Gerald Francis Yeo facts for kids

Gerald Francis Yeo (born January 19, 1845 – died May 1, 1909) was an important Irish scientist who studied how the human body works. This field is called physiology. He was also a professor at a university.

Gerald Yeo's Early Life and Career

Gerald Yeo was born in Dublin, Ireland, on January 19, 1845. He went to school at the Royal School Dungannon and later studied at Trinity College Dublin. In 1866, he earned a degree in natural science. He continued his studies and became a doctor in 1867.

After his studies in Dublin, Gerald Yeo spent three years learning more about medicine in other countries. He studied for a year in Paris, a year in Berlin, and another year in Vienna. In 1871, he received his M.D. degree from Dublin.

Teaching and Professorship

For two years, Yeo taught physiology at a medical school in Dublin. In 1875, he became a professor of physiology at King's College London. He also worked as an assistant surgeon at King's College Hospital starting in 1877.

Gerald Yeo helped start the international meetings for physiologists, called the triennial international physiological congresses. The very first meeting was held in Basle in 1889. He helped organize it with another scientist named Michael Foster.

In 1889, Yeo was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very respected group of scientists. He left his teaching job at King's College in 1890 and moved to Totnes in Devon. Later, he moved to Fowey. In his retirement, he enjoyed sailing, fishing, and gardening. He passed away on May 1, 1909.

His Scientific Work

Gerald Yeo worked with David Ferrier, another professor at King's College. They studied how different parts of the brain control specific body movements in monkeys. This research helped scientists understand more about the brain. They even showed a monkey with one side of its body weakened (called hemiplegic) at the first International Physiological Congress.

The Physiological Society

Yeo was the first secretary of The Physiological Society starting in 1875. This group was formed to support and advance physiological research. He left this role in 1889.

At the time, there were rules about animal experiments, like the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876. David Ferrier did not have a special license to do these experiments himself, so Gerald Yeo often did the practical work. In 1881, Ferrier was taken to court because of this work. However, he was found not guilty after he explained that he only watched the procedures that Yeo carried out.

Published Works

Gerald Yeo wrote an important textbook called Manual of Physiology for the Use of Students of Medicine. It was first published in 1884 and was used by many medical students. He also wrote scientific papers for important journals like the Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Society and the Journal of Physiology.

His Family

Gerald Yeo was married twice. His first wife was Charlotte Kitchin, whom he married in 1873. She passed away in 1884. In 1886, he married Augusta Frances Hunt. They had one son together.