Thomas Denman (physician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Denman, the elder, M.D. (1733-1815) was an English physician. He was the second son of John Denman (or Thomas), an apothecary born at Bakewell
, Derbyshire
, on 27 June 1733. After a career in naval medicine he made a considerable amount of money in midwifery
. The phenomenon of Denman's spontaneous evolution, by which a spontaneous impaction of the shoulder of a foetus resolves a difficult transverse delivery during childbirth, is named after him. He used his authority to support inducing
premature
labour
in cases of narrow pelvis and other conditions in England (where the mother's life is imperiled by delivery at the full time).
. He came to London in 1753, and began to study medicine at St. George's Hospital. He entered the medical service of the Royal Navy
as a surgeon's mate, and in 1757 became a surgeon. Attached, till 1763, to the ship HMS Edgar
, when, on the conclusion of peace, he left the service. He then continued his medical studies, and attended the lectures on midwifery of Dr. William Smellie
, one of the best observers and most original writers on this field of medical study, and to whose instruction the future distinction of Denman was in part due. He graduated from medical training at Aberdeen
13 July 1764, and began practice as a physician at Winchester
. He got so little to do that he returned to London and tried to re-enter the navy, but failed to get an appointment. He obtained, however, the post of surgeon to a royal yacht
, the duties of which did not often take him away from London, while the retainer of £70 a year was an important addition to his income. He lectured on midwifery, and continued to do so for fifteen years. In 1709 he was elected physician accoucheur to the Middlesex Hospital
, and held the post till his large practice forced him to give it up in 1783. In that year he was admitted a licentiate in mid-wifery of the College of Physicians.
In 1791, having accumulated a considerable fortune, he bought a country house at Feltham
in Middlesex
. He never gave up practice altogether, but limited it to consultations.
He was the first physician whose authority made the practice general in England of inducing premature labour in cases of narrow pelvis and other conditions, in which the mother's life is imperilled by the attempt to deliver at the full time.
in Piccadilly
. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Brodie, who survived him till 1833. Thomas had an elder brother who was also a doctor and published a book called "Treatise on Buxton Water", he married an heiress. When he died he left his wealth to Thomas's son. His eldest son, Thomas Denman the younger
became Chief justice
of England, one of his two daughters married Dr. Matthew Baillie
, the pathologist, and the other Sir Richard Croft, M.D. Croft was trained by Denman and eventually committed suicide as a result of losing a princess's child.
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, on 27 June 1733. After a career in naval medicine he made a considerable amount of money in midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
. The phenomenon of Denman's spontaneous evolution, by which a spontaneous impaction of the shoulder of a foetus resolves a difficult transverse delivery during childbirth, is named after him. He used his authority to support inducing
Induction (birth)
Labor induction is a method of artificially or prematurely stimulating childbirth in a woman.-Indications:Common suggested reasons for induction include:* Postterm pregnancy, i.e. if the pregnancy has gone past the 42 week mark....
premature
Premature birth
In humans preterm birth refers to the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age. The cause for preterm birth is in many situations elusive and unknown; many factors appear to be associated with the development of preterm birth, making the reduction of preterm birth a challenging...
labour
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
in cases of narrow pelvis and other conditions in England (where the mother's life is imperiled by delivery at the full time).
Biography
Denman was educated at Lady Manners SchoolLady Manners School
Lady Manners School is an English secondary school and Specialist Music College as designated by the Specialist Schools Trust situated in Bakewell, a market town in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire...
. He came to London in 1753, and began to study medicine at St. George's Hospital. He entered the medical service of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a surgeon's mate, and in 1757 became a surgeon. Attached, till 1763, to the ship HMS Edgar
HMS Edgar (1758)
HMS Edgar was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 16 November 1758 at Rotherhithe.The physician Thomas Denman served on Edgar until 1763.She was sunk as a breakwater in 1774....
