Charles James Berridge Aldis
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Charles James Berridge Aldis (16 January 1808 – 26 July 1872) was an English physician, son of Sir Charles Aldis.


Biography

He was born in London on 16 January 1808, and was educated at St Paul's School and
Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any ...
, graduating B.A. in January 1831. He studied medicine at
Addenbrooke's Hospital Addenbrooke's Hospital is a large teaching hospital and research centre in Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county to ...
, Cambridge, and St. George's Hospital, London, and became M.D. Cambridge in 1837, and fellow of the
Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians of London, commonly referred to simply as the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of ph ...
in 1838. He lectured on medicine first at his own house, afterwards at the Hunterian School of Medicine and at the Aldersgate Street School. He was successively physician to the London Dispensary, 1839; the Surrey Dispensary, 1843; the Farringdon Dispensary, 1844; the Western Dispensary, Westminster; and the St. Paul and St. Barnabas Dispensary, Pimlico, founded in 1848. A great part of Aldis's life was occupied in the arduous and unremunerated service of these institutions. Aldis took great interest in the sanitary condition of great towns, and co-operated with eminent sanitary reformers in drawing attention to the subject. He gave evidence before the Health of Towns Commission, 1844, and by his numerous publications contributed to the improvements which have since been effected. When medical officers of health were appointed under the Metropolis Local Management Act in 1855, Aldis was elected to that office in the parish of St. George's, Hanover Square. He discharged the duties of this office till his death with singular energy and devotion, and set the example of how such work ought to be done. He became well known also for his zeal in carrying out the provisions of the Workshops' Regulation Act as applied to the limitation of hours of work in dressmakers' and similar establishments in London. This field of work he made specially his own, and to no one man is a larger share of credit due for the amelioration which has been effected of late years in the condition of the poor women employed in such businesses. Aldis also took an active part in the Social Science Association, the Association of Medical Officers of Health, and similar bodies, and was in all ways one of the most energetic of medical sanitary reformers. He was an active member of the council of the
College of Physicians A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary school ...
, and in 1859 was selected to deliver the Harveian Oration (in
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
). He was a man of scholarship and culture. His practical wisdom is shown in a sensible lecture on the power of individuals to resist melancholy, and in other popular lectures. Notwithstanding his unwearied industry and an integrity of character which won universal respect, it is understood that Aldis was far from prosperous. His life was spent in working and waiting for success which never came. In 1867 a testimonial of substantial value was presented to him by some well-known men interested in philanthropic and sanitary work. He died suddenly of heart disease on 26 July 1872.


Works

He wrote: * ‘An Introduction to Hospital Practice,’ &c., 8vo, London, 1835 and 1837. * ‘On the Poisonous Effects of Coal Gas’ in ‘Med. Chir. Trans.’ xlv. 99 and 107. * ‘On the Power of Individuals to prevent Melancholy in themselves,’ 12mo, London, 1860. * ‘Lecture on the Sanitary Condition of Large Towns and of Belgravia,’ 12mo, London, 1857. * ‘Oratio ex Harveii Instituto,’ 4to, London, 1859. He also drew up numerous reports on the sanitary condition of London, and contributed papers to the medical journals.


Notes


References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Aldis, Charles 19th-century English medical doctors 1808 births 1872 deaths People educated at St Paul's School, London Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians Physicians of the Surrey Dispensary