Two Oxford physiologists : Richard Lower 1631 to 1691, John Mayow 1643 to 1679 / by Francis Gotch. (Oxford university extension summer meeting, 1907).

  • Gotch, Francis, 1853-1913.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Two Oxford physiologists : Richard Lower 1631 to 1691, John Mayow 1643 to 1679 / by Francis Gotch. (Oxford university extension summer meeting, 1907). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ‘Had much discourse ’ with Lord Normanby ‘ concern- ing Charles the Second being poisoned. Also concerning the Quinquina, which the physicians would not give the King at the time when, in a dangerous ague, it was the only thing that could cure him (out of envy because it had been brought into vogue by Mr. Tudor, an apothe- cary). . . . Being asked why they would not prescribe it Dr. Lower said it would spoil their practice or some such expression.’ This contemptuous reference to Lower was made by Evelyn in 1695, four years after Lower s death. John Mayow was descended from a genteel family of this name residing at Bree in Cornwall; his parents, however, were living in London when he was born, in May 1643, in the parish of St. Dunstan-in-the-West. He showed early signs of his extraordinary talents, for at the age of fifteen he was entered as a commoner in Wadham College, and the next year, 1659, was admitted as a Scholar, whilst in his second year at Oxford, when seventeen years of age, he was elected to a Fellowship at All Souls College. Here he studied law and inci- dentally medicine; he took the B.C.L. Degree in 1665 and the D.C.L. in 1670, he also obtained the privilege of practising physic although he had not the medical degree of the University.^ Various expressions in his writings indicate that he was attracted by Lower’s ability and used to avail himself, through Lower’s position as Willis’s chief assistant, of the opportunities thus afforded for becoming acquainted with the chief facts of anatomy and with the scanty chemistry which was then in vogue; Willis himself must have soon realized the brilliance and extra- ordinary gifts of this young Oxford Fellow. The remarkable character of his scientific conceptions will be set forth in detail later, but a general idea may be