James Rymer facts for kids
James Rymer (born 1750, died 1829) was a Scottish ship's doctor and a writer about medicine. He was known for his work helping sailors and for sharing his medical knowledge.
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James Rymer's Early Life and Career
James Rymer was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, on August 5, 1750. His father was a merchant, and his mother was Elisabeth Thomson. Sadly, his father passed away when James was young. However, his mother made sure he received a good education.
James trained to become a surgeon and apothecary (a type of pharmacist). He then studied anatomy and medicine at Edinburgh University. In 1770, he moved from Edinburgh to London.
Soon after moving, James Rymer became a surgeon's assistant on a ship called HMS Montreal. With this ship, he traveled twice to the Mediterranean Sea and the Levant (an area in the Middle East).
Later, he joined other ships, including the Trident and the sloop Hazard. In December 1775, he officially became a surgeon on the Hazard. He quickly moved to the Surprise, which sailed to Quebec in Canada in May 1776. On the way back in November 1776, many sailors became sick with a serious fever.
James Rymer then worked as a surgeon on the sloop Alderney, which was based in Great Yarmouth, England. While there, he wrote a book called Sketch of Great Yarmouth, with some Reflections on Cold Bathing in 1777.
In 1778, he moved to the Conquistador. This ship was used to receive and assign new sailors. After about 15 months, he was transferred to the Marlborough. James Rymer believed this transfer happened because his commanding officer didn't like him. He even wrote a pamphlet about it called Transplantation, or Poor Crocus pluckt up by the Root in 1779. He continued to serve in the Royal Navy until 1782.
Family Life
On June 28, 1784, James Rymer married Mary Stanning in Reigate, England. They had two daughters and three sons. On June 2, 1815, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS). He practiced medicine in Reigate and Ramsgate. James Rymer passed away in Reigate on January 22, 1829.
James Rymer's Son
It's easy to confuse James Rymer with his oldest son, who was also named James Rymer (1790–1876). The son was born in Reigate on June 16, 1790. He also became a surgeon, working in Ramsgate, Kent.
In 1828, the younger James Rymer published a book called A Treatise on Diet and Regimen. He died in Ramsgate in April 1876.
James Rymer's Medical Writings
Besides the books mentioned earlier, James Rymer wrote many other works about medicine and navigation. Here are some of them:
- Introduction to the Study of Pathology on a Natural Plan, containing an Essay on Fevers (1775)
- Description of the Island of Nevis, with an Account of its Principal Diseases (1776)
- An Essay on Medical Education, with Advice to Young Gentlemen who go into the Navy as Mates (1776)
- The Practice of Navigation on a New Plan, by means of a Quadrant of the Difference of Latitude and Departure (1778)
- Observations and Remarks respecting the more effectual means of Preservation of Wounded Seamen and Mariners on board H.M.'s ships in Time of Action (1780)
- Letter on the Scurvy (1782)
- Chemical Reflections relating to the Nature, Causes, Prevention, and Cure of some Diseases, particularly the Sea Scurvy (1784)
- A Tract upon Indigestion and the Hypochondriac Disease, and on Atomic Gout (1785)
- On the Nature and Symptoms of Gout (1785)
- Physiological Conjectures concerning certain Functions of the Human Œconomy in Fœtus and in the Adult (1787)
- A Short Account of the Method of treating Scrofular and other Glandular Affections (1790)
- Essay on Pestilential Diseases (1805)
- On the Nutriferous System in Men and all Creatures which have Livers (1808)
Rymer also wrote "Observations on Hydrophobia" for the Gentleman's Magazine in 1822. In this article, he suggested using cold or warm water as a treatment. He also translated a French medical book by Alphonse Le Roy in 1783.
