Robert Bree
Encyclopedia
Robert Bree, MD was an English
physician
, in 1759. He was educated at Coventry
and at University College, Oxford
, where he graduated on 6 April 1775, and took his B.A. degree on 10 Nov. 1778, and, having studied medicine at Edinburgh
, proceeded M.A. on 10 July 1781. He was admitted, 31 July 1781, an extra-licentiate of the College of Physicians; took his bachelor's degree
in medicine on 4 July 1782, and that of M.D. on 12 July 1791. He had first settled at Northampton
, and was appointed physician to the general infirmary in that town, which after a short stay he left for Leicester
, to the infirmary of which he became physician. An obstinate attack of asthma caused in 1793 a temporary retirement from his profession. In 1794 he accepted the command of a company in a regiment of militia, and in 1796 settled at Birmingham
, where he was appointed in March 1801 physician to the General Hospital.
Bree was consulted for asthma
by the Duke of Sussex, by whose advice Bree removed in 1804 to Hanover Square, London. He was admitted a candidate of the Royal College of Physicians
on 31 March 1806, and a fellow on 23 March of the following year. He was censor in the years 1810, 1819, and 1830, and on 2 July in the last-mentioned year was named an elect. In 1827 Bree was chosen Harveian lecturer, and published the lecture course he delivered. In 1808 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Bree withdrew from practice in 1833, and, after suffering from renewed asthma, died in Park Square West, Regent's Park
, on 6 Oct. 1839.
He contributed two papers On the Use of Digitalis in Consumption to the 'Medical and Physical Journal,' 1799. He was also the author of a paper On Painful Affections of the Side from Tumid Spleen, read 1 Jan. 1811 before the Medical and {Chirurgical} Society, of which Bree became a member of council and a vice-president in March following; and of a second paper on the same subject, read 26 May 1812, A Case of Splenitis, with further Remarks on that Disease. These papers were afterwards published in the first and second volumes of the 'Medico-Chirurgical Transactions.' Bree was further the author of a small tract, Thoughts on Cholera Asphyxia (London, 1832).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
Biography
Bree was born at Solihull, WarwickshireWarwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, in 1759. He was educated at Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
and at University College, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, where he graduated on 6 April 1775, and took his B.A. degree on 10 Nov. 1778, and, having studied medicine at 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...
, proceeded M.A. on 10 July 1781. He was admitted, 31 July 1781, an extra-licentiate of the College of Physicians; took his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in medicine on 4 July 1782, and that of M.D. on 12 July 1791. He had first settled at Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, and was appointed physician to the general infirmary in that town, which after a short stay he left for Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, to the infirmary of which he became physician. An obstinate attack of asthma caused in 1793 a temporary retirement from his profession. In 1794 he accepted the command of a company in a regiment of militia, and in 1796 settled at Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, where he was appointed in March 1801 physician to the General Hospital.
Bree was consulted for asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
by the Duke of Sussex, by whose advice Bree removed in 1804 to Hanover Square, London. He was admitted a candidate 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...
on 31 March 1806, and a fellow on 23 March of the following year. He was censor in the years 1810, 1819, and 1830, and on 2 July in the last-mentioned year was named an elect. In 1827 Bree was chosen Harveian lecturer, and published the lecture course he delivered. In 1808 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Bree withdrew from practice in 1833, and, after suffering from renewed asthma, died in Park Square West, Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
, on 6 Oct. 1839.
Publications
Bree published A Practical Inquiry into Disordered Respiration, distinguishing the Species of Convulsive Asthma, their Causes, and Indications of Cure, 8vo, London, 1797. It reached a fifth edition in 1815, and was translated into several languages. "In this work," says Dr. Munk, the author "embodied the numerous experiments in his own case, gave a more full and complete view of asthma and dyspnœa than had hitherto appeared, and laid down some important therapeutic rules, the practical value of which has been universally acknowledged.'He contributed two papers On the Use of Digitalis in Consumption to the 'Medical and Physical Journal,' 1799. He was also the author of a paper On Painful Affections of the Side from Tumid Spleen, read 1 Jan. 1811 before the Medical and {Chirurgical} Society, of which Bree became a member of council and a vice-president in March following; and of a second paper on the same subject, read 26 May 1812, A Case of Splenitis, with further Remarks on that Disease. These papers were afterwards published in the first and second volumes of the 'Medico-Chirurgical Transactions.' Bree was further the author of a small tract, Thoughts on Cholera Asphyxia (London, 1832).
Further reading
- Introduction to the various editions of Bree's Practical Inquiry into Disordered Respiration
- Watt's Bibl. Brit. 1824
- Gent. Mag. November 1839
- Catalogue of Oxford Graduates, 1851
- Munk's College of Physicians, 1878.