Sir John Colbatch (baptised 1666 – 1729) was an English apothecary and physician.[1] Beginning as an apprentice, rising through freeman to master apothecary in the WorcesterMercer's Company, he went to London in the early 1690s.[2]
Bringing proof of his disfranchisement, dated 23 May 1696, he was examined, and admitted as a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians on 22 December 1696. He was knighted by George I on 5 June 1716, and died at an advanced age 15 January 1729, leaving his estate to his wife, Elizabeth.[2]
Colbatch offered his services to the "Charitable Society for relieving the Sick, Poor and Needy" in early 1716, which went on to found Westminster Hospital.[3]
Colbatch became famous in London for his medicines: a "Vulnerary Powder", with the power to stop bleeding without application of a tourniquet, and "Tincture of the Sulphur of Venus", which speeded healing. While apparently initially successful on a trial involving a dog, the powder caused severe burns without slowing the bleeding when applied to humans. Colbatch's detractors claimed this was due to the powder's caustic nature, while Colbatch claimed it was due to improper application of the medicine to the wounds.[2]
Colbatch resisted the common view that medicines were so-called "alkalies" which countered "acidic" diseases, instead claiming that disease was "alkaline", best treated by "acids". This became a vicious "pamphlet war" between Colbatch and his supporters (Edward Baynard and William Cole) against William Coward, Thomas Emes and others[2] over the acidity or alkalinity of his cures, and over whether the diseases themselves were acid or alkaline. This public disagreement in turn spawned a spate of satires concerning the so-called "Acidists and Alkalists".[2]
Colbatch was a voluminous writer, but his works were not always considered to be of the highest class, as evidenced by the following verse, which compares Colbatch to Thomas Saffold, who was mocked by literary enthusiasts for his short, rhyming advertisements.[2]
When the enervate aim Beyond their force, they still contend for shame; Had Colbatch printed nothing of his own He had not been the Saffold o' the town; Asses and owls, unseen, their kind betray If these attempt to hoot, or those to bray.
Physico-Medical Essays concerning Alkali and Acid in the case of Distempers. 8vo. Lond. 1696.
On the Causes, Nature, and Cure of Gout. 8vo. Lond. 1697.
Extraordinary Cure of the Bite of a Viper by Acids. 8vo. Lond. 1698.
A Collection of Tracts Chirurgical and Medical. 8vo. Lond. 1700.
A Scheme for Proper Methods to be taken should it please God to visit us with the Plague. 8vo. Lond. 1721.
Observations on the Scheme lately published. 8vo. Lond. 1721.
A Dissertation concerning Mistletoe, a remedy in Convulsive Distempers. 8vo. Lond. 3rd Edition, 1723.
Colbatch’s Legacy; or, the Family Physician. 8vo. Lond. 1733.
Referencesedit
^Appleby, John H. (2003). "The Founding of St Petersburg in the Context of the Royal Society's Relationship with Russia". Notes and Records of the Royal Society. 57 (3). London: 273–284. doi:10.1098/rsnr.2003.0214.
^ abcdefCook, Harold J. (1990). "Sir John Colbatch and Augustan medicine: Experimentalism, Character and Entrepreneurialism". Annals of Science. 47 (5): 475–505. doi:10.1080/00033799000200361. PMID 11622374.
^Humble, J. G. (1966). "Westminster Hospital: First 250 Years". British Medical Journal. 1 (5480): 156–162. doi:10.1136/bmj.1.5480.156. PMC1843324. PMID 5322502.
Attribution
This article is partly drawn from "John Colbatch", Munk, William (1878). The Roll of the Royal College of Physicians of London (2 ed.)., which is in the Public Domain.
External linksedit
Wikisource has original works by or about: John Colbatch
john, colbatch, apothecary, john, colbatch, baptised, 1666, 1729, english, apothecary, physician, beginning, apprentice, rising, through, freeman, master, apothecary, worcester, mercer, company, went, london, early, 1690s, contents, life, works, references, ex. Sir John Colbatch baptised 1666 1729 was an English apothecary and physician 1 Beginning as an apprentice rising through freeman to master apothecary in the Worcester Mercer s Company he went to London in the early 1690s 2 Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 References 4 External linksLife editBringing proof of his disfranchisement dated 23 May 1696 he was examined and admitted as a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians on 22 December 1696 He was knighted by George I on 5 June 1716 and died at an advanced age 15 January 1729 leaving his estate to his wife Elizabeth 2 Colbatch offered his services to the Charitable Society for relieving the Sick Poor and Needy in early 1716 which went on to found Westminster Hospital 3 Colbatch became famous in London for his medicines a Vulnerary Powder with the power to stop bleeding without application of a tourniquet and Tincture of the Sulphur of Venus which speeded healing While apparently initially successful on a trial involving a dog the powder caused severe burns without slowing the bleeding when applied to humans Colbatch s detractors claimed this was due to the powder s caustic nature while Colbatch claimed it was due to improper application of the medicine to the wounds 2 Colbatch resisted the common view that medicines were so called alkalies which countered acidic diseases instead claiming that disease was alkaline best treated by acids This became a vicious pamphlet war between Colbatch and his supporters Edward Baynard and William Cole against William Coward Thomas Emes and others 2 over the acidity or alkalinity of his cures and over whether the diseases themselves were acid or alkaline This public disagreement in turn spawned a spate of satires concerning the so called Acidists and Alkalists 2 Colbatch was a voluminous writer but his works were not always considered to be of the highest class as evidenced by the following verse which compares Colbatch to Thomas Saffold who was mocked by literary enthusiasts for his short rhyming advertisements 2 When the enervate aim Beyond their force they still contend for shame Had Colbatch printed nothing of his own He had not been the Saffold o the town Asses and owls unseen their kind betray If these attempt to hoot or those to bray Samuel Garth The Dispensary Canto I Works editThe New Light of Chirurgery 12mo Lond 1695 Physico Medical Essays concerning Alkali and Acid in the case of Distempers 8vo Lond 1696 On the Causes Nature and Cure of Gout 8vo Lond 1697 Extraordinary Cure of the Bite of a Viper by Acids 8vo Lond 1698 A Collection of Tracts Chirurgical and Medical 8vo Lond 1700 A Scheme for Proper Methods to be taken should it please God to visit us with the Plague 8vo Lond 1721 Observations on the Scheme lately published 8vo Lond 1721 A Dissertation concerning Mistletoe a remedy in Convulsive Distempers 8vo Lond 3rd Edition 1723 Colbatch s Legacy or the Family Physician 8vo Lond 1733 References edit Appleby John H 2003 The Founding of St Petersburg in the Context of the Royal Society s Relationship with Russia Notes and Records of the Royal Society 57 3 London 273 284 doi 10 1098 rsnr 2003 0214 a b c d e f Cook Harold J 1990 Sir John Colbatch and Augustan medicine Experimentalism Character and Entrepreneurialism Annals of Science 47 5 475 505 doi 10 1080 00033799000200361 PMID 11622374 Humble J G 1966 Westminster Hospital First 250 Years British Medical Journal 1 5480 156 162 doi 10 1136 bmj 1 5480 156 PMC 1843324 PMID 5322502 Attribution This article is partly drawn from John Colbatch Munk William 1878 The Roll of the Royal College of Physicians of London 2 ed which is in the Public Domain External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about John Colbatch Stephen Leslie ed 1887 Colbatch John d 1729 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 11 London Smith Elder amp Co OpenLibrary page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Colbatch apothecary amp oldid 1219028069, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
