John Abercrombie (10 October 1780 – 14 November 1844) was a Scottish
physician
A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
, author, philosopher and philanthropist. His Edinburgh practice became one of the most successful medical practices in Scotland. The ''
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
''Chambers Biographical Dictionary'' provides concise descriptions of over 18,000 notable figures from Britain and the rest of the world. It was first published in 1897.
The publishers, Chambers Harrap, who were formerly based in Edinburgh, clai ...
'' says of him that after
James Gregory's death, he was "recognized as the first consulting physician in Scotland". As surgeon to The
Royal Public Dispensary
The Public Dispensary of Edinburgh was the first free-of-charge hospital in Scotland.
History
Edinburgh has a history of providing free medical care to the poor. In first meeting of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, in 1681, the F ...
and the New Town Dispensary he provided free medical care for the poor of the town and taught medical students and apprentices. He published extensively on medical topics and latterly on metaphysics morality and religion. A devout Christian he gave financial support to missionary work. Abercrombie was awarded the honorary degree of MD from the University of Oxford, was elected Rector of Marischal College and University, Aberdeen and appointed Physician to the King in Scotland.
Early life
He was born in
Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
the eldest son of Rev George Abercrombie (1713-1790), the minister of
East Church, Aberdeen, and his second wife Barbara Morice (d.1824). His father was to have a profound influence on his character and beliefs. After schooling at Aberdeen
Grammar School
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented secondary school ...
he studied at
Marischal College
Marischal College ( ) is a large granite building on Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland, and since 2011 has acted as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. However, the building was constructed for and is on long- ...
,
in
Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
, where he graduated
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
(MA) at the age of 15. He went on to study medicine at 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 ...
obtaining his doctorate
MD in 1803.
Medical career
After graduating he went for further study at
St George's Hospital
St George's Hospital is a large teaching hospital in Tooting, London. Founded in 1733, it is one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals and one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It is run by the St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundatio ...
in London and, returning to Edinburgh, set up in practice at 8 Nicolson Street, next to the Edinburgh Riding School, which in 1832 was to become the site of the Playfair building of the present
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
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 ...
(RCSEd). In 1804 he became a Fellow of the RCSEd. His general practice rapidly became popular and in 1805 he became surgeon to the
Royal. Public Dispensary in nearby Richmond Street.
Here he provided free medical care for the poor of the locality and gave instruction to medical student and apprentices. By dividing the city into geographical sectors and assigning his trainees to different sectors he began a systematic training system for these trainees.
In 1816 he was appointed surgeon to the newly established New Town Dispensary. From the outset he kept detailed notes on all of his patients, an unusual practice at that time. These were to form the basis for his many clinical publications, which further enhanced his reputation. From 1816 he published various papers in the ''Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal'', which formed the basis of his more extensive works: ''Pathological and Practical Researches on Diseases of the Brain and Spinal Cord'', regarded as the first textbook in
neuropathology
Neuropathology is the study of disease of nervous system tissue, usually in the form of either small surgical biopsies or whole-body autopsies. Neuropathologists usually work in a department of anatomic pathology, but work closely with the clinic ...
, and ''Researches on the Diseases of the Intestinal Canal, Liver and other Viscera of the Abdomen'', both published in 1828.
In the latter book described for the first time the symptoms and signs of perforated duodenal ulcer. This was at a time when, it was difficult for physicians to correlate clinical features with pathology. Abercrombie’s gave the first ever description of the clinical features of perforated duodenal ulcer confirmed by the post-mortem. The specimen showing the perforated ulcer was placed in Surgeons’ Hall Museum where it is on display to this day
In 1821 he was unsuccessful in his application for the Chair of the Practice of Physic at the University of Edinburgh. Thereafter he devoted himself to consulting medical practice. He became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1823 and a Fellow of the College the following year.
In later years he wrote a series of philosophical speculations, and in 1830 he published his ''Inquiries concerning the Intellectual Powers and the Investigation of Truth'', which was followed in 1833 by a sequel, ''The Philosophy of the Moral Feelings''. Both works achieved wide popularity at the time of their publication. The Inquiries (1830) has been widely cited in treatises on the law of evidence, due to its discussion of probability, (the sources of) certainty, and (doubts regarding) testimony.
An elder of the
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...
, he also wrote ''The man of faith: or the harmony of Christian faith and Christian character'' (1835), which he distributed freely.
