Charles Badham (physician) facts for kids
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Charles Badham (born April 17, 1780 – died November 10, 1845) was a clever doctor from London, England. He is famous for giving the lung disease called bronchitis its name.
Contents
Meet Charles Badham: The Doctor Who Named Bronchitis
Early Life and Education
Charles Badham studied medicine at Edinburgh University, earning his MD degree in 1802. After that, he went to Pembroke College, Oxford to continue his studies. He earned several more degrees there, including his Bachelor of Arts (AB) in 1811 and his Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1817.
Naming Bronchitis
Even before another famous French doctor, René Laennec, Charles Badham was the first to use the word "bronchitis." This is a common illness that affects your lungs and makes it hard to breathe.
He also helped doctors understand the difference between bronchitis and other lung problems like pleurisy (when the lining around your lungs gets inflamed) and pneumonia (a serious lung infection). He wrote important essays about this in 1808 and 1814, which helped other doctors learn more about these conditions.
A Royal Doctor and Professor
Charles Badham was a very respected doctor. He worked as a physician for the Duke of Sussex, who was a son of King George III.
In 1827, he was given a special job as the Regius Professor of the Practice of Medicine at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. This was a very important teaching role in medicine.
Beyond Medicine: A Man of Many Talents
Besides being a doctor, Badham was also very talented in other areas. He was a translator, meaning he could change texts from one language to another. He was also a classical scholar, which means he studied ancient Greek and Roman history and literature.
He loved to travel and explore new places. In 1818, he translated a famous ancient Roman book called the Satires of Juvenal. In the same year, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group of top scientists and thinkers.
His Family's Legacy
Charles Badham's sons also became successful in their own fields. His son, Rev. Dr Charles David Badham, became both a doctor and a writer. Another younger son, Rev. Prof. Charles Badham, became a classical scholar and worked as a professor in Australia.
