Richard Quain
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Quain, 1st Baronet (30 October 1816 - 13 March 1898), was an Irish
physician
.
He was born at Mallow-on-the-Blackwater
, County Cork
, and died in Harley Street, London.
Quain was the eldest child of John Quain of Carrigoon and Mary, daughter of Michael Burke of Mallow. He was sent to the Diocesan School at Cloyne for his early education and then, aged 15, apprenticed to the surgeon-apothecary Fraser in Limerick for five years. In 1837 he went to London and enrolled in medicine at the University College, where his cousins, Jones Quain (1796-1865), the anatomist, and Richard Quain, FRCS, held teaching posts. He graduated M.B. with honours in 1840.
(1796–1865), the author of Quain's Elements of Anatomy and of Richard Quain (1800-1887)
, who was president of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1868, and left to University College, London, funds with which the Quain professorships
of botany, English language and literature, law, and physics were endowed. A half-brother of the last two, Sir John Richard Quain (1816–1876), was appointed a Judge of the Queen's Bench in 1871.
, and was then apprenticed to a surgeon-apothecary in Limerick
. In 1837 he entered University College, London, where he graduated with high honors as M.B. in 1840, and as M.D.
(gold medal) in 1842. Six years later he was chosen to be an assistant-physician to the Brompton Hospital
for Diseases of the Chest. He retained his connection with that institution until his death, first as full physician (1855), and subsequently as consulting physician (1875).
In 1842 he received the gold medal for achievements in physiology and comparative anatomy, and later he became successively house surgeon and house physician at the University College Hospital and commenced practice in London, being in particular a protegé of professor Charles James Blasius Williams (1805-1889). He soon had a busy practice, numbering an important clientel, with contacts to the most highly recognized persons.
In 1848 Quain was appointed assistant physician at the Brompton Hospital Diseases of the Chest. He was raised to full physician in 1855 and was made consulting physician in 1875. He held the same rank at the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, and the Royal Hospital for Consumption in Ventnor.
In 1846 Quain became a member of the Royal College of Physicians and a fellow in 1851. In 1862 he served as a member of the council of this body, 1867 censor, 1877 senior censor. He was a co-founder of the Pathological Society in 1862, being elected its president in 1869. He was also a fellow and vice president of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society and the Medical Society of London
, as well as President of the Harveian Society (1853) and fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1871. He addressed the Society was On the mechanism by which the first sound of heart is produced.
He became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
in 1851, and filled almost every post of honor it could offer, except the presidency, in the contest for which he was beaten by Sir Andrew Clark in 1888. In 1881 he was asked by Queen Victoria to attend prime minister Benjamin Disraeli during his last few days. He later, in 1890, became physician-extraordinary to the Queen, and was created a Baronet of Harley Street
in the County of London and of Carrigoon in Mallow in the County of Cork, in the following year.
He sat on the Royal Commission on Rinderpest
(cattle plague) in 1865.
Quain was the author of several memoirs, dealing for the most part with disorders of the heart, but his name will be best remembered by the Dictionary of Medicine, the preparation of which occupied him from 1875 to 1882 (2nd edition, 1894; 3rd, 1902).
Quain was very prominent in affairs of medicine, being a censor and council member of the College of Physicians and was narrowly defeated by Sir Andrew Clark in 1888 in the election for the position of president. He became physician-extraordinary to Queen Victoria in 1890 and was created a Baronet in the following year.
He was active on many committees but probably the most important of these contributions was the Royal Commission to enquire into the nature and causes and methods of prevention of the cattle plague. This commission included a number of famous people such as Dr. Henry Bence Jones (1813-1873) and Dr. Edmond Alexander Parkes (1819-1876). Quain vehemently sided with the section that wanted the extermination of the plague at any price and was opposed in this by a number of the members of the commission, including Bence Jones. Quain’s work and particularly letters he wrote to newspapers and magazines turned the tide and the recommendations to exterminate were carried out with success.
