Sydenham, Thomas

Sydenham, Thomas
born 1624, Wynford Eagle, Dorset, Eng.
died Dec. 29, 1689, London

British physician.

His Observationes medicae (1676) was a standard textbook for two centuries, noted for its detailed observations and the accuracy of its records. His treatise on gout (1683) is considered his masterpiece. He was among the first to explain the nature of hysteria and St. Vitus dance (Sydenham chorea) and to use iron to treat iron-deficiency anemia. Sydenham also named scarlet fever and differentiated it from measles, first used laudanum (a solution of opium in alcohol) as a medication, and helped popularize the use of quinine for malaria.

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▪ British physician

born 1624, Wynford Eagle, Dorset, Eng.
died Dec. 29, 1689, London
 physician recognized as a founder of clinical medicine and epidemiology. Because he emphasized detailed observations of patients and maintained accurate records, he has been called “the English Hippocrates.”

      Although his medical studies at the University of Oxford were interrupted by his participation on the parliamentary side during the first of the English Civil Wars, Sydenham received his M.B. in 1648 and began to practice about 1656 in London, where he made an exacting study of epidemics. This work formed the basis of his book on fevers (1666), later expanded into Observationes Medicae (1676), a standard textbook for two centuries. His treatise on gout (1683) is considered his masterpiece.

      He was among the first to describe scarlet fever—differentiating it from measles and naming it—and to explain the nature of hysteria and St. Vitus' dance (Sydenham's chorea). Sydenham introduced laudanum (alcohol tincture of opium) into medical practice, was one of the first to use iron in treating iron-deficiency anemia, and helped popularize quinine in treating malaria.

      Derided by his colleagues, Sydenham benefited immensely from a consequent detachment from the speculative theories of his time.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Sydenham, Thomas — Médico inglés nacido en 1624. Recibió el sobrenombre de el Hipócrates inglés por su notable celebridad en su época. Describió gran cantidad de enfermedades: la gripe, escarlatina, sarampión, viruela, gota, etc. Falleció en 1684. Medical… …   Diccionario médico

  • SYDENHAM Thomas — (1624 1689) (retrato): médico inglés muy conocido en su época. Fue llamado el Hipocrates ingles. Se le recuerda sobre todo por la corea que lleva su nombre Biografía [véase http://www.iqb.es/historiamedicina/personas/sydenham.htm] Diccionario… …   Diccionario médico

  • Sydenham, Thomas — ► (1624 89) Médico inglés. Inventó la preparación del láudano de su nombre y trabajó sobre enfermedades epidémicas. * * * (1624, Wynford Eagle, Dorset, Inglaterra–29 dic. 1689, Londres). Médico británico. Su obra Observationes medicae… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • SYDENHAM, THOMAS —    the English Hippocrates, born in Dorsetshire, educated at Oxford, and a Fellow of All Souls ; practised medicine in London, where, though regarded with disfavour by the faculty, he stood in high regard, and had an extensive practice, from his… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Sydenham — Sydenham, Thomas …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Thomas Sydenham — (auch Syndenham) (* 10. September 1624 in Wynford Eagle bei Dorchester, Dorset; † 29. Dezember 1689 in London) war ein englischer Arzt. Er wird auch als „englischer Hippokrates“ bezeichnet. Sydenham legte unter anderem eine Reihe klassischer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Thomas Sydenham — Thomas Sydenham. Thomas Sydenham (10 de septiembre, 1624, Wynford Eagle (Condado de Dorset) † 29 de diciembre, 1689, Londres) fue un médico inglés. Estudió en Oxford e impartió su oficio de médico en Londres. Siendo apreciado como el… …   Wikipedia Español

  • SYDENHAM (T.) — SYDENHAM THOMAS (1624 1689) Médecin anglais, Sydenham restaura les principes hippocratiques de la médecine. Fidèle soldat de Cromwell, la défaite des royalistes le rend à la vie civile en 1646. Il étudie alors la médecine à Oxford et, après une… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Thomas Sydenham — Sydenham, Thomas Médico inglés nacido en 1624. Recibió el sobrenombre de el Hipócrates inglés por su notable celebridad en su época. Describió gran cantidad de enfermedades: la gripe, escarlatina, sarampión, viruela, gota, etc. Falleció en 1684.… …   Diccionario médico

  • Thomas — Thomas, Albert Thomas, André Antoine Thomas, Ch. L. Ambroise Thomas, Dylan Thomas, Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, Theodore * * * (as used in expressions) Adès, Thomas …   Enciclopedia Universal

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