John Huxham
Encyclopedia
John Huxham was born 1672 close to Totnes
, Devon
. He was a provincial doctor and surgeon notable for his study of fever
s. In 1750 Huxham published his Essay on Fevers and in 1755 received the Copley Medal
for his contribution to medicine
.
, Devon. He attended Newton Abbot
grammar school using funds from his fathers will. Huxham then attended Exeter
academy, the university of Leyden and finishing his M.D. at the university of Rheims. (Due to his religion he would not have been able to attend Universities in Oxford or Cambridge.)
He returned to Totnes
and started a medical practice soon after in Plymouth
. His progress to fame was slow but he eventually became the city's most respected medical practitioner.
In 1723, James Jurin
, one of the secretaries of the Royal Society
, asked for volunteers to keep daily records of their observations of the weather including readings of the barometric pressure, temperature, rainfall, and direction and strength of the wind. Their observations were to be submitted annually to the secretaries of the society for collation and analysis. In 1724 Huxham began to keep such records and, from 1728 on until 1748, he noted monthly the prevalence of epidemic diseases. These records he published in two volumes.
Huxham was perhaps the first in England
to classify the disease Influenza
. He is also associated with diagnosis of scurvy
and for a recommended cure of drinking cider
.
Huxham died on 10 August 1768.
He was born in 1692, not 72. In 1717 he married Ellen/Eleanor Coram, the daughter of Thomas Coram, the founder of the foundling Hospital, at St Andrews church, Plymouth.
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He was a provincial doctor and surgeon notable for his study of fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
s. In 1750 Huxham published his Essay on Fevers and in 1755 received the Copley Medal
Copley Medal
The Copley Medal is an award given by the Royal Society of London for "outstanding achievements in research in any branch of science, and alternates between the physical sciences and the biological sciences"...
for his contribution to medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
.
Biography
Huxham was the son of a Butcher born in HarbertonHarberton
Harberton is a village and civil parish 3 miles south west of Totnes, Devon, England, in South Hams District. The parish also includes the village of Harbertonford...
, Devon. He attended Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
grammar school using funds from his fathers will. Huxham then attended Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
academy, the university of Leyden and finishing his M.D. at the university of Rheims. (Due to his religion he would not have been able to attend Universities in Oxford or Cambridge.)
He returned to Totnes
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
and started a medical practice soon after in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. His progress to fame was slow but he eventually became the city's most respected medical practitioner.
In 1723, James Jurin
James Jurin
James Jurin FRS MA FRCP MD was an English scientist and physician, particularly remembered for his early work in capillary action and in the epidemiology of smallpox vaccination...
, one of the secretaries of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, asked for volunteers to keep daily records of their observations of the weather including readings of the barometric pressure, temperature, rainfall, and direction and strength of the wind. Their observations were to be submitted annually to the secretaries of the society for collation and analysis. In 1724 Huxham began to keep such records and, from 1728 on until 1748, he noted monthly the prevalence of epidemic diseases. These records he published in two volumes.
Huxham was perhaps the first in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to classify the disease Influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
. He is also associated with diagnosis of scurvy
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. The chemical name for vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus, which also provides the adjective scorbutic...
and for a recommended cure of drinking cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
.
Huxham died on 10 August 1768.
He was born in 1692, not 72. In 1717 he married Ellen/Eleanor Coram, the daughter of Thomas Coram, the founder of the foundling Hospital, at St Andrews church, Plymouth.