Appointed a Crown nominee in 1863, Quain became chairman of its Pharmacopoeia Committee in 1874 and took a major part in the preparation of the Additions to the British Pharmacopoeia of 1867 (1874) and of the British Pharmacopoeias of 1885 and 1898. He was chosen as a member of the Senate of London University in 1860 and was one of the organisers of the Brown Institution.
Quain was regarded universally as a fine physician, but apparently achieved his results by intuition and instinct rather than by analysis of the patient’s problems. “Utility and progress” was his favourite motto. Quain's renown as a physician was due not only to the sound commonsense that he brought to bear in diagnosis, but also to the good-humoured geniality that he showed to patients and friends,
He was famous for his epigrammatic quotes, and regarded as a fine raconteur and club member of the Garrick and Athenaeum, his broad Irish accent adding colour to the stories he told. In 1890 he was appointed physician extraordinary to Queen Victoria and in 1891 became a baronet.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
.
He was born at Mallow-on-the-Blackwater
Mallow, County Cork
Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and died in Harley Street, London.
Quain was the eldest child of John Quain of Carrigoon and Mary, daughter of Michael Burke of Mallow. He was sent to the Diocesan School at Cloyne for his early education and then, aged 15, apprenticed to the surgeon-apothecary Fraser in Limerick for five years. In 1837 he went to London and enrolled in medicine at the University College, where his cousins, Jones Quain (1796-1865), the anatomist, and Richard Quain, FRCS, held teaching posts. He graduated M.B. with honours in 1840.
Family
He was a cousin of Jones QuainJones Quain
Jones Quain was an anatomist, born at Mallow, Ireland. Quain was professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the University of London. He was author of Elements of Anatomy, of which the first edition was published in 1828.-Biography :...
(1796–1865), the author of Quain's Elements of Anatomy and of Richard Quain (1800-1887)
Richard Quain (1800-1887)
Richard Quain was an English anatomist and surgeon, born at Fermoy, Ireland, a brother of Jones Quain. He studied medicine in London and in Paris...
, who was president of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1868, and left to University College, London, funds with which the Quain professorships
Quain Professor
Quain Professor is the professorship title for certain disciplines at University College, London, England. The title is derived from Richard Quain who became professor of anatomy in 1832 at what was to become UCL...
of botany, English language and literature, law, and physics were endowed. A half-brother of the last two, Sir John Richard Quain (1816–1876), was appointed a Judge of the Queen's Bench in 1871.
Career
Quain received his early education at CloyneCloyne
Cloyne is a small town to the south-east of the town of Midleton in eastern County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. It is also a see city of the Anglican Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, while also giving its name to a Roman Catholic diocese...
, and was then apprenticed to a surgeon-apothecary in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
. In 1837 he entered University College, London, where he graduated with high honors as M.B. in 1840, and as M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(gold medal) in 1842. Six years later he was chosen to be an assistant-physician to the Brompton Hospital
Royal Brompton Hospital
Royal Brompton Hospital is the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the United Kingdom .The hospital is part of Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust is a national and international specialist heart and lung centre based in Chelsea, London and Harefield, Middlesex...
for Diseases of the Chest. He retained his connection with that institution until his death, first as full physician (1855), and subsequently as consulting physician (1875).
In 1842 he received the gold medal for achievements in physiology and comparative anatomy, and later he became successively house surgeon and house physician at the University College Hospital and commenced practice in London, being in particular a protegé of professor Charles James Blasius Williams (1805-1889). He soon had a busy practice, numbering an important clientel, with contacts to the most highly recognized persons.
In 1848 Quain was appointed assistant physician at the Brompton Hospital Diseases of the Chest. He was raised to full physician in 1855 and was made consulting physician in 1875. He held the same rank at the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, and the Royal Hospital for Consumption in Ventnor.
In 1846 Quain became a member of the Royal College of Physicians and a fellow in 1851. In 1862 he served as a member of the council of this body, 1867 censor, 1877 senior censor. He was a co-founder of the Pathological Society in 1862, being elected its president in 1869. He was also a fellow and vice president of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society and the Medical Society of London
Medical Society of London
The Medical Society of London is one of the oldest surviving medical societies in the United Kingdom ....
