Ernest Basil Verney facts for kids
Ernest Basil Verney (born August 22, 1894 – died August 19, 1967) was an important British scientist. He was a pharmacologist, which means he studied how medicines and other substances affect the body. He was also a FRS, which is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
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Early Life and Education
Ernest Basil Verney was born in Cardiff, Wales. He went to Tonbridge School and then studied at Cambridge University. There, he earned special degrees, including a Master of Arts (MA) and a Bachelor of Medicine (MB).
A Career in Science
Dr. Verney had a distinguished career in pharmacology. He worked as a Sheilds Reader in Pharmacology at Cambridge University. Later, he became a Professor of Pharmacology at the University of London.
He received many honors for his work. He was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. This is a special recognition for doctors who have made important contributions to medicine. In 1929, he gave a famous talk called the Goulstonian Lecture. His lecture was about a condition called Polyuria, which means making too much urine.
Major Discoveries
In 1936, Ernest Verney was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This was a huge achievement. The Royal Society recognized his groundbreaking research.
He was praised for his work on the kidneys. He found new ways to study how kidneys work, both inside the body and in special lab setups. He carefully looked at how blood flow, nerves, and medicines affect how much urine the kidneys produce.
One of his most important discoveries was proving that the kidneys are constantly controlled by the pituitary gland. This tiny gland in the brain releases special chemicals called hormones. Dr. Verney showed that these hormones play a key role in how the kidneys manage water in the body.
He even invented a special chamber to control temperature and humidity. Using this, he discovered a delayed increase in urine production in people. He also linked this to the pituitary gland's control. His work was known for its excellent experimental skills and deep scientific thinking.
Important Lectures
In 1947, Dr. Verney gave another important lecture to the Royal Society. It was called the Croonian Lecture. His talk was titled "The antidiuretic hormone and the factors which determine its release." This lecture further explained how the pituitary gland's hormone helps the body save water.
Personal Life
Ernest Basil Verney married Ruth Conway in 1923. He passed away in Cambridge in 1967, just before his 73rd birthday. His work greatly advanced our understanding of how the body controls water and kidney function.
