Robert Whytt
Encyclopedia
Robert Whytt was a Scottish physician. His work, on unconscious reflexes, tubercular meningitis, urinary bladder stones, and hysteria
, is remembered now most for his book on diseases of the nervous system
. He served as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
.
in 1730, he went to Edinburgh
to study medicine. Two years before this he had succeeded, on the death of his elder brother George, to the family estate.
Whytt devoted himself to the study of anatomy, under the first Monro. Going to London in 1734, Whytt became a pupil of William Cheselden
, while he visited the wards of the London hospitals. After this he attended the lectures of Jacob B. Winslow
in Paris, of Herman Boerhaave
and Bernhard Siegfried Albinus
at Leyden. He took the degree of M.D. at Reims
on 2 April 1736. On 3 June 1737 a similar degree was conferred on him by the university of St Andrews, and on 21 June he became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. On 27 November 1738 he was elected to the fellowship, and began practice as a physician.
On 26 August 1747 Whytt was appointed professor of the theory of medicine in Edinburgh University. On 16 April 1752 Whytt was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of London, and contributed to the Philosophical Transactions. In 1756 he gave lectures on chemistry in the university in place of John Rutherford
(1695–1779). In 1761 Whytt was made first physician to King George III
in Scotland—a post specially created for him—and on 1 December 1763 he was elected president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh; he held the presidency till his death at Edinburgh on 15 April 1766. His remains were given a public funeral, and were interred in Old Greyfriars churchyard.
by limewater and soap became obsolete.
In 1751 he published a work ‘On the Vital and other Involuntary Motions of Animals.’ The book attracted the attention of the physiologists of Europe. Whytt dropped the doctrine of Stahl that the rational soul is the cause of involuntary motions in animals, and ascribed such movements to the effect of a stimulus acting on an unconscious sentient principle. He had a vigorous controversy with Albrecht von Haller
on the subject of this work.
In 1764 he published his major work, ‘On Nervous, Hypochondriac, or Hysteric Diseases, to which are prefixed some Remarks on the Sympathy of the Nerves.’ It was translated into French by Achille Guillaume Le Bègue de Presle in 1767.
Whytt was also author of:
An edition of his Works was issued by his son in 1768, and was translated into German by Christian Ehrhardt Kapp in 1771 (Leipzig). A complete list of his papers is in Robert Watt
's ‘Bibliotheca Britannica.’
, governor of New York, died in 1741, leaving no children. In 1743 he married Louisa, daughter of James Balfour of Pilrig
in Midlothian
, who died in 1764. By his second wife Whytt had six surviving children.
Whytt's son John, who changed his name to Whyte, became heir to the entailed estates of General Melville of Strathkinness, and took the name of Melville in addition to his own. He was grandfather of Captain George John Whyte-Melville.
Attribution
Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by multiple events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict; the fear can be centered on a body part, or,...
, is remembered now most for his book on diseases of the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
. He served as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh was established in the 17th century. While the RCPE is based in Edinburgh, it is by no means just a Scottish professional body - more than half of its 7,700 Fellows, Members, Associates and Affiliates live and practice medicine outside Scotland, in 86...
.
Life
The second son of Robert Whytt of Bennochie, advocate, and Jean, daughter of Antony Murray of Woodend, Perthshire, was born in Edinburgh on 6 September 1714, six months after his father's death. Having graduated M.A. at the University of St AndrewsUniversity of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
in 1730, he went 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...
to study medicine. Two years before this he had succeeded, on the death of his elder brother George, to the family estate.
Whytt devoted himself to the study of anatomy, under the first Monro. Going to London in 1734, Whytt became a pupil of William Cheselden
William Cheselden
William Cheselden was an English surgeon and teacher of anatomy and surgery, who was influential in establishing surgery as a scientific medical profession.-Life:...
, while he visited the wards of the London hospitals. After this he attended the lectures of Jacob B. Winslow
Jacob B. Winslow
Jacob B. Winsløw, also known as Jacques-Bénigne Winslow, Danish-born anatomist .- Life :Winsløw was born in Denmark, later he became a pupil and successor of Guichard Joseph Duverney, as well as a convert to Catholicism, naturalized in France, and finally became professor of anatomy at the Jardin...
in Paris, of Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave was a Dutch botanist, humanist and physician of European fame. He is regarded as the founder of clinical teaching and of the modern academic hospital. His main achievement was to demonstrate the relation of symptoms to lesions...
and Bernhard Siegfried Albinus
Bernhard Siegfried Albinus
Bernhard Siegfried Albinus was a German-born Dutch anatomist.Albinus was born at Frankfurt , where his father, Bernhard Albinus , was professor of the practice of medicine...
at Leyden. He took the degree of M.D. at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
on 2 April 1736. On 3 June 1737 a similar degree was conferred on him by the university of St Andrews, and on 21 June he became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. On 27 November 1738 he was elected to the fellowship, and began practice as a physician.
