Thomas Glass (physician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Glass
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,_Physician,_by_John_Opie.jpg)
Portrait by John Opie (c. 1780–1783)
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| Born | 14 May 1709 |
| Died | 5 February 1786 (aged 76) |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Hodges
(m. 1737) |
Thomas Glass (1709–1786) was an English doctor and writer about medicine. He was known for his work in the 18th century.
Contents
His Life Story
Thomas Glass was born on May 14, 1709, in Tiverton, Devon. He was the second of nine children. His father, Michael Glass, was a dyer, which means he colored fabrics.
Thomas went to school in Tiverton and then in Exeter. He later studied medicine at Leyden University in the Netherlands. He earned his medical degree (MD) in July 1731.
In 1737, he married Mary Hodges. They had four daughters. The Glass family first lived in Tiverton. In 1740, they moved to Exeter and lived in part of Bedford House. They moved again in 1773.
His Medical Work
Dr. Glass first worked as a doctor in Tiverton. After moving to Exeter, he became a doctor at the Devon and Exeter Hospital. This hospital was new at the time. He was very successful there.
Thomas Glass shared a special way to make "magnesia alba" with his brother, Samuel Glass. Magnesia alba was a medicine used to help with stomach problems. It was also a mild laxative, which helps with digestion. It was especially good for babies.
Samuel Glass improved the medicine and wrote a book about it in 1764. He made a lot of money selling it. Later, another person named Thomas Henry claimed to have a better way to make magnesia alba. This led to a disagreement between them. Thomas Glass wrote a book to defend his brother's method.
In 1776, Dr. Glass was chosen to be a foreign member of a special medical group in France.
His Final Years
Thomas Glass passed away in Exeter on February 5, 1786. He was buried in St. David's churchyard.
In his will, he gave all his medical books to the Exeter Cathedral library. These books were for any doctor in the city to use. He also made plans to help educate poor children in Exeter.
How Others Saw Him
Many people thought highly of Dr. Glass. In 1783, a group of doctors from Exeter praised him. They gave a portrait of him, painted by John Opie, to the hospital. This painting is still at the Devon and Exeter Hospital.
Dr. Glass was also chosen as the president of the hospital in 1785. This was a special honor for a doctor.
His Writings
Thomas Glass wrote several important medical books and papers. He wrote about different illnesses and treatments.
Some of his main works include:
- Commentaries on Fevers: This was his most important book. It was first published in Latin in 1742 and then in English in 1752.
- An Account of the ancient baths, and their use in physic: This book was about old bathing practices and how they were used in medicine.
- Letters to Dr. Baker on the means of procuring a distinct and favourable kind of small-pox: These letters discussed ways to treat smallpox. Smallpox was a very serious disease at the time. Dr. Glass was considered an expert on inoculation for smallpox. Inoculation was an early way to protect people from the disease.
- Meditations upon the Attributes of God and the Nature of Man: A book about his thoughts on God and humans.
- An Essay on Revealed Religion: Another book on religious topics.
He also left behind an unfinished new version of a famous ancient medical book called De Medicina by Celsus. He had many notes for this project.
His Portraits
Several artists painted portraits of Thomas Glass:
- Thomas Hudson painted an oil painting of him.
- John Opie painted an oil portrait between 1780 and 1783. This painting is at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
- Ezekiel Abraham Ezekiel made an engraving (a type of print) based on Opie's painting. This engraving is at the Royal Albert Museum, Exeter.
