William Baly by John Prescott Knight 1863

William Baly (1814 – 28 January 1861) was an English physician. He was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk. After completing his medical studies at the

Royal College of Surgeons The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations a ...

and the Society of Apothecaries, he furthered his education in Paris,

Heidelberg Heidelberg (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: ''Heidlberg'') is a city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Neckar in south-west Germany. As of the 2016 census, its population was 159,914 ...

and Berlin. After receiving his doctorate from the

University of Berlin Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (german: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a German public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. It was established by Frederick William III on the initiative ...

in 1836, Baly returned to London and opened a private practice. Later he was a lecturer and physician at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and in 1859 was appointed "physician extraordinary" 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 her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

. Baly performed significant research on

dysentery Dysentery (UK pronunciation: , US: ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications ...

and cholera. In the 1840s he worked as a prison physician at Millbank Penitentiary, and published an important treatise on diseases and

hygiene Hygiene is a series of practices performed to preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases." Personal hygiene refer ...

involving prisons. Also he published an English translation of Johannes Peter Muller's ''Handbuch der Physiologie des Menschen'' as "Elements of Physiology". He was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathemat ...

in 1847 and Goulstonian lecturer on dysentery at the

the same year. Baly was killed in a railway accident near Wimbledon, southwest of London, on 28 January 1861; he is buried in the

Kensal Green Cemetery Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in the Kensal Green area of Queens Park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, it was founded by the barrister George Frederick ...

, London.BALY, William (1814-1861) and Family
aim25.ac.uk Baly was
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 ...

of London, which awards a biennial

Baly Medal The Baly Medal is a biennial award awarded by the Royal College of Physicians of London. Founded by a gift from Frederick Daniel Dyster (1809?–93) received in 1866, confirmed by deed 1930 – in memory of William Baly: £400 to provide a gold m ...

in Physiology, in his name.

Works

* "Elements of Physiology", (Translation with Notes by William Baly, author: Johannes Peter Muller, translator: William Baly) (2 vols. London, 1838–42) * "Diseases in Prisons", Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, (vol. XXVIII, 1845) * "Recent Advances in the Physiology of Motion, the Senses, Generation, and Development. Being a Supplement to the 2nd Volume of Professor Muller's Elements of Physiology" (London, 1848) * "Reports on Epidemic Cholera" (2 parts) (London, 1854)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baly, William 1814 births 1861 deaths People from King's Lynn 19th-century English medical doctors Academics of the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital Railway accident deaths in England Fellows of the Royal Society