On 26 August 1747 Whytt was appointed professor of the theory of medicine in Edinburgh University. On 16 April 1752 Whytt was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of London, and contributed to the Philosophical Transactions. In 1756 he gave lectures on chemistry in the university in place of John Rutherford
John Rutherford
John Rutherford may refer to:* John Rutherford , Scottish professor father of Daniel Rutherford* John Rutherford , governor of Virginia* Jock Rutherford , English footballer...
(1695–1779). In 1761 Whytt was made first physician to King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
in Scotland—a post specially created for him—and on 1 December 1763 he was elected president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh; he held the presidency till his death at Edinburgh on 15 April 1766. His remains were given a public funeral, and were interred in Old Greyfriars churchyard.
Works
In 1743 Whytt published a paper in the Edinburgh Medical Essays entitled ‘On the Virtues of Lime-Water in the Cure of Stone.’ This paper attracted attention, and was published, with additions, separately in 1752, and ran through several editions. It also appeared in French and German. Whytt's treatment of the stoneThe Stone
The Stone is a not-for-profit experimental music performance space located in the Alphabet City neighborhood in New York City. It was founded in April 2005 by musician John Zorn, who serves as the artistic director.-Location:...
by limewater and soap became obsolete.
In 1751 he published a work ‘On the Vital and other Involuntary Motions of Animals.’ The book attracted the attention of the physiologists of Europe. Whytt dropped the doctrine of Stahl that the rational soul is the cause of involuntary motions in animals, and ascribed such movements to the effect of a stimulus acting on an unconscious sentient principle. He had a vigorous controversy with Albrecht von Haller
Albrecht von Haller
Albrecht von Haller was a Swiss anatomist, physiologist, naturalist and poet.-Early life:He was born of an old Swiss family at Bern. Prevented by long-continued ill-health from taking part in boyish sports, he had the more opportunity for the development of his precocious mind...
on the subject of this work.
In 1764 he published his major work, ‘On Nervous, Hypochondriac, or Hysteric Diseases, to which are prefixed some Remarks on the Sympathy of the Nerves.’ It was translated into French by Achille Guillaume Le Bègue de Presle in 1767.
Whytt was also author of:
- Physiological Essays (1755)
- Review of the Controversy Concerning the Sensibility and Moving Power of the Parts of Men and Other Animals (1761)
- Nervous, Hypochondriac or Hysteric Diseases, (1764)
- Observations on Dropsy of the Brain (1768)
An edition of his Works was issued by his son in 1768, and was translated into German by Christian Ehrhardt Kapp in 1771 (Leipzig). A complete list of his papers is in Robert Watt
Robert Watt (bibliographer)
Dr Robert Watt was a Scottish physician and bibliographer.-Early life:The son of a small farmer in Bonnyton near Stewarton in Ayrshire, Watt attended school from the age of six to twelve. After working as a ploughman, aged seventeen he went to learn cabinetmaking with his brother...
's ‘Bibliotheca Britannica.’
Family
He was twice married. His first wife, Helen, sister of James RobertsonJames Robertson (loyalist)
General James Robertson was the civil governor of the Province of New York from 1779 to 1783.-Life:He was born in Newbigging, Fife, Scotland in 1717. He came to the American colonies in 1756 as a Major of the royal American troops...
, governor of New York, died in 1741, leaving no children. In 1743 he married Louisa, daughter of James Balfour of Pilrig
Pilrig
Pilrig is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The name derives from a tower at the end of a field .Pilrig lies midway between Leith and Edinburgh, west of Leith Walk. It is split by Pilrig Street, which marks the division between the EH6 and EH7 postcode districts...
in Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
, who died in 1764. By his second wife Whytt had six surviving children.
Whytt's son John, who changed his name to Whyte, became heir to the entailed estates of General Melville of Strathkinness, and took the name of Melville in addition to his own. He was grandfather of Captain George John Whyte-Melville.
Biography
- R. K. French, Robert Whytt, the Soul, and Medicine, London: The Wellcome Institute of the History of Medicine, 1969
External links
Attribution