, when, on the conclusion of peace, he left the service. He then continued his medical studies, and attended the lectures on midwifery of Dr. William Smellie
William Smellie (obstetrician)
William Smellie was a Scottish obstetrician.He practiced medicine before getting a licence, but enrolled later at the University of Glasgow and received his M.D. degree in 1745. After training in obstetrics in London and Paris, he opened a practice in London and began teaching...
, one of the best observers and most original writers on this field of medical study, and to whose instruction the future distinction of Denman was in part due. He graduated from medical training at Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
13 July 1764, and began practice as a physician at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. He got so little to do that he returned to London and tried to re-enter the navy, but failed to get an appointment. He obtained, however, the post of surgeon to a royal yacht
Royal Yacht
A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
, the duties of which did not often take him away from London, while the retainer of £70 a year was an important addition to his income. He lectured on midwifery, and continued to do so for fifteen years. In 1709 he was elected physician accoucheur to the Middlesex Hospital
Middlesex Hospital
The Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, United Kingdom. First opened in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally closed in 2005. Its staff and services were transferred to various sites...
, and held the post till his large practice forced him to give it up in 1783. In that year he was admitted a licentiate in mid-wifery of the College of Physicians.
In 1791, having accumulated a considerable fortune, he bought a country house at Feltham
Feltham
Feltham is a town in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is located about west south west of central London at Charing Cross and from Heathrow Airport Central...
in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. He never gave up practice altogether, but limited it to consultations.
He was the first physician whose authority made the practice general in England of inducing premature labour in cases of narrow pelvis and other conditions, in which the mother's life is imperilled by the attempt to deliver at the full time.
Family
Denman died at his town house in Mount Street, London, 26 November 1815, and was buried in the St. James' ChurchSt James's Church, Piccadilly
St James’s Church, Piccadilly is an Anglican church on Piccadilly in the centre of London, UK. It was designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren....
in Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Brodie, who survived him till 1833. Thomas had an elder brother who was also a doctor and published a book called "Treatise on Buxton Water", he married an heiress. When he died he left his wealth to Thomas's son. His eldest son, Thomas Denman the younger
Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman
Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman PC KC was a British lawyer, judge and politician. He served as Lord Chief Justice between 1832 and 1850.-Background and education:Denman was born in London, the son of Dr Thomas Denman...
became Chief justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of England, one of his two daughters married Dr. Matthew Baillie
Matthew Baillie
Matthew Baillie was a Scottish physician and pathologist.-Life:...
, the pathologist, and the other Sir Richard Croft, M.D. Croft was trained by Denman and eventually committed suicide as a result of losing a princess's child.
Major publications
- A Letter to Dr. Richard Huck on the Construction and Method of using Vapour Baths, London, 1768.
- Essays on the Puerperal Fever and on Puerperal Convulsions,' 1768
- An Introduction to the Practice of Midwifery, 1762 which reached a fifth edition in 1805.
- Aphorisms on the Application and Use of the Forceps and Vectis on Preternatural Labours, on Labours attended with Hemorrhage and with Convulsions, 1783. It has had seven English and three American editions, and was translated into French.
- On Uterine Hemorrhages depending on Pregnancy and Parturition, 1786
- On Preternatural Labours, 1786
- On Natural Labours ; 1786
- A Collection of Engravings to illustrate the Generation and Parturition of Animals and of the Human Species.' 1787
- On the Snuffles in Infants in the Medical JournalMedical journalA public health journal is a scientific journal devoted to the field of public health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, and health care . Public health journals, like most scientific journals, are peer-reviewed...
, 1790. This is the first accurate description of the nasal and laryngeal catarrh of congenital infantile syphilisSyphilisSyphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
. - Observations on Rupture of the Uterus,
- On the Snuffles in Infants
- On Mania Lactea, 1810
- Plates of Polypi of the Uterus, 1800
- Observations on the Cure of Cancers, 1810.