John Bishop Estlin
Encyclopedia
John Bishop Estlin was an English ophthalmic surgeon.
minister John Prior Estlin
, who kept a well-known school in a large house at the top of St. Michael's Hill, Bristol
, and was born there on 26 December 1785. He was educated in his father's school, and began his professional studies at the Bristol Infirmary in 1804. He continued them at Guy's Hospital
, London, became a member of the College of Surgeons of London in 1806, and, after further study at the university of Edinburgh
, settled in practice in Bristol in 1808. He attained success, and, having special interest in ophthalmic surgery, gradually restricted his practice to ophthalmic surgery as far as he could. In 1812 he established in Frogmore Street, Bristol, a dispensary for the treatment of eye diseases. He maintained this charity for more than a year at his own cost, and afterwards managed its affairs for thirty-six years, treating fifty-two thousand poor patients himself. He kept careful notes of his cases, and published papers in the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, the London Medical Gazette and the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.
Estlin's reputation spread, and he became known as one of the leading ophthalmic surgeons in England. He was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
, the year in which the college received the its present charter. In 1817 he married Margaret Bagehot, aunt of Walter Bagehot
; she died four years later, leaving an only daughter. His health was not robust, and in 1832 he visited the island of St. Vincent
, where the warm climate restored him. He obtained and circulated in 1838 a fresh supply of vaccine lymph from cows near Berkeley, Gloucestershire
, the place where Edward Jenner
had originally discovered the effectiveness of vaccination in preventing smallpox
. Estlin rendered other public services in regard to temperance, the abolition of slavery, the education of the poor, the maintenance of religious toleration
, and the suppression of medical impostures.
Estlin was a Unitarian
with definite theological opinions, and wrote in favour of the Christian miracles and On Prayer and Divine Aid, 1825. In 1845 he published Remarks on Mesmerism, a lucid exposition of the scientific method of investigating phenomena said to be due to hidden forces of nature. He was always generous, but nevertheless grew rich, and became, by force of upright character and professional skill, one of the most trusted men in Bristol. He had an attack of right hemiplegia
in May 1853, died 10 June 1855, and was buried in the Lewin's Mead
burying-ground, Bristol. In the adjoining meeting-house are monumental tablets for him and his wife.
Life
Estlin was the son of the UnitarianUnitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister John Prior Estlin
John Prior Estlin
John Prior Estlin was an English Unitarian minister, noted as a teacher and for his connections in literary circles.-Life:He was born at Hinckley, Leicestershire, 9 April 1747, was the son of Thomas Estlin, hosier, by his wife, née Prior. His education was undertaken by his mother's brother, the...
, who kept a well-known school in a large house at the top of St. Michael's Hill, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and was born there on 26 December 1785. He was educated in his father's school, and began his professional studies at the Bristol Infirmary in 1804. He continued them at Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
, London, became a member of the College of Surgeons of London in 1806, and, after further study at the university of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, settled in practice in Bristol in 1808. He attained success, and, having special interest in ophthalmic surgery, gradually restricted his practice to ophthalmic surgery as far as he could. In 1812 he established in Frogmore Street, Bristol, a dispensary for the treatment of eye diseases. He maintained this charity for more than a year at his own cost, and afterwards managed its affairs for thirty-six years, treating fifty-two thousand poor patients himself. He kept careful notes of his cases, and published papers in the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, the London Medical Gazette and the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.
Estlin's reputation spread, and he became known as one of the leading ophthalmic surgeons in England. He was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
, the year in which the college received the its present charter. In 1817 he married Margaret Bagehot, aunt of Walter Bagehot
Walter Bagehot
Walter Bagehot was an English businessman, essayist, and journalist who wrote extensively about literature, government, and economic affairs.-Early years:...
; she died four years later, leaving an only daughter. His health was not robust, and in 1832 he visited the island of St. Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
, where the warm climate restored him. He obtained and circulated in 1838 a fresh supply of vaccine lymph from cows near Berkeley, Gloucestershire
Berkeley, Gloucestershire
Berkeley is a town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It lies in the Vale of Berkeley between the east bank of the River Severn and the M5 motorway within the Stroud administrative district. The town is noted for Berkeley Castle where the imprisoned Edward II was murdered.- Geography...
, the place where Edward Jenner
Edward Jenner
Edward Anthony Jenner was an English scientist who studied his natural surroundings in Berkeley, Gloucestershire...
had originally discovered the effectiveness of vaccination in preventing smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
. Estlin rendered other public services in regard to temperance, the abolition of slavery, the education of the poor, the maintenance of religious toleration
Religious toleration
Toleration is "the practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves. One can meaningfully speak of tolerating, ie of allowing or permitting, only if one is in a position to disallow”. It has also been defined as "to bear or endure" or "to nourish, sustain or preserve"...
, and the suppression of medical impostures.
Estlin was a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
with definite theological opinions, and wrote in favour of the Christian miracles and On Prayer and Divine Aid, 1825. In 1845 he published Remarks on Mesmerism, a lucid exposition of the scientific method of investigating phenomena said to be due to hidden forces of nature. He was always generous, but nevertheless grew rich, and became, by force of upright character and professional skill, one of the most trusted men in Bristol. He had an attack of right hemiplegia
Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia /he.mə.pliː.dʒiə/ is total paralysis of the arm, leg, and trunk on the same side of the body. Hemiplegia is more severe than hemiparesis, wherein one half of the body has less marked weakness....
in May 1853, died 10 June 1855, and was buried in the Lewin's Mead
Lewin's Mead
Lewin's Mead is an area of Bristol, England, part of the city ward of Cabot, in the historic centre of the city, lying just outside of the former medieval town walls. Several old buildings survive, including the Unitarian Chapel constructed in the late 18th century, an old sugar house, now a hotel...
burying-ground, Bristol. In the adjoining meeting-house are monumental tablets for him and his wife.
Works
- 'Amaurosis', Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, 1815
- On Prayer and Divine Aid, 1825
- 'Cataract', London Medical Gazette, 1829
- 'Cysticercus Cellulosæ on the Sclerotica', London Medical Gazette, 1838 and 1840
- 'One Hundred Cases of Operation for Strabismus', Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. ii.
- 'Pretended Cure of Cataract', Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal. vol. v.
- 'Injuries of the Iris', Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. vi.
- Remarks on Mesmerism, 1845