A seventeenth century doctor and his patients: John Symcotts, 1592?-1662

About this volume

Dr Symcotts lived in Huntingdon and his medical practice extended over Huntingdonshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. His patients included notable families and the editors have highlighted Oliver Cromwell and his family, drawing on other sources that also refer to him receiving treatment from Dr Symcotts.

The introduction discusses seventeenth century medical education and practice; Dr Symcotts’ patients; fees; diseases from which his patients may have suffered; and treatments.

The correspondence includes bills showing medicinal ingredients and their cost. The case notes contain descriptions of patients’ symptoms, the treatment prescribed and the outcome, sometimes with notes on other patients with similar symptoms. There is a glossary of medical terms and ingredients.

About the author(s)

W. J. Bishop (1)

William Bishop (1904-1961) was a medical librarian. He worked in several medical libraries before becoming Librarian of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine in 1946. He was a medical historian and bibliographer and edited the journal Medical History from its inception in 1957 until his death.

F. N. L. Poynter (1)

Dr Frederick Noel Lawrence Poynter (1908-1979) was Librarian then Director of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. He was a medical historian and wrote several books and articles. He was also active in professional societies, being President of the British Society for the History of Medicine in 1972 and Secretary-General of the International Academy of the History of Medicine.

Reviews

‘The admirable marshalling of the whole material gives a revealing survey of medicine as then practised.’ – Charles Singer British Medical Journal 21 June 1951 p.1350-1.

Publication details

A seventeenth century doctor and his patients: John Symcotts, 1592?-1662, by F. N. L. Poynter and W. J. Bishop. Streatley, BHRS, 1951. xxxiv, 126p. illus. BHRS vol. 31

Out of print

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Keywords

Cromwell (Oliver) (1)

doctors (2)

medicine (1)

prescriptions (2)

Symcotts (Dr John) (1)

Time period

1592-1662