his remains. The stretchmarks that were on his stomach. Indicating he had a child. Allegedly indicating that he may have had a child. Since there were no records of him giving birth as a woman or being seen as pregnant, there is no conclusive evidence of this child. To this day it is merely speculation whether that is true or not.

For now, it is just up in the air until a living descendant is found. And their DNA is tested against his remains.

At any rate his secret was uncovered when a charwoman who had taken care of his body. Going on to tell anyone around his secret. Along with the things that she had found on him. Though again, pregnancy is still up in the air on whether it was real. Since there were some letters hinting at it. But not outright stating if Jonah had a child himself. There were some medical hints in a letter to his brother-in-law. None can say outright if he and his brother-in-law had a child together. It was, however, more strongly hinted that he had an affair with his brother-in-law.

At any rate. Jonah Boyle started his education as a surgeon at the age of fifteen in 1803. Possibly. As far as the records show he was around that age. He had asked his uncle, Josiah Boyle for assistance. Which was denied. Though his education was funded by Josiah in a less direct way when the man passed in 1805. Jonah’s Mother, Eleanore Boyle inherited a small fortune of money that she used to fund her son’s education.

His years from the age of fifteen until his days in the military are muddled. There were a few accounts of Jonah tutoring others. But not much was known about the students that he had. The only one that was accounted for as being real was the son of a friend. A young John Harris. Though the records on their interactions are still up in the air. What isn’t is that he had been a tutor for around three years. For the few years that he did this he almost did not graduate. As most of the academy staff were certain he was too young to be the age he was thanks to his delicate features. How his skin did not seem right for his age. As well as his unbroken voice. If it were not for the said family friend’s father speaking up on his behalf. Jonah would not be able to have gotten to do his final exam. Thankfully, he was allowed to.

He graduated not that long later. It is uncertain of the exact date. But it was estimated to be around the time of 1814-1815.

After this he joined the army. His post was debated to be one station and then another. All that was truly known was that he became Assistant Surgeon in lieu of becoming a lieutenant. It was also known that he had taken care of important families. Thanks to his time working with them it helped push him up in rankings. More than what was expected of someone at his station at the time. Working hard over at least nine years of being in the station he had been in. Causing significant changes to the sanitation and water system, improving conditions for enslaved people, prisoners, and the mentally ill. As well as provisioning a sanctuary for the leper population. This was also where Jonah had performed the very first cesarean section. Where both mother and child had lived through the procedure. The mother was so grateful for this that she had named her child after him in gratitude. Jonah Boyle Maalderink. There were a few local officials that he criticized for handling such medical matters. Making himself enemies that he luckily had not a lot of repercussions. Thanks to his close relationship with a governor at the time smoothing things out.

Not much was known during his time in the army. As he hadn’t done much normally different. Aside from one incident that involved a fight between himself and another army surgeon. It had gotten himself arrested and court-martialed for ‘behavior unbecoming of the character of an Officer and Gentleman’. It was, however, not long before Jonah was acquitted of all charges.

He contracted Yellow Fever and was sent home for sick leave. When he was cleared for duty, he was sent back. It was around a year after he contracted said sickness. Soon after he was sent back an outbreak of Cholera had broken out. During that time, he had risen to the local rank of Inspecter General of hospitals in September. The exact date was not precisely written. It was just known that he had fought hard for others to have the rights they needed. Having this position was what helped him achieve his goals to help others for a while.

Jonah Boyle’s tactics on such actions weren’t always tactful. He had spoken in brash manners that do not help others. Often inciting anger among officials and other officers. For sanitary conditions and the conditions and diet of both the common soldiers and underrepresented groups. Quite a few times it had almost gotten him demoted because of his extreme views. Jonah was also a strict vegetarian and a teetotal. Keeping most of his personal relationships at a distant. But being a huge animal lover. Having kept a beautiful sphynx cat that, he named Spiritus.

Time after his service wasn’t known. Before this he was forcibly retired from the army due to his age and poor health. After which he had died of dysentery at the age of 78-79 in June eleventh, 1886. The exact reason for his body being undressed is unknown. As Jonah had wished to be wrapped in a white sheet and laid to rest in a grave. Instead, a charwoman had gone to his body. Possibly due to not being properly paid for her services and his secret was uncovered. It was quietly buried for a hundred years. Only having been found in the early 1950s. His grave was marked ‘Jonah Boyle’ and was regarded for all his work as a surgeon.