John Hughes Bennett

1812-1875

Was considered a man of high intellect and an outstanding teacher, whose methods served as a model to other teaching institutions beyond Edinburgh. He has been described as the founder of physiology because he introduced the teaching of physiology by practical classes and a number of advances in physiology in Scotland can be attributed directly to him: Published the first case of Leukaemia (1845); opposed bloodletting and the indiscriminate use of drugs and was an important influence in changing British therapeutic practices during the second half of the nineteenth century; advocated the use of cod-liver oil and restorative treatments for tuberculosis and other debilitating diseases. He emphasised the need for collaboration between medical and scientific specialties in order to advance modern medicine and supported the admission of women medical students in Edinburgh. He studied medicine at Edinburgh, Paris and in Germany. In 1848 he was elected to the chair of the Institutes of Medicine and clinical teacher of medicine as professor within the University of Edinburgh. In 1855 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the chair of the Practice of Physic.