Thomas Hawkes Tanner (9 July 1824 – 7 July 1871) was an English physician and medical writer.

Life

Tanner was the son of Thomas Tanner, secretary to the Army Medical Board. He received the greater part of his education at

Charterhouse School (God having given, I gave) , established = , closed = , type = Public school Independent day and boarding school , religion = Church of England , president ...

. There he met with a serious accident, which affected his health for a number of years. Tanner began medical studies at

King's College London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...

, in 1843, and graduated at

St. Andrews University (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

doctor of medicine Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin language, Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a profes ...

in 1847. He then went into general practice in

Charlotte Street Charlotte Street is a street in Fitzrovia, historically part of the parish and borough of St Pancras, in central London. It has been described, together with its northern and southern extensions (Fitzroy Street and Rathbone Place), as the ''s ...

in London, and was shortly afterwards elected physician to the Farringdon Street dispensary. He was enrolled a member 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 ...

in 1850, and set up in consulting practice. In 1851 Tanner was elected physician to the Hospital for Women in

Soho Square Soho Square is a garden square in Soho, London, hosting since 1954 a ''de facto'' public park let by the Soho Square Garden Committee to Westminster City Council. It was originally called King Square after Charles II, and a much weathered s ...

, and concentrated on gynæcology, though also lecturing on

forensic medicine Forensic medicine is a broad term used to describe a group of medical specialties which deal with the examination and diagnosis of individuals who have been injured by or who have died because of external or unnatural causes such as poisoning, assa ...

at the medical school attached to

Westminster Hospital Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded. In 1939 a newly built hospital and medical school opened in Horseferry Road, Westminster. In 1994 the ...

. In 1858 he took part in the foundation of the

Obstetrical Society of London The Obstetrical Society of London existed from 1858 to 1907. History The Society was set up in 1858, the successor to an Obstetric Society dating from 1825, and in the aftermath of the Medical Act 1858. The founding group included James Hobson Ave ...

, and became one of its first secretaries. In 1860 the council of

, decided to appoint two assistant physicians for the diseases of women and children. Tanner was selected to fill one of these posts, and Alfred Meadows the other. He resigned the under the pressure of increasing work, in 1863. Tanner acquired a large practice, but was unable to cope with the workload. He left London, and died at

Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...

on 7 July 1871.

Works

Tanner was a voluminous writer: his major work was ''A Manual of the Practice of Medicine'' (1854) which sold well in the United Kingdom and America. The 7th edition as revised by Sir William Henry Broadbent was issued in 2 vols. in 1875. His other works were: * ''A Manual of Clinical Medicine and Physical Diagnosis'', London, 1855; 3rd. ed. revised by Tilbury Fox, 1876. * ''A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Infancy and Childhood'', London, 1858; 3rd edit., enlarged, by Alfred Meadows, 1879. * ''On the Signs and Diseases of Pregnancy'', London, 1860. * ''Memoranda on Poisons'', 1st ed. London, 1848; 7th American edition Philadelphia, 1892. * ''An Index of Diseases and their Treatment'', London, 1st edit. 1866; 4th edition revised by Percy Boulton, London, 1891. This work was translated into Japanese, 6 vols. Tokyo, 1874–7.

Notes

;Attribution

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tanner, Thomas Hawkes 1824 births 1871 deaths People educated at Charterhouse School Alumni of the University of St Andrews Alumni of King's College London 19th-century English medical doctors English medical writers