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Thomas Sydenham (1624–1689) was one of the greatest early English physicians and has been called ‘the Father of English Medicine’. Sydenham’s achievement was to introduce an entirely new spirit into the medicine of the time, laying emphasis on clinical observation and accurate descriptions of disease, for which he earned the nickname ‘the English Hippocrates’. He was not concerned with medical theory and scorned those who were. This led to hostility between Sydenham and other physicians in the later years of his life. He revolutionised the treatment of smallpox and fevers in general and was the first person to recognise hysteria as a distinct disease. He also did a lot of work on pneumonia, rheumatism and pleurisy, recognising the important role of climatic conditions in the development of epidemics.
Title
Thomas Sydenham (1624–1689)
Date
17th C
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm
Accession number
X93
Acquisition method
gift from Mr Bayford, 1832
Work type
Painting