Lauder Brunton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Lauder Brunton
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Brunton in 1881
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| Born | 14 March 1844 Roxburgh, Scotland
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| Died | 16 September 1916 (aged 72) London, England
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| Nationality | Scottish |
| Other names | Lauder Brunton |
| Known for | Treatment of angina pectoris |
| Spouse(s) |
Louisa Jane Stopford
(m. 1879; died 1909) |
| Awards | Cameron Prize for Therapeutics of the University of Edinburgh (1915) |
Sir Thomas Lauder Brunton (born March 14, 1844 – died September 16, 1916) was a Scottish doctor. He is famous for finding a way to treat chest pain called angina pectoris. He used a special medicine called amyl nitrite for this.
Early Life and Studies
Thomas Lauder Brunton was born in Roxburgh, Scotland, on March 14, 1844. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Even as a student, he started doing research on medicines. He earned a gold medal in 1866 for his important paper about a medicine called digitalis.
Medical Career
After finishing his studies in Edinburgh, Brunton traveled to Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany to learn more. He then returned to University College, London. Later, he got a job at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, a famous hospital in London.
Brunton's most important discovery was using amyl nitrite to treat angina. Angina is a type of chest pain that happens when the heart doesn't get enough blood. He realized that amyl nitrite could help open up the blood vessels around the heart. This would reduce the pain for patients.
In 1874, Brunton became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group for scientists. He gave important talks about medicine and how chemicals affect the body. He was honored by Queen Victoria in 1900 and became a baronet in 1908. In 1915, he received the Cameron Prize for his work in medicine.
Treating Diabetes
Brunton also worked on how to treat diabetes. In 1874, he suggested a special diet for people with diabetes. This diet was low in carbohydrates and high in fats. It included foods like meat, fish, eggs, butter, cheese, and cream. Most fruits and vegetables were not allowed, except for a few like cress and spinach.
He even tried using raw meat to treat diabetic patients in 1873. However, he later said that this method was not successful.
Personal Life
Brunton married Louisa Jane Stopford in 1879. She passed away in 1909.
He died in London on September 16, 1916, when he was 72 years old. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery. His memorial was designed by a famous architect, Sir Robert Lorimer.
Brunton's oldest son, Stopford Brunton, took over his title. Another son, Edward Brunton, sadly died in a battle called the Battle of Loos.
