William Hillary (physician) facts for kids
William Hillary (1697–1763) was an English doctor who studied diseases, especially those found in hot climates. He was known for writing books about his medical observations.
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Who Was William Hillary?
William Hillary was born in 1697 into a Quaker family in Wensleydale, a valley in Yorkshire, England. He became a student of a famous doctor named Hermann Boerhaave at Leyden University in the Netherlands. In 1722, William Hillary earned his medical degree (M.D.). His special project for graduation was about fevers that come and go, called "intermittent fevers."
Hillary's Medical Journey
Dr. Hillary started his medical practice in a town called Ripon in England. Later, in 1734, he moved to Bath, Somerset, which was famous for its healing waters.
In 1752, Dr. Hillary decided to move to Barbados, a sunny island in the Caribbean. This move was very important for his work, as it allowed him to study diseases that were common in tropical areas. He lived and worked there until 1758, when he returned to London, England. He passed away in London on April 22, 1763.
Dr. Hillary's Important Discoveries
William Hillary was a very careful observer. He kept detailed notes about the weather and the diseases that were common in the places he lived.
Studying Diseases and Weather
He started recording his observations in Ripon as early as 1726. These notes were even earlier than similar work done by another doctor, Clifton Wintringham senior, in York.
When Dr. Hillary moved to Barbados, he continued his important work. He kept records there until he left the island in May 1758.
Books and Medical Insights
Dr. Hillary published some of his early observations in a book called Rational and Mechanical Essay on the Small-pox. The first edition came out in 1735, and a second edition with more information was published in 1740.
His most famous book was Observations on the Changes of the Air, and the Concomitant Epidemical Diseases in the Island of Barbados. It was published in 1759. In this book, he shared his detailed notes from Barbados. He also wrote about a serious illness called yellow fever, which was common in tropical regions. This book was also important because it contained the very first description of a condition now known as tropical sprue, which affects how people digest food.
Other Writings by Dr. Hillary
Besides his major works, Dr. Hillary wrote other books, including:
- An Enquiry into the … Medicinal Virtues of Lincomb Spaw Water, near Bath (1743). This book was about the healing properties of water from a specific spring near Bath.
- The Nature, Properties, and Laws of Motion of Fire (1759). This book explored the science of fire.
- The Means of Improving Medical Knowledge (1761). In this work, he shared his ideas on how to make medical understanding better.
