George Skene Keith (physician) facts for kids
George Skene Keith (born March 11, 1819 – died January 12, 1910) was a Scottish doctor, photographer, and writer. He earned several important degrees, including M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), F.R.C.P. (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians), and LL.D. (Doctor of Laws). He is remembered for his early photography and his unique ideas about health.
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George Skene Keith's Life
Early Years and Education
George Skene Keith was born in a place called St Cyrus, Scotland. He studied medicine and became a doctor (M.D.) in 1841. He also joined important medical groups, like the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd). He became a Fellow of this college in 1845. George was a very bright student. He even won a gold medal in Professor James Young Simpson's class at the University of Edinburgh.
Pioneering Photographer
George's father was a minister named Alexander Keith. In 1844, George traveled with his father to Palestine. They stayed there for five months. During this trip, George took some of the very first photographs ever made of that region.
He used an early type of camera called a daguerreotype. George took 30 pictures! Eighteen of these photos were later turned into drawings. These drawings were then published in his father's book in 1848.
Medical Innovations and Beliefs
In 1847, George Skene Keith took part in an important experiment. He worked with James Young Simpson and other colleagues. They showed that chloroform could be used to put people to sleep during surgery. This was a huge step forward in medicine, making operations much less painful.
George practiced medicine successfully in Edinburgh until 1880. However, he later started to disagree with some common medical practices. He believed in a simpler way of living and healing. He wasn't a big fan of giving patients lots of different medicines. Instead, he often suggested simple things for his patients. These included eating very little food, getting fresh air, drinking plenty of hot water, and resting a lot.
