GB 0120 MSS.6858-6880 - Whytt, Robert (1714-1766)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 MSS.6858-6880

Title

Whytt, Robert (1714-1766)

Date(s)

  • 1699-1765 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

23 volumes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Born, Edinburgh, 1714; graduated MA, St Andrews University, 1730; studied medicine in Edinburgh; studied of anatomy under Monro; moved to London, 1734, studied under Cheselden, visited the wards of the London hospitals; attended the lectures of Winslow in Paris, Boerhaave and Albinus, Leyden; M D, Rheims, 1736; licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1737; Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1738, and commenced practice as a physician; Professor of the Theory of Medicine in Edinburgh University, 1747; Fellow of the Royal Society, 1752; lectured on chemistry, 1756; first physician to the King in Scotland, 1761; President, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1763-1766; died, 1766.

Publications include: An Essay on the vital and other involuntary motions of animals (Edinburgh, 1751); An Essay on the virtues of Lime-Water in the cure of the Stone (Edinburgh, 1752); Physiological Essays (Hamilton, Balfour and Neill, Edinburgh, 1755); Observations on the Nature, Causes, and Cure of those Disorders which have been commonly called Nervous Hypochondriac, or Hysteric, to which are prefixed some remarks on the sympathy of the nerves (T Becket and P du Hondt, London, J Balfour, Edinburgh, 1765); Observations on the dropsy in the brain, by R W (Edinburgh, 1768); The Works of R. W. ... Published by his son [R Whytt] (Edinburgh, 1768).

Archival history

GB 0120 MSS.6858-6880 1699-1765 Collection (fonds) 23 volumes Whytt , Robert , 1714-1766 , physician and natural philosopher

Born, Edinburgh, 1714; graduated MA, St Andrews University, 1730; studied medicine in Edinburgh; studied of anatomy under Monro; moved to London, 1734, studied under Cheselden, visited the wards of the London hospitals; attended the lectures of Winslow in Paris, Boerhaave and Albinus, Leyden; M D, Rheims, 1736; licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1737; Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1738, and commenced practice as a physician; Professor of the Theory of Medicine in Edinburgh University, 1747; Fellow of the Royal Society, 1752; lectured on chemistry, 1756; first physician to the King in Scotland, 1761; President, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1763-1766; died, 1766.

Publications include: An Essay on the vital and other involuntary motions of animals (Edinburgh, 1751); An Essay on the virtues of Lime-Water in the cure of the Stone (Edinburgh, 1752); Physiological Essays (Hamilton, Balfour and Neill, Edinburgh, 1755); Observations on the Nature, Causes, and Cure of those Disorders which have been commonly called Nervous Hypochondriac, or Hysteric, to which are prefixed some remarks on the sympathy of the nerves (T Becket and P du Hondt, London, J Balfour, Edinburgh, 1765); Observations on the dropsy in the brain, by R W (Edinburgh, 1768); The Works of R. W. ... Published by his son [R Whytt] (Edinburgh, 1768).

Unknown

Medical papers and letters of Robert Whytt, Professor at Edinburgh Medical School from 1746. Whytt's association with the University began in the years 1730-1734, as a pupil of Alexander Monro (1697-1767). After qualification and general practice, Whytt joined the faculty, becoming an important figure in its establishment as a leading centre of medical education in Europe. These papers span the period of Whytt's working life from his student training through to the teaching and publications of his mature years. The materials are largely professional, although there are a few family items. Manuscripts include notebooks and lectures compiled by Whytt as both student and teacher: drafts of published and unpublished works; case-notes and prescriptions; correspondence and fragments of letters written to Whytt; and miscellaneous other papers collected by him.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

English

Described in typescript supplements, by Christopher Hilton and Richard Aspin, to the Library's published finding aids.

K Moore, 'Some recently acquired papers of Robert Whytt (1714-1766), FRS', Medical History, 1993, 37, 80-86.

Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.
In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Jan 2009 Teaching methods Lectures (teaching method) Ophthalmology Fever Higher science education Medical education Biology Anatomy Nervous systems Brain Tuberculosis Prescriptions Information sources Documents Medical records Pathological conditions, signs and symptoms Signs and symptoms Body temperature changes Behaviour Eye diseases Unconscious Sleep Obstetrics Pathology Diseases Infectious diseases Venereal diseases Occupations Health occupations Medicine Specialties, surgical Gynecology Medical sciences Neurology Actinomycetales infections Physiology Whytt , Robert , 1714-1766 , physician and natural philosopher Edinburgh Medical School Edinburgh University London England UK Western Europe Europe Edinburgh Midlothian Scotland Hertfordshire Primary documents

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Unknown

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Medical papers and letters of Robert Whytt, Professor at Edinburgh Medical School from 1746. Whytt's association with the University began in the years 1730-1734, as a pupil of Alexander Monro (1697-1767). After qualification and general practice, Whytt joined the faculty, becoming an important figure in its establishment as a leading centre of medical education in Europe. These papers span the period of Whytt's working life from his student training through to the teaching and publications of his mature years. The materials are largely professional, although there are a few family items. Manuscripts include notebooks and lectures compiled by Whytt as both student and teacher: drafts of published and unpublished works; case-notes and prescriptions; correspondence and fragments of letters written to Whytt; and miscellaneous other papers collected by him.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

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System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Conditions governing reproduction

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Described in typescript supplements, by Christopher Hilton and Richard Aspin, to the Library's published finding aids.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

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Institution identifier

Wellcome Library

Rules and/or conventions used

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area