Richard Boulton facts for kids

Richard Boulton was an English doctor and writer who lived from the late 1600s to the early 1700s. He was known for writing many books about medicine and science.

Early Life and Education

Richard Boulton studied at Brasenose College, Oxford, which is a famous university in England. After his studies, he lived in Chester for some time. He became a physician, which is another name for a doctor, and spent his career writing about health and scientific topics.

His Important Books

Boulton wrote many books that shared his knowledge about medicine and other sciences. Here are some of his notable works:

• Understanding Muscles: In 1697, he wrote Reason of Muscular Motion, which explored how our muscles move.
• Body Heat: He published Treatise concerning the Heat of the Blood in 1698, discussing how our bodies stay warm.
• About Surgery: His book System of Rational and Practical Chirurgery (1699) was about surgery. It was so popular that a second edition came out in 1713.
• Summarizing Science: Boulton also created a shorter version of the works of a famous scientist named Robert Boyle. This was published in three parts between 1699 and 1700.
• Common Illnesses: In 1714, he wrote Physico-Chirurgical Treatises, which covered common health issues like gout.
• Outside Remedies: He explored different ways to treat illnesses from the outside in his Essay on External Remedies (1715).
• The Plague: In 1721, he wrote Essay on the Plague, sharing his thoughts on this serious disease.
• Magic and Witchcraft: Boulton wrote Vindication of the Compleat History of Magic in 1722. This book defended his earlier work on magic and also discussed ideas about witchcraft.
• Air Quality: His last known work, Thoughts concerning the Unusual Qualities of the Air (1724), looked at the air around us.

Professional Challenges

Like many people, Richard Boulton sometimes had disagreements with others in his field. He had a disagreement with another doctor named Charles Goodall. This happened after Boulton published a book about John Colbatch, another medical writer. Goodall even wrote a pamphlet to criticize Boulton.

Richard Boulton also faced some personal difficulties. In letters he wrote to Sir Hans Sloane, a well-known doctor and collector, Boulton mentioned that he had experienced "misfortunes." He even asked Sloane for help. At one point, Boulton also mentioned that he had been out of England for some time.