Sir James Mackenzie
Encyclopedia
Sir James Mackenzie FRS (12 April 1853 - 26 January 1925) was a Scottish cardiologist
, pioneer in the study of cardiac arrhythmias.
, where his father was a farmer. After receiving his MD degree
at the University of Edinburgh
in 1882, Mackenzie practiced medicine for more than a quarter of a century in Burnley
, in the borough of Burnley
in Lancashire
, England
. While he was engaged in a busy practice, he made many original observations and had many scientific papers published.
At first he used a sphygmograph
of Riva-Rocci
for graphically recording a pulse
; then he was first to make simultaneous records of the arterial and venous pulses with a device
that he called a "polygraph
," to evaluate the condition of the heart
and to measure the AV
interval. In 1890 he discovered premature ventricular contractions. Mackenzie also drew attention to the question of the heart's capacity for work, paving the way for the study of the energetics of the heart muscle.
In 1887 he married Frances Jackson and honeymooned in Italy
. He had two daughters Dorothy (born in 1888) and Jean (in 1893). He left Burnley for London
and set up as a consulting physician in November 1907. His reputation grew rapidly. His polygraph enabled Mackenzie to make original distinctions between harmless and dangerous types of pulse irregularities. He also demonstrated the efficacy of Digitalis
in the treatment of arrhythmias. In 1915 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and he was knight
ed. Three years later he founded the influential Mackenzie Institute of Clinical Research in St Andrews, which involved local GPs in detailed long-term recording of patients' symptoms and illnesses.
Two early polygraphs and a bronze bust of Mackenzie are in the collection of the Tayside Medical History Museum.
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
, pioneer in the study of cardiac arrhythmias.
Biography
James Mackenzie was born in SconeScone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
, where his father was a farmer. After receiving his MD degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
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...
in 1882, Mackenzie practiced medicine for more than a quarter of a century in Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, in the borough of Burnley
Burnley (borough)
Burnley is a local government district of Lancashire, England, with the status of a non-metropolitan district and borough. It has an area of and a population of , and is named for its largest town, Burnley. The borough is bounded by Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Pendle, Rossendale — all in Lancashire...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, 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...
. While he was engaged in a busy practice, he made many original observations and had many scientific papers published.
At first he used a sphygmograph
Sphygmograph
The sphygmograph was a mechanical device used to measure blood pressure in the mid-19th century. It was developed in 1854 by German physiologist Karl von Vierordt...
of Riva-Rocci
Scipione Riva-Rocci
Scipione Riva-Rocci was an Italian internist and pediatrician who was a native of Almese. He earned his medical degree in 1888 from the University of Turin, and from 1900 until 1928 was director of the hospital in Varese.He developed an easy to use version of the sphygmomanometer...
for graphically recording a pulse
Pulse
In medicine, one's pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck , at the wrist , behind the knee , on the inside of the elbow , and near the...
; then he was first to make simultaneous records of the arterial and venous pulses with a device
Machine
A machine manages power to accomplish a task, examples include, a mechanical system, a computing system, an electronic system, and a molecular machine. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work...
that he called a "polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
," to evaluate the condition of the heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
and to measure the AV
Atrioventricular
Atrioventricular can refer to:*Left atrioventricular opening*Atrioventricular fistula*Atrioventricular node*The term "Atrioventricular valves" is used to describe the mitral valve and tricuspid valve....
interval. In 1890 he discovered premature ventricular contractions. Mackenzie also drew attention to the question of the heart's capacity for work, paving the way for the study of the energetics of the heart muscle.
In 1887 he married Frances Jackson and honeymooned in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He had two daughters Dorothy (born in 1888) and Jean (in 1893). He left Burnley for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and set up as a consulting physician in November 1907. His reputation grew rapidly. His polygraph enabled Mackenzie to make original distinctions between harmless and dangerous types of pulse irregularities. He also demonstrated the efficacy of Digitalis
Digitalis
Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and biennials that are commonly called foxgloves. This genus was traditionally placed in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, but recent reviews of phylogenetic research have placed it in the much enlarged family...
in the treatment of arrhythmias. In 1915 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and he was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed. Three years later he founded the influential Mackenzie Institute of Clinical Research in St Andrews, which involved local GPs in detailed long-term recording of patients' symptoms and illnesses.
Two early polygraphs and a bronze bust of Mackenzie are in the collection of the Tayside Medical History Museum.