John Brown (doctor)
Encyclopedia
John Brown was a Scottish
physician
.
Brown was born in Berwickshire
and after attending the parish school at Duns
, he moved to Edinburgh
and enrolled in divinity classes at the university of Edinburgh
and worked part time as a private tutor. In 1759 he discontinued his theological studies and began the study of medicine and became the private tutor for the William Cullen
family. After a dispute with Cullen and the professors of the university, Brown's public lectures contained attacks on preceding systems of medicine, including Cullen's.
In 1780 Brown published his Elementa Medicinae, or the Brunonian system of medicine
, which for a time was a popular text.
In 1786 he went to London to improve his fortunes but died of apoplexy
two years later, on October 17, 1788.
In 1795 a critical edition of Brown's Elements of Medicine was published by the well-known physician Thomas Beddoes
for the benefit of Brown's widow and children. An edition of Brown's works, with a biography by his son, William Cullen Brown, appeared in 1804.
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...
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...
.
Brown was born in Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
and after attending the parish school at Duns
Duns
Duns is the county town of the historic county of Berwickshire, within the Scottish Borders.-Early history:Duns law, the original site of the town of Duns, has the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at its summit...
, he moved to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and enrolled in divinity classes 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...
and worked part time as a private tutor. In 1759 he discontinued his theological studies and began the study of medicine and became the private tutor for the William Cullen
William Cullen
William Cullen FRS FRSE FRCPE FPSG was a Scottish physician, chemist and agriculturalist, and one of the most important professors at the Edinburgh Medical School, during its heyday as the leading center of medical education in the English-speaking world.Cullen was also a central figure in the...
family. After a dispute with Cullen and the professors of the university, Brown's public lectures contained attacks on preceding systems of medicine, including Cullen's.
In 1780 Brown published his Elementa Medicinae, or the Brunonian system of medicine
Brunonian system of medicine
The Brunonian system of medicine is a theory of medicine which regards and treats diseases as caused by defective or excessive excitation. It was developed by the Scottish physician John Brown and is outlined in his 1780 publication Elementa Medicinae...
, which for a time was a popular text.
In 1786 he went to London to improve his fortunes but died of 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...
two years later, on October 17, 1788.
In 1795 a critical edition of Brown's Elements of Medicine was published by the well-known physician Thomas Beddoes
Thomas Beddoes
Thomas Beddoes , English physician and scientific writer, was born at Shifnal in Shropshire. He was a reforming practitioner and teacher of medicine, and an associate of leading scientific figures. Beddoes was a friend of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and, according to E. S...
for the benefit of Brown's widow and children. An edition of Brown's works, with a biography by his son, William Cullen Brown, appeared in 1804.