Claude Gordon Douglas facts for kids

Claude Gordon Douglas FRS (born February 26, 1882, in Leicester – died March 23, 1963, in Oxford) was a British scientist who studied how our bodies work. He was especially known for his research on how we breathe and for inventing a special bag, called the Douglas Bag, used to collect air we breathe out for scientific tests.

Who Was Claude Gordon Douglas?

Claude Gordon Douglas was the second son of a well-known surgeon. He went to school at Wellington College and Wyggeston Grammar School before starting at New College, Oxford in 1900. Soon after, he won a scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford. He earned his first degree in 1904.

Early Life and Education

After his first degree, Douglas continued his studies at Oxford. In 1906, he earned a research degree (BSc) for his work in the physiology lab. He was guided by a famous scientist named John Scott Haldane. Later in 1906, Douglas received a scholarship to Guy's Hospital in London. There, he completed his medical degrees in 1907. Around the same time, he became a fellow at St John's College, Oxford, a position he held for many years until 1949. He became a fully qualified doctor in 1913.

Exploring How We Breathe

From 1908 to 1914, Douglas worked closely with John Scott Haldane. They focused on understanding how humans breathe. In 1910, Douglas joined an expedition to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. This trip was organized by another scientist, Nathan Zuntz, to study how people breathe at high altitudes. Other important scientists like Joseph Barcroft also joined.

High-Altitude Adventures

In 1911, Douglas was part of a major Anglo-American expedition. He, along with J. S. Haldane, Yandell Henderson, and Edward C. Schneider, traveled to Pikes Peak in Colorado. Their goal was to research how breathing changes at very high altitudes. They even went to the summit house of Pikes Peak. Another scientist, Mabel Purefoy FitzGerald, also joined the expedition to study people living in mining towns at lower altitudes.

Helping During World War I

From 1914 to 1919, Douglas served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War I. He became a temporary lieutenant-colonel, a high-ranking officer. After gas attacks happened in 1915, John Scott Haldane and Douglas were quickly sent to a special lab. They helped the British Army understand and deal with gas warfare. Douglas, along with Joseph Barcroft and John Scott Haldane, became leading experts on this topic during the war.

A Career at Oxford

After the war, Douglas returned to Oxford. In 1919, he became a demonstrator (a type of teacher) in general metabolism. He continued to advance, becoming a reader in 1937 and a professor in 1942. He retired as a professor in 1949 when he reached the mandatory retirement age. However, he loved teaching so much that he accepted a demonstrator position again and continued teaching until 1953.

Later Research and Legacy

After 1920, Douglas and his students mainly studied how exercise affects breathing, metabolism (how our bodies use energy), and the circulatory system (blood flow). One of his last famous students was Roger Bannister, who later became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes. Douglas also spent more time helping government committees with scientific advice.

Awards and Special Recognitions

• 1911 – Radcliffe Prize
• 1919 – CMG (a special honor)
• 1922 – Fellow of the Royal Society (a very prestigious scientific group)
• 1945 – Osler Memorial Medal, University of Oxford
• 1950 – Honorary Fellow of St Johns