Neil Arnott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neil Arnott
|
|
---|---|
![]() Neil Arnott
|
|
Born | Arbroath, Scotland
|
15 May 1788
Died | 2 March 1874 |
(aged 85)
Education | University of Aberdeen |
Occupation | Physician |
Awards | Rumford Medal (1854) |
Dr Neil Arnott (born May 15, 1788 – died March 2, 1874) was a Scottish doctor and inventor. He is famous for inventing one of the first types of the waterbed. He also won the Rumford Medal in 1852. This award was for his invention of a smokeless fireplace and other improvements to how buildings are heated and ventilated.
Contents
About Neil Arnott's Life
Neil Arnott was born in Arbroath, Scotland. His father was Alexander Arnott, and his mother was Ann MacLean. His family had a history of being master bakers.
He was a very good student at Marischal College, which is part of the University of Aberdeen. He earned his first degree in 1805 and became a doctor in 1814. After his studies, he worked in London with a famous surgeon named Sir Everard Home.
When he was only 18, Neil Arnott became a surgeon on a ship for the East India Company. He traveled to China twice between 1807 and 1811. After these trips, he settled in London in 1811 and worked there until 1854. He quickly became a very respected doctor.
He gave lectures that were later published as a book called Elements of Physics in 1827. Neil Arnott was also one of the people who helped start the University of London in 1836. He became a doctor for the French and Spanish embassies. In 1837, he became a special doctor to the Queen of England. He was also chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1838.
Neil Arnott strongly believed that science education was very important. He thought it was just as important as studying classical subjects. He showed his interest in science by giving £2,000 to each of the four universities in Scotland. He also gave money to the University of London. This money was to help them teach science in a practical way.
He passed away in London in 1874. However, he is buried with his mother in Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh, Scotland. His grave is a simple stone pillar in the older part of the cemetery.
How Neil Arnott Thought About Health
Arnott believed in a natural way of looking at health. He also had clear ideas about what causes sickness. In one of his papers, he wrote about how simple it is to stay healthy.
He thought there were four main things people needed to have to stay healthy. These were good air, the right temperature, proper food, and exercise for both the mind and body. He also believed there were two things people should avoid. These were violence and poisons.
Arnott felt that if a person had all four good things and avoided the two bad things, they would stay healthy. He thought they could live as long as the human body is designed to last. He also mentioned a report that said a sickness like malaria was caused by bad air. This bad air came from rotting plants and animals.
Neil Arnott's Cool Inventions
From a young age, Neil Arnott loved studying natural science. He was also very good at inventing things. This skill helped him a lot in his work as a doctor.
One of his most famous inventions was the Arnott waterbed in the 1800s. He designed it to help sick people avoid getting bedsores. The bed was made of a bath filled with water. A special rubber-coated canvas covered the water, and lighter bedding was placed on top.
Arnott decided not to get a patent for his waterbed design. This meant that anyone could build a waterbed using his ideas without paying him. Later, his waterbed design was used to create a water-filled chair. This chair was meant to help prevent seasickness.
Other inventions by Neil Arnott include the Arnott ventilator and the Arnott stove. These inventions helped improve air quality and heating in homes.
See also
In Spanish: Neil Arnott para niños