Material Type

Photograph

Date Range

5 January 1937

Description Level

Item

Creator

de Jourdan's Studio Ltd.

Physical Description

Black and white negative

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

Nicolino Alvau was a herbalist who first appears in southern Alberta in 1928. He advertised his services in The Lethbridge Herald, using testimonials from satisfied clients. Mr. Alvau was living and working from his home at 1028 9 Street North, near Galt Mine No. 3 in 1928 and 1929. By 1930 he had moved to Blairmore, Alberta; in 1931 to Macleod, Alberta; in 1932 to Carmangay, Alberta; and in 1934 back to Lethbridge, where he and his wife Florence lived the rest of their lives. The couple had a daughter, Viola Edith. In the spring of 1935 the couple built their home at 808 2 Avenue South. Mr. Alvau’s work as a herbalist brought him attention from the authorities a number of times. In 1932 he was convicted at Carmangay of practicing medicine while not registered with the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons. That conviction was quashed on a legal technicality in a hearing on 1 April 1932. In March 1935 Mr. Alvau was charged with carrying on a medical practice contrary to the Medical Profession. Mr. Alvau’s defence was that he simply provided herbal remedies to people who told him what their ailments were, and that he did not diagnose any of his clients. Nonetheless, he was convicted on the charge on 27 March 1935, and was fined $50. On 14 January 1950 Mr. Alvau pled guilty to a charge of practicing medicine while not registered with the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, and was fined $50. In December 1934 Mr. Alvau was involved in two in inquests. The first concerned the death of a boy, Jack Carr of Magrath, from chronic nephritis. On 20 December 1934 the jury ruled that “… one Alvau, herbalist, of Lethbridge, Alta. did not make a proper diagnosis of his patient , Jack Carr, before prescribing medicine and giving advice”. The second inquest was into the death of Mr. Elisha R. Karren of Magrath from heart failure. On 27 December 1934, the jury found Mr. Karren’s death the result of a heart attack brought on by overexertion. Mr. Alvau was not mentioned in the verdict. Florence Alvau died on 12 April 1962. Her husband Nicolino died on 18 August 1965. Both are buried in Archmount Cemetery, Lethbridge.

Scope and Content

Interior photograph of the living room of Nicolino (left) and Florence (right) Alvau at 808 2 Avenue South in Lethbridge, decorated for Christmas. The photograph clearly shows the sofa, floor lamp, piano, and ceiling light fixture.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

199110004298

Collection

Archive

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