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The youngest son of John Gull, a bargeowner and wharfinger of Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, he was born in Colchester. He began his career as a schoolmaster, but in 1837 Benjamin Harrison , treasurer of Guy's Hospital, who had noticed his ability, brought him up to London from the school at Lewes where he was usher, and gave him employment at the hospital, where he obtained permission to attend lectures. In 1843 he was made a lecturer in the hospital's own medical school, in 1851 he became assistant physician, and in 1856 he became full physician. In 1847Events January 4 Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government. January 13 The Treaty of Cahuenga ends the Mexican-American War in California. January 16 John C. Fremont is appointed Governor of the new California Territory. he was elected Fullerian professor of physiologyPhysiology is the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms. Physiology has traditionally been divided into plant physiology and animal physiology but the principles of physiology are universal, no matter what partic in the Royal InstitutionThe Royal Institution of Great Britain was set up in 1799 by the leading lights of the age, including Henry Cavendish and its first president George Finch, the 9th Earl of Winchilsea, for "diffusing the knowledge, and facilitating the general introduction, retaining the post for the usual three years, and in 18481848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). Events Sri Lanka The Revolution of 1848 (qv. a series of widespread but failed struggles for more liberal governments, from Brazil to Hungary. January 24 California gold rush: Jame he delivered the Gulstonian Lectures at the College of Physicians, where he held every important office except president. He was created a baronetA baronet (traditional abbreviation Bart modern abbreviation Bt is the holder of a species of knighthood known as a baronetcy''. The title was introduced by James I of England in 1611 to raise funds. It is an hereditary honour, but it does not amount to a in 1872Events January 2 Brigham Young, is arrested for bigamy (25 wives). February 20 In New York City the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens. March 1 Yellowstone National Park is established as the world's first national park March 5 George Westinghouse patents t, in recognition of the skill and care he had shown in attending the Prince of WalesEdward VII Albert Edward ( 9 November 1841 6 May 1910) was the first British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. As well as being the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the British dominions beyond the Sea, Edward was also during his attack of typhoid in 1871. Gull died in London after a series of paralytic strokes, the first of which had, occurred nearly three years previously.
Sir William Gull's fame rested mainly on his clinical work; he described himself as "a clinical physician or nothing." His success was due to his powers of observation, and to the great opportunities he enjoyed for gaining experience of disease. He was sometimes accused of not believing in drugs, but he prescribed drugs like other physicians when he considered them likely to be beneficial. He felt, however, that their administration was only a part of the physician's duties, and his honesty and outspokenness prevented him from deluding himself or his patients without proof. But though he regarded the purpose of medicine as the relief of physical suffering, he did not disregard the scientific side of his profession, and made some real contributions to medical science.
His papers were printed chiefly in Guy's Hospital Reports and in the proceedings of learned societies: among the subjects he wrote about were cholera, rheumatic fever, taenia , paraplegia, and abscess of the brain, while he distinguished for the first time (1873) the disease now known as myxoedema , describing it as a "cretinoid state in adults."