John Ayrton Paris
Encyclopedia
John Ayrton Paris, FRS (1785-24 December 1856) was a British
physician
. He is most widely remembered as the probable inventor of the thaumatrope
, which he used to demonstrate persistence of vision
to the Royal College of Physicians
in London
in 1824; at about this time he wrote a book entitled Philosophy in sport made science in earnest : being an attempt to implant in the young mind the first principles of natural philosophy by the aid of the popular toys and sports of youth which extended the principle of using simple devices to give convincing demonstrations of scientific principles.
Paris was a medical researcher of some distinction, for example making one of the earliest observations of occupational causes of cancer
when, in 1822, he recognised that their exposure to arsenic
fumes might be contributing to the unusually high rate of scrotal
skin cancer
among men working in copper
-smelting
in Cornwall
and Wales
(his conclusions on this subject are included in a book that is also a visitor's guide to West Cornwall). He also wrote about the accidents caused by the use of explosives in mines, and gave lectures to the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
on chemistry as well as serving as the society's first secretary. His distinction was recognised when he was elected president of the Royal College of Physicians
in 1844, an office he held until his death. A lithograph of him by William Drummond
is in the National Portrait Gallery, London. He wrote a number of substantial medical books, including Medical jurisprudence (co-authored; 1823), a Pharamacologia which first appeared in 1820 and went through numerous editions, Elements of medical chemistry (1825) and a Treatise on diet 1826). He also produced a number of memoirs of other physicians for the Royal College, and the first biography of Sir Humphry Davy
(1831). He was an advocate of the use of scientifically assessed herbal preparations
in medical treatment.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in June 1821.
The exact date of Paris's birth is uncertain, as is its location: some sources list him as born in Cambridge
, others as born in Edinburgh
, a city with which he certainly had some links.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. He is most widely remembered as the probable inventor of the thaumatrope
Thaumatrope
A thaumatrope is a toy that was popular in Victorian times.A disk or card with a picture on each side is attached to two pieces of string. When the strings are twirled quickly between the fingers the two pictures appear to combine into a single image due to persistence of vision.The invention of...
, which he used to demonstrate persistence of vision
Persistence of vision
Persistence of vision is the phenomenon of the eye by which an afterimage is thought to persist for approximately one twenty-fifth of a second on the retina....
to the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1824; at about this time he wrote a book entitled Philosophy in sport made science in earnest : being an attempt to implant in the young mind the first principles of natural philosophy by the aid of the popular toys and sports of youth which extended the principle of using simple devices to give convincing demonstrations of scientific principles.
Paris was a medical researcher of some distinction, for example making one of the earliest observations of occupational causes of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
when, in 1822, he recognised that their exposure to arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
fumes might be contributing to the unusually high rate of scrotal
Scrotum
In some male mammals the scrotum is a dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles and divided by a septum. It is an extension of the perineum, and is located between the penis and anus. In humans and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered with curly...
skin cancer
Skin cancer
Skin neoplasms are skin growths with differing causes and varying degrees of malignancy. The three most common malignant skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises...
among men working in copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
-smelting
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
(his conclusions on this subject are included in a book that is also a visitor's guide to West Cornwall). He also wrote about the accidents caused by the use of explosives in mines, and gave lectures to the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
The Royal Geological Society of Cornwall is a geological society based in Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1814 to promote the study of the geology of Cornwall, and is the second oldest geological society in the world....
on chemistry as well as serving as the society's first secretary. His distinction was recognised when he was elected president of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in 1844, an office he held until his death. A lithograph of him by William Drummond
William Drummond
William Drummond or Bill Drummond is the name of:*William Drummond of Hawthornden , Scottish poet, influenced by Spenser; best known for illustrated essay, Cypresse Grove...
is in the National Portrait Gallery, London. He wrote a number of substantial medical books, including Medical jurisprudence (co-authored; 1823), a Pharamacologia which first appeared in 1820 and went through numerous editions, Elements of medical chemistry (1825) and a Treatise on diet 1826). He also produced a number of memoirs of other physicians for the Royal College, and the first biography of Sir Humphry Davy
Humphry Davy
Sir Humphry Davy, 1st Baronet FRS MRIA was a British chemist and inventor. He is probably best remembered today for his discoveries of several alkali and alkaline earth metals, as well as contributions to the discoveries of the elemental nature of chlorine and iodine...
(1831). He was an advocate of the use of scientifically assessed herbal preparations
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
in medical treatment.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in June 1821.
The exact date of Paris's birth is uncertain, as is its location: some sources list him as born in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, others as born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, a city with which he certainly had some links.
Workes
- Appendix to the 8th Edition of the Pharmacologia : with some Remarks on various Criticisms upon the London Pharmacopoeia of 1836. - London : Highley, 1838. digital