John Hunter, Scottish Surgeon and Anatomist

John Hunter (February 13, 1728 - October 16, 1793) was a Scottish surgeon. He was an early advocate of careful observation, scientific method in medicine, and an excellent anatomist. Among his numerous contributions to medical science are: 1) study of human teeth, 2) extensive study of inflammation, 3) fine work on gunshot wounds, 4) some work on venereal diseases, including possibly inoculating himself with venereal disease in 1767 to carry out further study, 5) an understanding of the nature of digestion and verifying that fats are absorbed into the lacteals, a type of small intestine lymphatic capillary, and not into the intestinal blood capillaries as was generally accepted, 6) the first complete study of the development of a child proof that the maternal and fetal blood supplies are separate, 7) unraveling of one of the major anatomical mysteries of the time-the role of the lymphatic system. He built up a collection of living animals whose skeletons and other organs he prepared as anatomical specimens. His died in 1793 at the age of 65. Stipple engraving by J. Kennerley, 1816

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

1728 1767 1793 1816 Absorbed Accepted Advocate Anatomical Anatomist Capillary Careful Contributions Digestion Diseases Excellent Extensive Fats Fetal Further Generally Gunshot Inflammation Inoculating Intestinal Intestine Kennerley Lymphatic Maternal Method Mysteries Numerous Organs Prepared Proof Separate Skeletons Specimens Stipple Surgeon Understanding Venereal Verifying Wounds

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