Abercrombie was a founder member in 1841of the Edinburgh Association for sending Medical Aid for Foreign Countries, which became the
Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society
EMMS International is a non-denominational christian Non-governmental Organization (NGO) that provides medical aid to countries around the world and operates field offices in the UK, Malawi, India, Israel, and Nepal. Founded to provide clinic ...
, and he gave financial support to its work.
The year after his death his ''Essays'' (1845) on
Christian ethics
Christian ethics, also known as moral theology, is a multi-faceted ethical system: it is a virtue ethic which focuses on building moral character, and a deontological ethic which emphasizes duty. It also incorporates natural law ethics, whic ...
were published.
Honours and awards
He was President of the
Edinburgh Medico-Chirurgical Society
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 ...
for four years from 1829. In 1831 he was elected a
Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
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 ...
, his proposer being
Thomas Charles Hope
Thomas Charles Hope (21 July 1766 – 13 June 1844) was a British physician, chemist and lecturer. He proved the existence of the element strontium, and gave his name to Hope's Experiment, which shows that water reaches its maximum density at ...
, and served as Vice-President of the Society from 1835 to 1844.
The University of Oxford awarded him the honorary degree of MD (Oxon). This was a rare honour as the only other recipient in the previous 50 years was
Edward Jenner
Edward Jenner, (17 May 1749 – 26 January 1823) was a British physician and scientist who pioneered the concept of vaccines, and created the smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine. The terms ''vaccine'' and ''vaccination'' are derived f ...
.
He was elected Lord Rector of Marischal College and University, Aberdeen. He became a member of the French
Académie Nationale de Médecine
Situated at 16 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the Académie nationale de médecine (National Academy of Medicine) was created in 1820 by King Louis XVIII at the urging of baron Antoine Portal. At its inception, the instituti ...
.
Personal life
In 1810 he was living at 43
York Place, Edinburgh
York Place is a street in central Edinburgh of almost exclusively 18th century buildings, linking Queen Street to Broughton Street and Leith Walk.
The street's architecture remains almost completely intact but it is one of the busiest streets ...
. In 1831, while treating his colleague
James Crawford Gregory
Dr James Crawford Gregory FRSE (1801-1832) was a Scottish physician and part of the Gregory family of notable physicians and scientists. His middle name is sometimes spelled as Craufurd.
Life
Gregory was born at 2 St Andrew Square in Edinburgh ...
, he contracted and recovered from
typhus
Typhus, also known as typhus fever, is a group of infectious diseases that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and a rash. Typically these begin one to two weeks after exposure.
...
. In 1841, he was partially paralysed, but was nevertheless able to return to his medical practice.
He died suddenly whilst entering his carriage at the front of his home, 19 York Place, Edinburgh, 14 November 1844.
An autopsy showed that the cause of death was ruptured coronary artery.
The pathologist, Adam Hunter, speculated that the his death had been brought about by excessive
bloodletting
Bloodletting (or blood-letting) is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to prevent or cure illness and disease. Bloodletting, whether by a physician or by leeches, was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily flu ...
.
He is buried against the east wall of
St Cuthberts Churchyard adjacent to the gateway into
Princes Street Gardens.
Upon his death, his daughters donated his Abercrombie's library of circa 1000 volumes to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Artistic recognition
A bust of Abercrombie by
John Steell
Sir John Robert Steell (Aberdeen 18 September 1804 – 15 September 1891) was a Scottish sculptor. He modelled many of the leading figures of Scottish history and culture, and is best known for a number of sculptures displayed in Edinburgh, ...
is held at 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 ...
.
A portrait by Benjamin Walsh, painted in 1819, hangs in the RCSEd.
See also
*
Pathology
Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in ...
*
List of pathologists
A list of people notable in the field of pathology.
A
* John Abercrombie, Scottish physician, neuropathologist and philosopher.
* Maude Abbott (1869–1940), Canadian pathologist, one of the earliest women graduated in medicine, expert in co ...
References
External links
*
whonamedit.com*
ttp://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/abercrombie_john.htm Significant Scots
*
*
*
John Abercrombiea
Book Owner's Online
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abercrombie, John
1780 births
1844 deaths
19th-century British philosophers
19th-century Scottish writers
Scientists from Aberdeen
People educated at Aberdeen Grammar School
Alumni of the University of Aberdeen
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Medical School
Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Rectors of the University of Aberdeen
Scottish pathologists
Philosophers from Edinburgh
Scottish surgeons
Scottish Christians
Calvinist and Reformed philosophers
19th-century Scottish medical doctors
Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Writers from Aberdeen