Theophilus Thompson (physician)
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Theophilus Thompson, M.D., F.R.S. (1807–1860) was a London physician of the
Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed the ...
known for his writings on
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...
and
influenza Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These sympto ...
.


Biography


Early life

Thompson was born on 20 September 1807 at
Islington Islington ( ) is an inner-city area of north London, England, within the wider London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's #Islington High Street, High Street to Highbury Fields ...
, London to Nathaniel Thompson (1761-1825), a textile merchant and member of the
London stock exchange The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is a stock exchange based in London, England. the total market value of all companies trading on the LSE stood at US$3.42 trillion. Its current premises are situated in Paternoster Square close to St Paul's Cath ...
, and Nathaniel's wife Margaret Maw (d. 1811). He grew up in a religious household, and his upbringing after the premature death of his mother was overseen by his older brother Thomas Thompson (1785-1865), a well-known philanthropist of religious causes. As such, he grew up with Thomas Thompson's daughter Jemima Luke (née Thompson) (1813-1906), who was less than six years behind Theophilus in age, and who became a popular writer of children's hymns, religious studies, and other works. After studying medicine at
St. Bartholomew's Hospital St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 by Rahere, and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust. History Early history Barts was founded in 1123 by Ra ...
in
Smithfield, London Smithfield, properly known as West Smithfield, is a district located in Central London, part of Farringdon Without, the most westerly Wards of the City of London, ward of the City of London, England. Smithfield is home to a number of City in ...
, Theophilus attended the
University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...
, where in 1830 he received his M.D. degree. He also studied in Paris under the French physicians
Gabriel Andral Gabriel Andral (6 November 1797 – 13 February 1876) was a French pathologist and a professor at the University of Paris. Early life Born in Paris in 1797 to a family, originally from Espédaillac, deeply rooted in the medical profession. His ...
, and
Guillaume Dupuytren Guillaume Dupuytren, Baron Dupuytren (, , ; 5 October 1777 – 8 February 1835) was a French anatomist and military surgeon. Although he gained much esteem for treating Napoleon Bonaparte's hemorrhoids he is best known today for his description ...
, and attended lectures given by the zoologist
Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (; 16 December 1805 – 10 November 1861) was a French zoologist and an authority on deviation from normal structure. In 1854 he coined the term ''éthologie'' (ethology). Biography He was born in Paris, the ...
at the
Jardin des Plantes The Jardin des Plantes (, ), also known as the Jardin des Plantes de Paris () when distinguished from other ''jardins des plantes'' in other cities, is the main botanical garden in France. Jardin des Plantes is the official name in the present da ...
.


Career

He started a medical practice in London, but was soon appointed a physician to the St. Pancras Northern Dispensary in Middlesex, London, where he practiced for fourteen years. He also served as a lecturer at the Grosvenor Place School of Medicine in London, and was elected on 22 January 1846 as a
Fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...
of the
Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...
. He was then admitted in 1847 as a physician to the Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest, when it was located on
Great Marlborough Street Great Marlborough Street is a thoroughfare in Soho, Central London. It runs east of Regent Street past Carnaby Street towards Noel Street. Originally part of the Millfield estate south of Tyburn Road (now Oxford Street), the street was named ...
, before the facility relocated to become the
Royal Brompton Hospital Royal Brompton Hospital is the largest specialist heart and lung medical centre in the United Kingdom. It is managed by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. History Consumption in the 19th century In the 19th century, consumption was a co ...
. In addition, he served as president in 1844 of the
Medical Society of London Medicine is the science and practice of caring for patients, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pr ...
, and also as president o
Harveian Society of London
which today shares facilities with the Medical Society but was a separate group in Thompson's time. He is credited with introducing
cod-liver oil Cod liver oil is a dietary supplement derived from liver of Atlantic cod (''Gadus morhua''). As with most fish oils, it contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and also vitamin A and vitami ...
into England, being the first to give
bismuth Bismuth is a chemical element; it has symbol Bi and atomic number 83. It is a post-transition metal and one of the pnictogens, with chemical properties resembling its lighter group 15 siblings arsenic and antimony. Elemental bismuth occurs nat ...
to arrest
diarrhea Diarrhea (American English), also spelled diarrhoea or diarrhœa (British English), is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements in a day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration d ...
of phthisis (tuberculosis), and the first to prescribe oxide of zinc for
night sweats Night sweats or nocturnal hyperhydrosis is the repeated occurrence of excessive sweating during sleep. The person may or may not also perspire excessively while awake. One of the most common causes of night sweats in women over 40 is the horm ...
. He was also one of the first British doctors to use the recently invented monaural
stethoscope The stethoscope is a medicine, medical device for auscultation, or listening to internal sounds of an animal or human body. It typically has a small disc-shaped resonator that is placed against the skin, with either one or two tubes connected t ...
, having learned its use during his Paris studies.


