William Pargeter facts for kids

William Pargeter (1760–1810) was an English doctor who lived a long time ago. He was very interested in understanding and helping people with mental illness, which was often called "madness" or "insanity" back then. Like other doctors of his time, he wrote a book about it called Observations on Maniacal Disorders in 1792.

Who Was William Pargeter?

William Pargeter was born in Hertfordshire, England. His father and grandfather were both clergymen, which means they worked for the church. William went to Oxford University in 1777. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), from New College in 1781.

Becoming a Doctor

A professor named Martin Wall encouraged William to study medicine. In 1783, William started studying at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. He earned his medical degree (M.D.) in 1786 from Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland.

After finishing his studies, Pargeter stayed in London for a year. Then, he moved to Reading, where he worked as a doctor until 1795. In that same year, he also became a clergyman, just like his father and grandfather. He joined the British Navy as a chaplain, which is like a spiritual advisor, and served in Malta. He retired from the Navy in 1802 and moved to Oxfordshire. William Pargeter passed away in 1810.

His Ideas on Mental Health

In his book, Pargeter said he followed the ideas of Dr. William Cullen (1710–1790). Cullen was a famous professor at the Edinburgh Medical School in Scotland. Pargeter used Cullen's ideas to describe different types of mental illness, like mania (extreme excitement) and melancholia (deep sadness). He explained their symptoms using Cullen's terms, like "excitement" and "collapse" of the brain.

Understanding Madness

Pargeter believed that the true cause of "madness" was a mystery. He thought that strong feelings, or "passions," could play a part. These included things like great sadness, hopelessness, or even studying too hard. He also thought that certain poisons, like opium and mercury, could cause mental problems.

He was very concerned about private places that cared for people with mental illness. These places were often run by people who were not doctors or clergymen, and they were just trying to make money. Pargeter believed that patients in these homes were often treated badly. He also talked about the popular idea that the moon's phases affected mental health.

Helping Patients

Pargeter was convinced that helping people with mental illness was more about how they were managed than just giving them medicine. He thought it was very important for a doctor to "catch the eye" of a patient. This meant getting their attention so the doctor could help control their behavior. He shared four stories in his book to show how this method worked.

He also discussed the common medical treatments used at that time. These included methods like bleeding (removing blood), cupping (placing heated cups on the skin), and purging (making someone vomit or have bowel movements). Doctors also used hot and cold water treatments and medicines like camphor and hyoscyamine.

His Book

• Pargeter, William. Observations on Maniacal Disorders. Reading: Printed for the author, and sold by Smart and Cowslade; J. Murray, London; and J. Fletcher, Oxford, [1792].