Notes taken at lectures delivered by Robert Whytt, William Cullen and Alexander Monro
TitleNotes taken at lectures delivered by Robert Whytt, William Cullen and Alexander Monro
ReferenceMS0073
Level of descriptionfonds
Datec1765
Creator
Admin./ biographical historyRobert Whytt was a Physician and Professor of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Whytt's work concerned unconscious reflexes, tubercular meningitis, and the treatment of urinary bladder stones. The conclusion of his experiments with bladder stones was that limewater and soap was an effective remedy to the ailment. This was ultimately false, but led indirectly to the discovery of carbon dioxide by Joseph Black in 1754. His studies of reflexology and tubercular meningitis had a greater impact on the science of medicine. Whytt was the first to ascribe a reflex - Whytt's reflex, a dilation of the pupil brought on by pressure on the optic thalamus - to a specific part of the body. He also demonstrated that the spinal cord, rather than the brain, could be the source of involuntary action. His description of "dropsy of the brain" (tubercular meningitis) was the first methodical and accurate definition of the disease, and it would have been impossible to define to a more accurate extent with the instruments available in at that time.
For more information on Whytt, please visit the Navigational Aids for the History of Science, Technology and the Environment (NAHSTE) website: http://www.nahste.ac.uk/isaar/GB_0237_NAHSTE_P0256.html)
For more information on Whytt, please visit the Navigational Aids for the History of Science, Technology and the Environment (NAHSTE) website: http://www.nahste.ac.uk/isaar/GB_0237_NAHSTE_P0256.html)
Scope and ContentThis volume contains notes of lectures given by Robert Whytt (1714-1766), William Cullen (1710-1790) and Alexander Monro (1733-1817), as well as some other notes on observations and extracts of a letter. The author of the manuscript notes is not known. The contents are as follows:
Page 1-113: Title page: "Clinical Lectures Delivered in the Royal Infirmary by Robert Whyte, MD, FRS" Subjects include diseases and conditions generally, as well as specific cases. [Whytt's name is written Whyte in this manuscript, but as Whytt in his published works]
Page 114-130: "Clinical Lectures by Dr Cullen."
Page 143-161: "Lectures by Dr Alex. Monro. Junr. 1765" [Monro secundus]
Page 171-179: "Observations &c"
Page 180-182: "Extract of a Letter"
Pages 131-142 and 162-170 are blank.
Page 1-113: Title page: "Clinical Lectures Delivered in the Royal Infirmary by Robert Whyte, MD, FRS" Subjects include diseases and conditions generally, as well as specific cases. [Whytt's name is written Whyte in this manuscript, but as Whytt in his published works]
Page 114-130: "Clinical Lectures by Dr Cullen."
Page 143-161: "Lectures by Dr Alex. Monro. Junr. 1765" [Monro secundus]
Page 171-179: "Observations &c"
Page 180-182: "Extract of a Letter"
Pages 131-142 and 162-170 are blank.
Extent1 volume
LanguageEnglish
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Related objectsMS0054
Alexander Monro.
Alexander Monro.
Persons keyword Robert Whytt, 1714-1766, Physician, Professor of Medicine, William Cullen, 1710-1790, physician, Alexander Monro, 1733-1817, anatomist
SubjectClinical medicine