Personal life

He married Elizabeth Anna Maria Wathen (1807-1867), the second daughter of Nathaniel Wathen, a wealthy clothier of Stroud, Gloucestershire on 25 January 1831 at St. Pancras Church in
Camden, London The London Borough of Camden () is a borough in Inner London, England. Camden Town Hall, on Euston Road, lies north of Charing Cross. The borough was established on 1 April 1965 from the former metropolitan boroughs of Holborn, St Pancra ...
. They had five children.Symes-Thompson (1908), p. 70. # Theophilus Wathen Thompson (22 May 1832 – 24 May 1905) married Maria Elizabeth Abbott and became a solicitor. # Elizabeth Gertrude Thompson (30 April 1833 - June 1904) married the Rev. John Kempthorne, a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. # Arthur Steinkopff Thompson (27 December 1835 – 27 April 1919) entered the clergy and became the vicar of Arundell, Baulking in Berksire, and Little Marlow. He married Ellen Jameson. # Edmund Symes-Thompson (16 November 1837 – 24 November 1906) married Elizabeth (Lilla) Watkins. He succeeded to his father's old position as a physician at the
Royal Brompton Hospital Royal Brompton Hospital is the largest specialist heart and lung medical centre in the United Kingdom. It is managed by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. History Consumption in the 19th century In the 19th century, consumption was a co ...
(formerly the Hospital for Consumption), was elected a 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 ...
, and issued an updated version in 1890 of his father's 1852 paper on the ''History of the Epidemics of Influenza in Great Britain''. # Constance Mary Thompson (29 October 1841 - 1924) married the Rev. Robert Cholmeley, the vicar of Findon.


Death

Thompson died of
bronchitis Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...
at the age of 52 on 11 Aug. 1860 in
Sutton, Surrey Sutton is a town in the London Borough of Sutton in South London, England. It is the administrative headquarters of the Outer London borough, on the lower slopes of the North Downs. It is south-southwest of Charing Cross, one of the fourteen ...
, and is buried in
Norwood Cemetery West Norwood Cemetery is a rural cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery. One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the " Magnificent Seven" cemeteries of L ...
in
Lambeth Lambeth () is a district in South London, England, which today also gives its name to the (much larger) London Borough of Lambeth. Lambeth itself was an ancient parish in the county of Surrey. It is situated 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Charin ...
, London. There is a watercolor portrait of him that was painted by the artist Alfred Essex (d. 1871), as well as a miniature portrait by Alfred's brother,
William Essex Sir William Essex (c. 1477–1548) of Lambourn, Berkshire was an English soldier and courtier who served as High Sheriff and Member of Parliament. Origins He was the son of Thomas Essex of Lambourn in Berkshire by his wife, Elizabeth Babt ...
(1784?-1869). There is also a photograph of Theophilus Thompson in the
National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...
in London.


Publications

He authored several papers, including the following. # articles on "Chorea", "Hysteria", "Neuralgia"' and "Influenza" in the
Library of Medicine
' by
Alexander Tweedie Dr Alexander Tweedie FRS (29 August 1794 – 30 May 1884) was a Scottish physician and writer. Life He was born in Edinburgh on 29 August 1794, and received his early education at the Royal High School there. In 1809 he began medical studies ...
, 1840. #
On the Improvement of Medicine
'' an oration, 1838, with a summary in the British and Foreign Medical Review (v. 11, p. 196-197). #
History of the Epidemics of Influenza in Great Britain from 1510 to 1837
'' published by the Sydenham Society, London, 1852, 406 p. #
Clinical Lectures on Pulmonary Consumption
'' published by John Churchill, London, 1854, 211 p. #
Lettsomian Lectures on Pulmonary Consumption
''published by Samuel Highley, London, 1855, 38 p. # two papers in ''Proceedings of the Royal Society'' on changes produced in the blood by administering cocoanut oil and cod-liver oil
1854, v. VII, p. 41-42
an
1857, v. IX, p. 474-478
. In addition to Thompson's academic pursuits, he also acted as the London literary agent for his brother-in-law
George Henry Wathen George Henry Wathen, FGS (21 November 1816 – 10 November 1879) was a geologist, author, magazine publisher, and South African politician of the Victorian era known primarily for his books on the antiquities of Egypt, and the gold fields of Vic ...
, who was editor of an Australian periodical called the ''Australasian,'' and author of a book on Egyptian antiquities, and another on gold mining in Australia. There in fact exists a letter between Thompson and
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...
discussing the merits of the ''Australasian.''


Notes


References

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Theophilus 1807 births 1860 deaths 19th-century English medical doctors Fellows of the Royal Society People from Islington (district) 19th-century English non-fiction writers English medical writers Alumni of the University of Edinburgh