William Withering FRS (17 March 1741 – 6 October 1799) was an English botanist, geologist, chemist, physician and first systematic investigator of the bioactivity of digitalis. ==Introduction== Withering was born in Wellington, Shropshire, the son of a surgeon.
In 1785, Withering published An Account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses, which contained reports on clinical trials and notes on digitalis's effects and toxicity. ==Biography== Born in England, Withering attended Edinburgh Medical School from 1762 to 1766.
In 1785, Withering published An Account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses, which contained reports on clinical trials and notes on digitalis's effects and toxicity. ==Biography== Born in England, Withering attended Edinburgh Medical School from 1762 to 1766.
In 1767 he started as a consultant at Stafford Royal Infirmary.
He married Helena Cookes (an amateur botanical illustrator, and a former patient of his) in 1772; they had three children (the first, Helena was born in 1775 but died a few days later, William was born in 1776, and Charlotte in 1778).
He married Helena Cookes (an amateur botanical illustrator, and a former patient of his) in 1772; they had three children (the first, Helena was born in 1775 but died a few days later, William was born in 1776, and Charlotte in 1778).
In 1775 he was appointed physician to Birmingham General Hospital (at the suggestion of Erasmus Darwin, a physician and founder member of the Lunar Society), but in 1783 he diagnosed himself as having pulmonary tuberculosis and went twice to Portugal hoping the better winter climate would improve his health; it did not.
He married Helena Cookes (an amateur botanical illustrator, and a former patient of his) in 1772; they had three children (the first, Helena was born in 1775 but died a few days later, William was born in 1776, and Charlotte in 1778).
After moving to The Larches on 28 September, he died on 6 October 1799. ==Botany== In 1776, he published The botanical arrangement of all the vegetables naturally growing in Great Britain, an early and influential British Flora.
Withering had first published his Botanical Arrangement in 1776 and in it suggested foxglove deserved looking at in more detail.
He married Helena Cookes (an amateur botanical illustrator, and a former patient of his) in 1772; they had three children (the first, Helena was born in 1775 but died a few days later, William was born in 1776, and Charlotte in 1778).
63: 161-2 1779 "An account of the scarlet fever and sore throat, or scarlatina; particularly as it appeared at Birmingham in the year 1778" Publ Cadell London 1782 "An analysis of two mineral substance, vz.
He worked at Birmingham General Hospital from 1779.
In 1775 he was appointed physician to Birmingham General Hospital (at the suggestion of Erasmus Darwin, a physician and founder member of the Lunar Society), but in 1783 he diagnosed himself as having pulmonary tuberculosis and went twice to Portugal hoping the better winter climate would improve his health; it did not.
In 1785, Withering published An Account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses, which contained reports on clinical trials and notes on digitalis's effects and toxicity. ==Biography== Born in England, Withering attended Edinburgh Medical School from 1762 to 1766.
In 1785 he was elected a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society and also published his Account of the Foxglove (see below).
In January 1785 Darwin submitted a paper entitled "An Account of the Successful Use of Foxglove in Some Dropsies and in Pulmonary Consumption" to the College of Physicians in London; it was presented by Darwin in March of that year.
In Withering's Account of the Foxglove printed in 1785 Withering mentions seven different occasions when foxglove was brought to his attention.
An Account of the Foxglove and its Medical Uses 1785-1985.
A talented illustrator herself, his wife, Helena, sketched plants he collected. Withering wrote two more editions of this work in 1787 and 1792, in collaboration with fellow Lunar Society member Jonathan Stokes, and after his death his son (also William) published four more.
In 1787 he was elected a Fellow of the Linnaean Society in recognition of his contribution to botany.
It was later shown to be barium carbonate and in 1789 the German geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner named the mineral Witherite in his honour.
During the Birmingham riots of 1791 (in which Joseph Priestley's home was demolished) he prepared to flee from Edgbaston Hall, but his staff kept the rioters at bay until the military arrived.
A talented illustrator herself, his wife, Helena, sketched plants he collected. Withering wrote two more editions of this work in 1787 and 1792, in collaboration with fellow Lunar Society member Jonathan Stokes, and after his death his son (also William) published four more.
This latter undertaking occurred during the winter of 1793-4, and he was subsequently elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Portugal. ==Memorials== He was buried on 10 October 1799 in Edgbaston Old Church next to Edgbaston Hall, Birmingham, although the exact site of his grave is unknown.
William Withering FRS (17 March 1741 – 6 October 1799) was an English botanist, geologist, chemist, physician and first systematic investigator of the bioactivity of digitalis. ==Introduction== Withering was born in Wellington, Shropshire, the son of a surgeon.
In 1799 he decided that he could not tolerate another winter in the cold and draughty Hall, so he bought "The Larches" in the nearby Sparkbrook area; his wife did not feel up to the move and remained at Edgbaston Hall.
After moving to The Larches on 28 September, he died on 6 October 1799. ==Botany== In 1776, he published The botanical arrangement of all the vegetables naturally growing in Great Britain, an early and influential British Flora.
This latter undertaking occurred during the winter of 1793-4, and he was subsequently elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Portugal. ==Memorials== He was buried on 10 October 1799 in Edgbaston Old Church next to Edgbaston Hall, Birmingham, although the exact site of his grave is unknown.
It continued being published under various authors until 1877.
This was in reality orchestrated by Erasmus Darwin, a man whose anger and sarcasm when he felt slighted had in all likelihood contributed to the suicide of his own son and later to the estrangement of his son Robert. In reality "Mother Hutton" was created in 1928 in an illustration by William Meade Prince as part of an advertising campaign by Parke-Davis who marketed digitalis preparations.
Since 1928, Mother Hutton's status has grown from being an image in an advertising poster to an acclaimed wise woman, herbalist, pharmacist and medical practitioner in Shropshire who was cheated out of her true recognition by Dr.
Krikler British Heart Journal 1985 54: 256-257.
Birmingham University School of Medicine established a Chair of Medicine post in his honour, named after him. In July 2011 a J D Wetherspoon public house opened in Withering's birthplace, Wellington, and has been named after him. ==Publications== This list is drawn from Sheldon, 2004: 1766 Dissertation on angina gangrenosa 1773 "Experiments on different kinds of Marle found in Staffordshire" Phil Trans.
Birmingham University School of Medicine established a Chair of Medicine post in his honour, named after him. In July 2011 a J D Wetherspoon public house opened in Withering's birthplace, Wellington, and has been named after him. ==Publications== This list is drawn from Sheldon, 2004: 1766 Dissertation on angina gangrenosa 1773 "Experiments on different kinds of Marle found in Staffordshire" Phil Trans.
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