George Cheyne
Encyclopedia
George Cheyne M.D. R.C. E.d. R.S.S. (1671–1743) was a pioneering physician
, early proto-psychologist, philosopher and mathematician, born in Aberdeenshire
, Scotland
, who opened a medical practice in Bath in 1702. He is best known for his contribution to vegetarianism
He was acquainted with Sir Isaac Newton and provoked Newton to publish his Quadratures and with it, his Light & Colours and Newton later offered him financial support to publish Cheyne's own "Fluxionum methodus inversa" (The Inverse Method of Fluxions) but apparently he refused, prompting Newton to refuse to see him any more (ref: "Never at Rest" by Richard S. Westfall p. 639 ISBN 0-521-27435-4)
In order to succeed in medical practice, he tried to develop a rapport with his patients by regularly visiting the local taverns where they spent time, a practice common among medical practitioners of the day. He became a popular figure of local social life, and the quantity of rich food and drink he consumed in consequence left him grossly obese and very unhealthy. He began a meatless diet, taking only milk and vegetables, and regained his health. But when he returned to a more typical diet - albeit more moderate than he had previously indulged - he regained weight and his health once again deteriorated. He went back to his vegetarian diet for the remainder of his life, recommending it for everyone suffering from obesity.
He also published a number of medical treatises, including a 1715 essay arguing that life cannot be created from non-living matter, and thus "must of necessity have existed from all eternity." He also wrote on fevers, nervous disorders, and hygiene. In 1740, he penned his last work, a study of nutrition and natural living, "The Natural Method of Cureing [sic] the Diseases of the Body, and the Disorders of the Mind." His work is often quoted by vegetarians and animal rights
activists, particularly the following passage:
To see the convulsions, agonies and tortures of a poor fellow-creature, whom they cannot restore nor recompense, dying to gratify luxury and tickle callous and rank organs, must require a rocky heart, and a great degree of cruelty and ferocity. I cannot find any great difference between feeding on human flesh and feeding on animal flesh, except custom and practice.
The book was an immediate success and by 1742 was in its third edition.
Speaking from personal experience, Cheyne asserted that mental depression afflicted the brilliant rather than the dull, writing that "those of the liveliest and quickest natural Parts...whose Genius is most keen and penetrating were most prone to such disorders. Fools, weak or stupid Persons, heavy and dull Souls, are seldom troubled with Vapours or Lowness of Spirits."
His clients included Alexander Pope
, John Gay
and Samuel Richardson
.
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...
, early proto-psychologist, philosopher and mathematician, born in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, who opened a medical practice in Bath in 1702. He is best known for his contribution to vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
He was acquainted with Sir Isaac Newton and provoked Newton to publish his Quadratures and with it, his Light & Colours and Newton later offered him financial support to publish Cheyne's own "Fluxionum methodus inversa" (The Inverse Method of Fluxions) but apparently he refused, prompting Newton to refuse to see him any more (ref: "Never at Rest" by Richard S. Westfall p. 639 ISBN 0-521-27435-4)
In order to succeed in medical practice, he tried to develop a rapport with his patients by regularly visiting the local taverns where they spent time, a practice common among medical practitioners of the day. He became a popular figure of local social life, and the quantity of rich food and drink he consumed in consequence left him grossly obese and very unhealthy. He began a meatless diet, taking only milk and vegetables, and regained his health. But when he returned to a more typical diet - albeit more moderate than he had previously indulged - he regained weight and his health once again deteriorated. He went back to his vegetarian diet for the remainder of his life, recommending it for everyone suffering from obesity.
He also published a number of medical treatises, including a 1715 essay arguing that life cannot be created from non-living matter, and thus "must of necessity have existed from all eternity." He also wrote on fevers, nervous disorders, and hygiene. In 1740, he penned his last work, a study of nutrition and natural living, "The Natural Method of Cureing [sic] the Diseases of the Body, and the Disorders of the Mind." His work is often quoted by vegetarians and animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
activists, particularly the following passage:
To see the convulsions, agonies and tortures of a poor fellow-creature, whom they cannot restore nor recompense, dying to gratify luxury and tickle callous and rank organs, must require a rocky heart, and a great degree of cruelty and ferocity. I cannot find any great difference between feeding on human flesh and feeding on animal flesh, except custom and practice.
The book was an immediate success and by 1742 was in its third edition.
Speaking from personal experience, Cheyne asserted that mental depression afflicted the brilliant rather than the dull, writing that "those of the liveliest and quickest natural Parts...whose Genius is most keen and penetrating were most prone to such disorders. Fools, weak or stupid Persons, heavy and dull Souls, are seldom troubled with Vapours or Lowness of Spirits."
His clients included Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
, John Gay
John Gay
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera , set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch...
and Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson was an 18th-century English writer and printer. He is best known for his three epistolary novels: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded , Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady and The History of Sir Charles Grandison...
.