William Barrowby
Encyclopedia
William Barrowby was an English physician.
Barrowby was born in London
, the son of Dr. William Barrowby, a physician established first in Oxford and afterwards in London. He was educated at Eton
and Trinity College, Oxford
. According to the DNB, he then moved to Emmanuel College, Cambridge
, where he took the degrees of M.B. in 1709, and of M.D. in 1713. He was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians in 1718, and F.R.S. in 1721.
He published Syllabus Anatomicus prælectionibus annuatim habendis adaptatus, London, 1736. He translated two medical works by Jean Astruc
in 1737–8. He is stated, on somewhat doubtful authority, to have been one of the authors of A Letter to the Real and Genuine Pierce Dod
, M.D., actual physician of St. Bartholomew's Hospital: plainly exposing the low absurdity or malice of a late spurious pamphlet falsely ascribed to that learned physician, 1746. A controversy about inoculation was going on, and Dr. Dod had published some notes of cases which illustrated his view that the practice was dangerous. He had added other cases and an empty Latin letter. The long pamphlet of Dod is written in a pompous style, and contains very little medical information. The title of the attack by Barrowby and Meyer Löw Schomberg
indicates its method of ridicule. The task was an easy one, but the performance is abusive, coarse, and without scientific merit. The only happy hit in it is on the case of Lord Dorchester, who had taken an overdose of opium. Dod had mentioned among many irrelevant facts that the nobleman when recovering sent for his chaplain to read to him, and Barrowby says: ‘We have a beautiful instance of the pious simplicity of past ages, p. 34, in the marquis's calling for his chaplain to read to him when he grew less desirous of sleep, whereas we observe most modern lords employ their chaplains chiefly from an aversion to all other opiates.’ In the Rawlinson MSS. (in the Bodleian) it is said of Barrowby that ‘this wretch, tho' a monster of lewdness and prophaneness,’ took part in the riots at the Drury Lane Theatre
in December 1743. He is satirised in a book called the World Unmasked (1738). Barrowby became Dr. Dod's colleague at St. Bartholomew's in 1750, when for the first time the hospital had three physicians instead of two.
Dr. Barrowby held office for less than two years, and died on 30 December 1751 of cerebral hæmorrhage. His portrait was painted by T. Jenkins, and has been engraved.
Barrowby was born 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...
, the son of Dr. William Barrowby, a physician established first in Oxford and afterwards in London. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
. According to the DNB, he then moved to Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, where he took the degrees of M.B. in 1709, and of M.D. in 1713. He was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians in 1718, and F.R.S. in 1721.
He published Syllabus Anatomicus prælectionibus annuatim habendis adaptatus, London, 1736. He translated two medical works by Jean Astruc
Jean Astruc
Jean Astruc was a professor of medicine at Montpellier and Paris, who wrote the first great treatise on syphilis and venereal diseases, and also, with a small anonymously published book, played a fundamental part in the origins of critical textual analysis of works of scripture...
in 1737–8. He is stated, on somewhat doubtful authority, to have been one of the authors of A Letter to the Real and Genuine Pierce Dod
Pierce Dod
Pierce Dod was a British physician and opponent of smallpox inoculation. He graduated from Brasenose College, Oxford in 1701, received his MA in 1705, MD in 1714 and was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1720. He was made a physician to St...
, M.D., actual physician of St. Bartholomew's Hospital: plainly exposing the low absurdity or malice of a late spurious pamphlet falsely ascribed to that learned physician, 1746. A controversy about inoculation was going on, and Dr. Dod had published some notes of cases which illustrated his view that the practice was dangerous. He had added other cases and an empty Latin letter. The long pamphlet of Dod is written in a pompous style, and contains very little medical information. The title of the attack by Barrowby and Meyer Löw Schomberg
Meyer Löw Schomberg
Meyer Löw Schomberg was a German-Jewish physician who moved to London and had a successful business there.-Life:...
indicates its method of ridicule. The task was an easy one, but the performance is abusive, coarse, and without scientific merit. The only happy hit in it is on the case of Lord Dorchester, who had taken an overdose of opium. Dod had mentioned among many irrelevant facts that the nobleman when recovering sent for his chaplain to read to him, and Barrowby says: ‘We have a beautiful instance of the pious simplicity of past ages, p. 34, in the marquis's calling for his chaplain to read to him when he grew less desirous of sleep, whereas we observe most modern lords employ their chaplains chiefly from an aversion to all other opiates.’ In the Rawlinson MSS. (in the Bodleian) it is said of Barrowby that ‘this wretch, tho' a monster of lewdness and prophaneness,’ took part in the riots at the Drury Lane Theatre
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
in December 1743. He is satirised in a book called the World Unmasked (1738). Barrowby became Dr. Dod's colleague at St. Bartholomew's in 1750, when for the first time the hospital had three physicians instead of two.
Dr. Barrowby held office for less than two years, and died on 30 December 1751 of cerebral hæmorrhage. His portrait was painted by T. Jenkins, and has been engraved.