George Man Burrows facts for kids
George Man Burrows (born in 1771 – died October 29, 1846) was an English doctor. He became a leading expert on mental health during his time.
About George Man Burrows
Burrows was born in 1771 in a place called Chalk, near Gravesend in Kent. He went to school at the King's School, Canterbury. Later, he trained to be an apothecary, which was like a pharmacist and doctor combined. He finished his medical studies at Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospitals.
After becoming qualified, he started working as a general doctor in London. He cared a lot about the rules and standing of doctors. He helped create a group called the Association of Surgeon-Apothecaries of England and Wales. Their goal was to make medical training better and improve the status of doctors.
Burrows worked very hard as the leader of this group. He played a big part in creating a new law in 1815 called the Apothecaries' Act. This law helped make sure doctors were properly trained. The group even gave him a large sum of money when it ended, to thank him for his efforts.
He was chosen to be an examiner for the Apothecaries' Company. But he left this role in 1817 because he felt things were not fair. He even wrote a book about it. Around this time, he also worked on medical writings. He helped start and edit a magazine called the London Medical Repository. He also wrote a book comparing how many people died in London and Paris.
In 1816, Burrows stopped being a general doctor. He decided to focus only on helping people with mental health conditions. First, he ran a small place in Chelsea for these patients. Then, in 1823, he opened a bigger place called ‘The Retreat’ in Clapham.
He earned his M.D. degree from St Andrews University in 1824. Later, in 1839, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. This was a high honor for doctors.
George Man Burrows passed away on October 29, 1846, when he was 76 years old. He is buried next to his wife in the Terrace Catacombs at Highgate Cemetery.
His Important Books
George Man Burrows became a top expert on mental health. He wrote several important books on the topic.
In 1819, he published Cursory Remarks on Legislative Regulation of the Insane. The next year, in 1820, he wrote An Inquiry into certain Errors relative to Insanity and their Consequences, Physical, Moral, and Civil.
His most complete book was published in 1828. It was called Commentaries on the Causes, Forms, Symptoms, and Treatment, Moral and Medical, of Insanity. This book was the most detailed guide on mental health care published in Britain up to that time. It covered the causes, signs, and ways to treat mental health conditions.
