John Blackall facts for kids
John Blackall (born 24 December 1771 – died 10 January 1860) was an important English doctor. He made significant discoveries about a medical condition called dropsy. His work helped other doctors better understand kidney diseases.
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Early Life and Education
John Blackall was born in Exeter on 24 December 1771. He was the sixth son of Reverend Theophilus Blackall. His grandfather was Bishop Ofspring Blackall.
John went to Exeter grammar school. After that, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford University. He earned several degrees there, including a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1793. He later received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in 1801.
Medical Career and Discoveries
After finishing his first degree, John Blackall began studying medicine. He worked at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. While there, he carefully observed patients. He noticed important things about a condition called dropsy.
Dropsy is when too much fluid builds up in the body. It can make parts of the body swell. Blackall observed that people with dropsy often had a substance called albumen in their urine. Albumen is a protein that is normally found in the blood, not in urine.
Early Practice and Observations
In 1797, Dr. Blackall started working as a doctor in his hometown of Exeter. He became a physician at the Devon and Exeter Hospital. However, other doctors were very busy in Exeter at that time. So, in 1801, he moved to Totnes. There, he became a well-known doctor in the area.
Return to Exeter and Key Publication
Dr. Blackall's reputation grew, and in 1807, he returned to Exeter. He was again chosen as a physician for the Devon and Exeter Hospital. In 1812, he also became a doctor at St. Thomas's Lunatic Asylum.
In 1813, he published his famous book, Observations on the Nature and Cure of Dropsies. This book was very important. It clearly showed the link between dropsy and albumen in the urine. Blackall suspected that the kidneys might be diseased in these cases.
His discovery was a big step forward in medicine. Another famous doctor, Richard Bright, later built on Blackall's work. Bright discovered in 1836 that kidney disease was consistently linked to albumen in the urine. This showed how important Blackall's early observations were.
Later Career and Legacy
Dr. Blackall also wrote about angina pectoris, which is a type of chest pain. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1815.
He became a very successful doctor in the west of England. People respected him for his excellent skills in diagnosing illnesses. He was known for being patient and using simple, effective treatments. Dr. Blackall continued to practice medicine until he was 80 years old. He passed away in Exeter on 10 January 1860. Many people, including other doctors, attended his funeral.
Family
Dr. John Blackall had a son, Thomas Blackall, who also became a respected physician. Thomas Blackall was also known for managing the Spitchwick estate and for building a road known as Dr Blackall's Drive.