, as well as President of the Harveian Society (1853) and fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
Royal Statistical Society
The Royal Statistical Society is a learned society for statistics and a professional body for statisticians in the UK.-History:It was founded in 1834 as the Statistical Society of London , though a perhaps unrelated London Statistical Society was in existence at least as early as 1824...
. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1871. He addressed the Society was On the mechanism by which the first sound of heart is produced.
He became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in 1851, and filled almost every post of honor it could offer, except the presidency, in the contest for which he was beaten by Sir Andrew Clark in 1888. In 1881 he was asked by Queen Victoria to attend prime minister Benjamin Disraeli during his last few days. He later, in 1890, became physician-extraordinary to the Queen, and was created a Baronet of Harley Street
Harley Street
Harley Street is a street in the City of Westminster in London, England which has been noted since the 19th century for its large number of private specialists in medicine and surgery.- Overview :...
in the County of London and of Carrigoon in Mallow in the County of Cork, in the following year.
He sat on the Royal Commission on Rinderpest
Rinderpest
Rinderpest was an infectious viral disease of cattle, domestic buffalo, and some other species of even-toed ungulates, including buffaloes, large antelopes and deer, giraffes, wildebeests and warthogs. After a global eradication campaign, the last confirmed case of rinderpest was diagnosed in 2001...
(cattle plague) in 1865.
Quain was the author of several memoirs, dealing for the most part with disorders of the heart, but his name will be best remembered by the Dictionary of Medicine, the preparation of which occupied him from 1875 to 1882 (2nd edition, 1894; 3rd, 1902).
Publications
Quain’s article on fatty disease of the heart was published in 1850 but probably his major contribution was his editorship the multi-authored textbook of medicine, Quain’s Dictionary of Medicine which became the bible of all medical practitioners in the United Kingdom. It was published in 1882 after seven years' meticulous preparation by Quain. The work filled a gap in contemporary medical writing and sold over 30,000 copies; a second edition followed in 1894.Quain was very prominent in affairs of medicine, being a censor and council member of the College of Physicians and was narrowly defeated by Sir Andrew Clark in 1888 in the election for the position of president. He became physician-extraordinary to Queen Victoria in 1890 and was created a Baronet in the following year.
He was active on many committees but probably the most important of these contributions was the Royal Commission to enquire into the nature and causes and methods of prevention of the cattle plague. This commission included a number of famous people such as Dr. Henry Bence Jones (1813-1873) and Dr. Edmond Alexander Parkes (1819-1876). Quain vehemently sided with the section that wanted the extermination of the plague at any price and was opposed in this by a number of the members of the commission, including Bence Jones. Quain’s work and particularly letters he wrote to newspapers and magazines turned the tide and the recommendations to exterminate were carried out with success.
Appointed a Crown nominee in 1863, Quain became chairman of its Pharmacopoeia Committee in 1874 and took a major part in the preparation of the Additions to the British Pharmacopoeia of 1867 (1874) and of the British Pharmacopoeias of 1885 and 1898. He was chosen as a member of the Senate of London University in 1860 and was one of the organisers of the Brown Institution.
Quain was regarded universally as a fine physician, but apparently achieved his results by intuition and instinct rather than by analysis of the patient’s problems. “Utility and progress” was his favourite motto. Quain's renown as a physician was due not only to the sound commonsense that he brought to bear in diagnosis, but also to the good-humoured geniality that he showed to patients and friends,
He was famous for his epigrammatic quotes, and regarded as a fine raconteur and club member of the Garrick and Athenaeum, his broad Irish accent adding colour to the stories he told. In 1890 he was appointed physician extraordinary to Queen Victoria and in 1891 became a baronet.
- A Dictionary of Medicine. London, 1882. 3rd edition, Longmans Green, 1894. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1883.
- A Dictionary of medicine : including general pathology, general therapeutics, hygiene and the diseases of women and children ; by various writers ; ed. by Richard Quain ; assisted by Frederick Thomas Roberts and J. Mitchell Bruce ; with an American appendix by Samuel Treat Armstrong. New York : D. Appleton and Co., 1894