Thomas Alcock (surgeon)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Alcock was an English
surgeon
.
He was born at Rothbury
, Northumberland
. After an apprenticeship to a surgeon in Newcastle
, he became, in 1805, resident medical officer at the Sunderland Dispensary. In 1806 or 1807 he moved to London and became a general practitioner. From 1825 he devoted himself to surgery alone. From 1813 to 1828 he was surgeon to St. James's Workhouse. A visit to Paris in 1823 led him to publish in 1827 an essay upon the use of the chlorides of soda
and lime in cases of hospital gangrene
, the practice having been extensively applied in France by Antoine Germain Labarraque
. A course of ‘Lectures on Practical and Medical Surgery,’ delivered to the students of the Borough Dispensary, appeared in "The Lancet
" in 1825–6, and were republished with additions in 1830. He contributed many papers to medical journals.
Alcock met Jeremy Bentham
, who was interested in having a life mask
made for him, though there is no proof that the mask of Bentham in Edinburgh was actually made by Alcock.
Thomas Alcock died in 1833.
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...
surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
.
He was born at Rothbury
Rothbury
Rothbury is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England. It is located on the River Coquet, northwest of Morpeth and north-northwest of Newcastle upon Tyne...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. After an apprenticeship to a surgeon in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, he became, in 1805, resident medical officer at the Sunderland Dispensary. In 1806 or 1807 he moved to London and became a general practitioner. From 1825 he devoted himself to surgery alone. From 1813 to 1828 he was surgeon to St. James's Workhouse. A visit to Paris in 1823 led him to publish in 1827 an essay upon the use of the chlorides of soda
Sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate , Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well-known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the...
and lime in cases of hospital gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
, the practice having been extensively applied in France by Antoine Germain Labarraque
Antoine Germain Labarraque
Antoine-Germain Labarraque was a French chemist and pharmacist, notable for formulating and finding important uses for "Eau de Labarraque" or "Labarraque's solution", a solution of sodium hypochlorite widely used as a disinfectant and deodoriser.Labarraque's use of sodium and calcium hypochlorite...
. A course of ‘Lectures on Practical and Medical Surgery,’ delivered to the students of the Borough Dispensary, appeared in "The Lancet
The Lancet
The Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal. It is one of the world's best known, oldest, and most respected general medical journals...
" in 1825–6, and were republished with additions in 1830. He contributed many papers to medical journals.
Alcock met Jeremy Bentham
Jeremy Bentham
Jeremy Bentham was an English jurist, philosopher, and legal and social reformer. He became a leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law, and a political radical whose ideas influenced the development of welfarism...
, who was interested in having a life mask
Death mask
In Western cultures a death mask is a wax or plaster cast made of a person’s face following death. Death masks may be mementos of the dead, or be used for creation of portraits...
made for him, though there is no proof that the mask of Bentham in Edinburgh was actually made by Alcock.
Thomas Alcock died in 1833.
Works
- An Essay on. the Education and Duties of the General Practitioner in Medicine and Surgery (paper reviewed in the Lancet, 23 Nov. 1823, pp. 266-272).
- An essay on the use of chlorurets of oxide of sodium and of lime, as powerful disinfecting agents etc. (Burgess and Hill, 1827).