Elliottson, JOHN

Elliottson, JOHN, an English physician, was born in London in 1791. After leaving Jesus College, Cambridge, he studied medicine at Edinburgh and London, and was for five years assistant physician at Guy's Hospital. In 1831 he became professor of the practice of medicine in the university of London, and took an active share in the establishment of University College Hospital. He was at this time one of the foremost physicians of London, and a successful lecturer. In 1837 he became a convert to mesmerism, which cost him his professorship in 1838, but did not apparently much diminish his private practice. He died in London on 29th July 1868. Besides being one of the first to use the stethoscope, Elliottson conducted numerous useful experiments as to the action of drugs, and did much to encourage the practice of clinical study. He was the founder of the Phrenological Society. His name will live securely from its connection with Thackeray's Pendennis.