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William Rawlins Beaumont
WILLIAM
W
RAWLINS
‘ILLIAM RAWLINS BEAUMONT was born on Beaumont Street, MarvIebone. London. in 1801. His famiIy originahy came from France and settIed in EngIand in the 14th century. He was educated in various private schooIs from which he entered St. BarthoIomew’s HospitaI, London. There, he attracted the attention of John Abernethy, who appointed him his dresser. He aIso studied under such distinguished men as Sir AstIey Cooper, Lawrence, May and HaII. From St. BarthoIomew’s Beaumont went to Paris where he remained ten months. He spent a great dea1 of time with the renowned teacher, Amussat, a mechanica genius, who deveIoped in Beaumont his taIent for designing surgica1 instruments. From Paris he went to the University of BrusseIs. Then, he returned to London. On December 23, 1826 he passed the RoyaI CoIIege of Surgeons’ examinations and became a FeIIow in 1836. In that year he invented an instrument for suturing in the operation for cIeft palate. The Lancet expressed the opinion that “this instrument was destined to make an epoch in the worId’s history,” and so it did, for it served as the mode1 for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. About this time, Beaumont designed instruments for tying poIypi, a sutrum, and many others of surgica1 vaIue. His coIIection of casts and instruments may stiI1 be seen at the RoyaI CoIIege of Surgeons, EngIand, but a11 instruments made by him in Canada and presented d
182
BEAUMONT
to the Genera1 HospitaI have been Lost. Beaumont practiced a short time in London where he was surgeon to the IsIington Infirmary. But he was anxious to enter the Army MedicaI Service. He was puIIing many strings to gratify this wish, when a friend announced he was about to sai1 for Canada, and suddenIy Beaumont made up his mind to accompany him. He arrived in Canada in I 841, and took up his residence in Toronto. A cIever surgeon, he prospered. In time he became known as “Beaumont of Canada.” In Canada, where he Iived the rest of his Iife, he heId many important positions. In 1863 he succeeded Dr. Widmer as consuiting surgeon to the Genera1 HospitaI. He was the author of many articIes, some of which deserve mention : “The Treatment of Fracture of the Leg and Forearm by PIaster of Paris” (1831); “On PoIypi” “Tumour of the Lower Jaw” (1838); “CIinicaI Lectures on Traumatic (1850); Carotid Aneurysms” (1854) ; “The SeveraI Forms of Lithotomy ” (1857) ; “A DeepIy Penetrating Wound through the Orbit with Recovery” (1862). Most of his writings were pubIished in the Lancet. His Iast days were cIouded with much suffering. In 1865 he Iost the sight of the Ieft eye. However, he continued his surgical work unti1 eight years Iater, when the right eye became sightIess. He then went into secIusion, saw few of his oId associates, did not visit his usua1 haunts, and died on October 13, 1875. T. S. W.
WILLIAM
RAWLINS
BEAUMONT
UI803-18751
The American Journal of Surgery N.S. Vol. XXYIII.April. 1935
W
RAWLINS
‘ILLIAM RAWLINS BEAUMONT was born on Beaumont Street, MarvIebone. London. in 1801. His famiIy originahy came from France and settIed in EngIand in the 14th century. He was educated in various private schooIs from which he entered St. BarthoIomew’s HospitaI, London. There, he attracted the attention of John Abernethy, who appointed him his dresser. He aIso studied under such distinguished men as Sir AstIey Cooper, Lawrence, May and HaII. From St. BarthoIomew’s Beaumont went to Paris where he remained ten months. He spent a great dea1 of time with the renowned teacher, Amussat, a mechanica genius, who deveIoped in Beaumont his taIent for designing surgica1 instruments. From Paris he went to the University of BrusseIs. Then, he returned to London. On December 23, 1826 he passed the RoyaI CoIIege of Surgeons’ examinations and became a FeIIow in 1836. In that year he invented an instrument for suturing in the operation for cIeft palate. The Lancet expressed the opinion that “this instrument was destined to make an epoch in the worId’s history,” and so it did, for it served as the mode1 for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. About this time, Beaumont designed instruments for tying poIypi, a sutrum, and many others of surgica1 vaIue. His coIIection of casts and instruments may stiI1 be seen at the RoyaI CoIIege of Surgeons, EngIand, but a11 instruments made by him in Canada and presented d
182
BEAUMONT
to the Genera1 HospitaI have been Lost. Beaumont practiced a short time in London where he was surgeon to the IsIington Infirmary. But he was anxious to enter the Army MedicaI Service. He was puIIing many strings to gratify this wish, when a friend announced he was about to sai1 for Canada, and suddenIy Beaumont made up his mind to accompany him. He arrived in Canada in I 841, and took up his residence in Toronto. A cIever surgeon, he prospered. In time he became known as “Beaumont of Canada.” In Canada, where he Iived the rest of his Iife, he heId many important positions. In 1863 he succeeded Dr. Widmer as consuiting surgeon to the Genera1 HospitaI. He was the author of many articIes, some of which deserve mention : “The Treatment of Fracture of the Leg and Forearm by PIaster of Paris” (1831); “On PoIypi” “Tumour of the Lower Jaw” (1838); “CIinicaI Lectures on Traumatic (1850); Carotid Aneurysms” (1854) ; “The SeveraI Forms of Lithotomy ” (1857) ; “A DeepIy Penetrating Wound through the Orbit with Recovery” (1862). Most of his writings were pubIished in the Lancet. His Iast days were cIouded with much suffering. In 1865 he Iost the sight of the Ieft eye. However, he continued his surgical work unti1 eight years Iater, when the right eye became sightIess. He then went into secIusion, saw few of his oId associates, did not visit his usua1 haunts, and died on October 13, 1875. T. S. W.
WILLIAM
RAWLINS
BEAUMONT
UI803-18751
The American Journal of Surgery N.S. Vol. XXYIII.April. 1935