William Senhouse Kirkes
Encyclopedia
William Senhouse Kirkes (21 January 1822 near Cartmel
, Lancashire
- 8 December 1864) was an English physiologist noted for his reference work "Kirkes' Physiology" which first appeared in 1848.
Kirkes' main research field was cardiology
and vascular disease
, and he first described embolism
from vegetations
in infective endocarditis
in 1852. In 1855 he published a paper on apoplexy
in Bright's disease
, in which he singled out the role played by increased intra-arterial tension in arterial disease.
Cartmel
Cartmel is a village in Cumbria, England, situated north-west of Grange-over-Sands and close to the River Eea. Historically it was in Lancashire; boundary changes brought it into the newly created county of Cumbria in 1974, yet keeping it within the boundaries of the traditional County Palatine...
, 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...
- 8 December 1864) was an English physiologist noted for his reference work "Kirkes' Physiology" which first appeared in 1848.
Kirkes' main research field was cardiology
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...
and vascular disease
Vascular disease
Vascular disease is a form of cardiovascular disease primarily affecting the blood vessels.Some conditions, such as angina and myocardial ischemia, can be considered both vascular diseases and heart diseases .Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor....
, and he first described embolism
Embolism
In medicine, an embolism is the event of lodging of an embolus into a narrow capillary vessel of an arterial bed which causes a blockage in a distant part of the body.Embolization is...
from vegetations
Vegetation (pathology)
In medicine, a vegetation is an abnormal growth named for its similarity to natural vegetation.Vegetations are often associated with endocarditis.It can be made of fibrin and platelets.-Types:...
in infective endocarditis
Infective endocarditis
Infective endocarditis is a form of endocarditis, or inflammation, of the inner tissue of the heart, such as its valves, caused by infectious agents. The agents are usually bacterial, but other organisms can also be responsible....
in 1852. In 1855 he published a paper on apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
in Bright's disease
Bright's disease
Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
, in which he singled out the role played by increased intra-arterial tension in arterial disease.