An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893

DR. R.L. THOMSON, one of Spokane's physicians, confines his practice to diseases
of the eye and ear. He is a native of Kentucky, and is of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
His parents died while he was a child, and since boyhood he has made his own way
in the world. He graduated as a physician and surgeon at the Kentucky School of
Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, winning the first honors of his class. Shortly
after graduating he was elected to fill the chair of anatomy in his alma mater.
He occupied this position five years, engaging in general practice during this
time. In 1885 he started for Europe, but, finding what he wished in New York, he
entered the service in the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, and soon became
Assistant House Surgeon and then House Surgeon. He left the Manhattan Hospital
in 1888 and opened an office in St. Louis to practice his specialty. He remained
in St. Louis about two years, where he made many friends and established for
himself a good business. For eighteen months he edited the Weekly Medical
Review, and in 1888 he was elected to fill the office of Secretary of the
Mississippi Valley Medical Association. In 1889 Dr. Thomson learned of the
wonderful resources of Washington, and seeing the advantages to be gained by
being a pioneer in his line in such a productive field, he determined to make
Spokane his home. He came here when the city was in tents, and has built up a
fine business. He now occupies the positions of member of the Board of Health
and Treasurer of the Spokane County Medical Society.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.