Francis Rynd facts for kids
Francis Rynd (1801–1861) was an Irish doctor. He is famous for inventing the hollow needle. This needle is a key part of the hypodermic syringe. It helps doctors give medicine directly into the body.
Early Life and Education
Francis Rynd was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1801. His parents were James Rynd and Hester Fleetwood. He went to medical school at Trinity College, Dublin. He was known for being a lively student. He enjoyed a busy social life and loved fox hunting.
Medical Career
After finishing his studies, Rynd worked at the Meath Hospital in Dublin. There, he trained under a well-known surgeon named Sir Philip Crampton.
In 1830, Rynd became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. By 1836, he became a surgeon at the Meath Hospital. He worked alongside other important doctors like William Stokes and Robert James Graves. Dr. Rynd also had a successful private practice. He also worked as a medical supervisor at Mountjoy Prison.
The Hypodermic Needle
Francis Rynd made a very important invention: the hollow needle. This needle is used in hypodermic syringes. A hypodermic syringe is a tool doctors use to inject medicine. It puts the medicine right under the skin or into a muscle.
On June 3, 1844, Rynd used his new invention for the first time. He injected painkillers into a patient. The patient, Margaret Cox, was 59 years old. She had severe pain in her face.
Rynd used his special instrument to inject a pain-relieving liquid. He put it near the nerves in her face. Just one minute after the injection, her pain stopped. She was able to sleep better than she had in months. A week later, her pain returned slightly. Rynd injected the liquid again, and the pain went away completely. Margaret Cox left the hospital feeling much better. This was the first known hypodermic injection ever given.
Rynd shared his discovery in an article. It was published in the Dublin Medical Press on March 12, 1845. His invention changed how doctors gave medicine. It made it possible to deliver treatments quickly and effectively.
Family Life
Francis Rynd married Elizabeth Alley. She was the daughter of Alderman John Alley, who was once the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Francis and Elizabeth had three sons and three daughters. Rynd even named one of his sons Philip Crampton Rynd, after his mentor.
Rynd had a half-brother named Goodlatte Rynd. Goodlatte died in 1812 during the Battle of Salamanca. Francis Rynd's niece, Maria Rynd, had an interesting life. She married Pedro José Domingo de Guerra in 1840. He was Bolivia's representative in Paris. Maria moved to South America. She later became the First Lady of Bolivia in 1879. Her grandson, Jose Gutierrez Guerra, became president of Bolivia from 1917 to 1920.
Rynd's nephew, James Alexander Porterfield Rynd, was a famous Irish chess player and lawyer.
Francis Rynd passed away in Dublin in 1861. He was 60 years old and died from a heart attack.
