William Stark (physician) facts for kids

William Stark (1740 or 1741–1770) was an English physician and a medical pioneer. He is known for studying scurvy, a serious illness. Sadly, he experimented on himself with very strict diets. These experiments led to his death at a young age.

Early Life and Studies

William Stark was born in Birmingham, England, around 1740. He was the oldest son of Thomas Stark, a merchant. William went to Glasgow University and earned his master's degree in 1758.

Later, he moved to London in 1765 to focus on studying medicine. He became a student at St George's Hospital. He also learned about anatomy from John Hunter, a well-known surgeon. William then studied medicine at the University of Leiden, where he received his degree in 1766.

His Diet Experiments

William Stark was friends with famous people like Sir John Pringle and Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin once shared how he had lived for two weeks on just bread and water. This story inspired Stark to begin his own diet experiments.

In June 1769, Stark started a series of diet tests on himself in London. He wanted to see if a "pleasant and varied diet was as healthful as simpler strict diets." He planned 24 different diets to try. He carefully wrote down everything: the temperature, weather, how much food and water he ate, and how much he weighed. He also recorded how he felt each day. Stark described himself as a healthy young man, about 6 feet tall.

His first experiment lasted 31 days. He ate only bread and water with a little sugar. He soon felt "dull and listless," so he ate better until he recovered. He then tried adding different foods one by one. These included olive oil, milk, roast goose, boiled beef, fat, figs, and veal.

After two months, Stark noticed his gums were red and swollen. They bled when he pressed them. These were signs of scurvy. By November 1769, he was eating only pudding. He even added black currants to celebrate Boxing Day.

Stark had thought about testing fresh fruits and vegetables. But he was still trying out honey puddings and Cheshire cheese when he became very ill.

Death and What We Learned

William Stark died on February 23, 1770. He was only 29 years old. He passed away after five days of severe headaches and stomach pain. He also had a fast heartbeat and felt very restless. Doctors later suggested he might have died from a rare medical condition called a phaeochromocytoma.

Stark's work did not lead to a new discovery right away. However, his detailed notes were very important for later researchers. They helped scientists understand the importance of vitamin C. If he had known about the discoveries of James Lind, he might have included citrus fruits in his diet. Citrus fruits are known to prevent scurvy.

His friends believed he died because of how eagerly he carried out his studies. Eighteen years after his death, a book was published with his observations and experiments. It was called The works of the late William Stark … consisting of clinical and anatomical observations, with experiments dietetical and statical (1788).