Robert Kinglake (physician) facts for kids
Robert Kinglake (born 1765, died 1842) was an English doctor. He was well-known for his medical writings and his unique ideas about treating illnesses.
A Doctor's Journey
Robert Kinglake studied medicine at important universities. He earned his M.D. degree from the University of Göttingen in Germany. He also studied at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
After finishing his studies, Kinglake worked as a surgeon for several years. He started his practice in Chipping Norton, a town in Oxfordshire. Later, he moved to Chilton-upon-Polden in Somerset. In 1802, he settled in Taunton, another town in Somerset. While in Taunton, Dr. Kinglake also worked part-time for a special medical research center called the Pneumatic Institution.
Dr. Kinglake was interested in more than just medicine. In Taunton, he spoke at public meetings. He supported the first Reform Bill, which was a big change in how people voted in England. It aimed to make voting fairer for more people.
Robert Kinglake passed away on September 26, 1842. He died at West Monkton rectory, which was near Taunton. This was the home of his son, W. C. Kinglake. Dr. Kinglake was a member of several important medical groups, including the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh.
His Medical Ideas
Dr. Kinglake became famous for his strong opinions on how to treat gout. Gout is a painful condition that causes joints to swell and hurt. He believed in a special "refrigeration treatment" for it. This treatment involved putting cloths soaked in a mix of ammonia and cold water on the affected areas.
He first shared his ideas in medical journals in 1801 and 1803. However, not everyone agreed with his methods. Many other doctors, like James Parkinson, disagreed with his ideas. Parkinson even wrote a book in 1805 to challenge Kinglake's views.
Dr. Kinglake wrote several books and papers to explain and defend his treatment for gout. These included:
- A Dissertation on Gout (with appendix), London, 1804.
- Reply to Mr. Edlin's two Cases of Gout, Taunton, 1804.
- Additional Cases of Gout, Taunton, 1807.
- Strictures on Mr. Parkinson's Observations on the Nature and Cure of Gout. … To which are added, Two Letters to Dr. Haygarth, containing Remarks on the Opinions he has lately published on Acute Rheumatism, Taunton, 1807.
He also published other medical observations. In 1800, he wrote about the effects of a medicine called Digitalis. Later, a writer named Robert Macnish mentioned one of Kinglake's experiments with ether in his book, Anatomy of Drunkenness.
