Richard Carr (physician) facts for kids

Richard Carr (born in 1651, died in 1706) was an English doctor. He studied at Cambridge University and later in Leyden, a city in the Netherlands. He became a master at a grammar school before focusing on medicine. After becoming a doctor, he practiced in London and wrote medical essays.

Richard Carr's Life

Richard Carr was born in 1651 in Louth, a town in Lincolnshire, England. He went to the grammar school in Louth, just like many students do today. After that, he attended Magdalene College at Cambridge University. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), in 1670, and then his Master of Arts (MA) in 1674.

In 1676, Richard Carr became the head teacher, or master, of the grammar school in Saffron Walden. He stayed there for several years. However, in 1683, he decided to study medicine. He traveled to Leyden, a city in the Netherlands, which was a famous place for medical studies at the time.

After his studies in Leyden, he returned to Cambridge University and earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in 1686. The next year, in 1687, he became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. This was a big honor for doctors back then. Richard Carr passed away in September 1706 and was buried in St. Faith's Church, which is located under the famous St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Richard Carr's Writings

Richard Carr is best known for his book called Epistolæ medicinales variis occasionibus conscriptæ. This title is in Latin and means "Medical Letters written on various occasions." The book was published in 1691.

His book was dedicated to the College of Physicians, which showed it was approved by other important doctors. The book contains eighteen letters. These letters weren't just for other doctors; they were written in a friendly, easy-to-read style, almost as if he was talking directly to his patients.

The letters in his book covered different health topics. For example, one letter suggested visiting Montpellier, a city in France, for a lung condition. Other letters talked about the healing powers of the waters from Tonbridge and Bath, which were famous spa towns.

One interesting letter discussed a condition called "the struma." In this letter, Carr mentioned that King Charles II had touched many people, believing it could cure them. Another very interesting letter was about popular drinks found in coffee-houses of his time. He wrote about:

• Coffee
• Tea
• "Twist" (which was a mix of coffee and tea)
• Salvia (a type of herb)
• Hot chocolate

Richard Carr knew a lot about the medical ideas of his time. He also admired another famous book called Religio Medici. People who read his letters felt that he was a kind and pleasant doctor. He might not have been the most famous medical researcher, but he was good at making his patients feel better and explaining things in a way that helped them understand.