John Ferriar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Ferriar
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John Ferriar
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| Born | 1761 |
| Died | 4 February 1815 |
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John Ferriar (born 1761, died 1815) was a Scottish doctor and a poet. He is best known for leading the Manchester Infirmary, a hospital in England. He also studied what caused diseases like typhoid fever.
Early Life and Medical Career
John Ferriar was born in 1761 near Jedburgh, Scotland. He went to the University of Edinburgh to study medicine. In 1781, he earned his degree and became a doctor.
In 1789, Ferriar started working at the Manchester Infirmary. He worked there as a doctor until 1815. He eventually became a senior physician, meaning he was one of the most important doctors at the hospital.
Ferriar also helped start the Portico Library in Manchester. He was the first chairman of this library.
Improving Public Health
In 1795, John Ferriar helped create the Board of Health in Manchester. This group worked to make the city healthier. They rented houses to use as a special hospital for people with fevers.
Ferriar told the city leaders about the terrible living conditions of poor people. Many lived in cellars with no light, no proper toilets, and no fresh air. People who had just moved from the countryside were especially likely to get sick with fevers.
Because of his work, many important changes were made to improve sanitation. This helped make the city a much healthier place for everyone.
His Writings and Ideas
John Ferriar was also a writer. He published several books and essays.
One of his important works was Medical Histories and Reflections. This book came out in parts between 1792 and 1798. In it, he shared his medical observations and thoughts.
He also wrote Illustrations of Sterne in 1798. This book was about the famous writer Laurence Sterne.
In 1813, Ferriar published An essay towards a theory of apparitions. In this essay, he suggested that ghostly sightings could be explained by optical illusions. He believed that what people saw might be tricks of the eye, not actual ghosts.
