James Begbie

FRSE Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". This soci ...

FRCPE The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is a medical royal college in Scotland. It is one of three organisations that sets the specialty training standards for physicians in the United Kingdom. It was established by Royal charter ...

FRCSE The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) is a professional organisation of surgeons. The College has seven active faculties, covering a broad spectrum of surgical, dental, and other medical practices. Its main campus is located on ...

(1798,

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

– 26 August 1869, Edinburgh) was a Scottish medical doctor who served as president of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh (1850–2) and as president of the

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is a medical royal college in Scotland. It is one of three organisations that sets the specialty training standards for physicians in the United Kingdom. It was established by Royal charter ...

(1854–6). He was among the first physicians to give a detailed description of exophthalmic goitre, currently known as

Graves disease Graves' disease (german: Morbus Basedow), also known as toxic diffuse goiter, is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. It frequently results in and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It also often results in an enlarged thyro ...

(previously called Basedow's syndrome or Begbie's disease). He is also related to the study of

Dubini Dubini is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Angelo Dubini Angelo Dubini (8 December 1813 – 28 March 1902) was an Italian physician born in Milan. He earned his doctorate from the University of Pavia in 1837 and spent mos ...

's disease, the old name for

myoclonic Myoclonus is a brief, involuntary, irregular (lacking rhythm) twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles, different from clonus, which is rhythmic or regular. Myoclonus (myo "muscle", clonic "jerk") describes a medical sign and, generally, is ...

epidemic encephalitis.James Begbie
WhoNamedIt.com. His son

James Warburton Begbie James Warburton Begbie (19 November 1826 – 25 February 1876), was a Scottish physician. Biography He was born on 19 November 1826, and was the second son of Dr James Begbie, The family lived at 18 Albany Street in New Town, Edinburgh, Edi ...

was also an eminent physician.

Biography

Begbie was born on 18 December 1798 in

, and educated at the

High School A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

. Aged 14 he was apprenticed to Dr John Abercrombie (1780–1844) at 19 York Place. Later on, he also became Abercrombie's assistant. In 1821, Begbie obtained his medical doctorate (MD) from the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

. In 1822, he became a

fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS) is a professional qualification to practise as a senior surgeon in Ireland or the United Kingdom. It is bestowed on an intercollegiate basis by the four Royal Colleges of Surgeons (the Royal C ...

. In 1827 he is listed as a Governor of the Dean Orphan Hospital At this stage he lived at 30 Abercromby Place. He was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

his proposer was

David Maclagan David Maclagan FRSE (8 February 1785 – 6 June 1865) was a prominent Scottish medical doctor and military surgeon, serving in the Napoleonic Wars. He served as President of both the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal Colle ...

. In 1847, he also became a fellow of the

Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

, and became its president from 1854 up to 1856. For forty years, Begbie was a physician for the

Scottish Widows Scottish Widows is a life insurance and pensions company located in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group. Its product range includes life assurance and pensions. The company has been providing financial services to the ...

Fund and Life Assurance Society 1837 to 1869. In 1850 he lived at 3

Charlotte Square 300px, Robert Adam's palace-fronted north side Charlotte Square is a garden square in Edinburgh, Scotland, part of the New Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The square is located at the west end of George Street and was intended ...

. Begbie's final years were spent living at 10

one of Edinburgh's most prestigious addresses.Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1868-69 His neighbour was

James Syme James Syme (7 November 1799 – 26 June 1870) was a pioneering Scottish surgeon. Early life James Syme was born on 7 November 1799 at 56 Princes Street in Edinburgh. His father was John Syme WS of Cartmore and Lochore, estates in Fife ...

. For several years he was Physician in Ordinary to

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

in Scotland. Begbie died in Edinburgh and was interred at the

New Calton Cemetery New Calton Burial Ground is a burial ground in Edinburgh. It was built as an overspill and functional replacement to Old Calton Burial Ground and lies half a mile to its east on Regent Road in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the south-east slopes of Ca ...

. The grave is in a concealed location on the north face of the north-most vault against the east wall.

Works

Begbie wrote about important statistical data, the use of arsenic for chronic

rheumatism Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including art ...

, the use of nitric-hydrochloric acid for oxaluria, and the use of

potassium bromide Potassium bromide ( K Br) is a salt, widely used as an anticonvulsant and a sedative in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with over-the-counter use extending to 1975 in the US. Its action is due to the bromide ion (sodium bromide is equall ...

for nervousness.

Publications

*''Contributions to Practical Medicine'' (1862)

Family

He was married to Elizabeth Spear (1805–1874). Begbie's son was Dr

(1826–1876).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Begbie, James 1798 births 1869 deaths Medical doctors from Edinburgh People educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh 19th-century Scottish medical doctors Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Presidents of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Burials at the New Calton Burial Ground