John Dalrymple (physician)

John Dalrymple FRS (17 April 1804 – 2 May 1852)[1] was an English ophthalmologist who was born in Norwich, the son of William Dalrymple.[2] In 1827 he graduated from the University of Edinburgh, and subsequently became an eye surgeon at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital.[2]

John Dalrymple
Black and white image of a seated man from the waist up. He is dressed in a nineteenth century suit, clean shaven and looking to his right.
John Dalrymple, lithograph
Born(1804-04-17)April 17, 1804
Norwich, United Kingdom
Died2 May 1852(1852-05-02) (aged 48)
London, United Kingdom
EducationUniversity of Edinburgh
Years active1827-1852
Known forBence Jones protein, Dalrymple's sign
RelativesWilliam Dalrymple (surgeon) (father)
Medical career
ProfessionSurgeon
InstitutionsRoyal London Ophthalmic Hospital
Sub-specialtiesOphthalmology
ResearchOphthalmology, Histology

He was elected assistant-surgeon in 1832 and full surgeon in 1843.[2] In 1850 he was chosen a fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1851 a member of the council of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.[2]

Dalrymple is remembered for his histological work done with Henry Bence Jones (1814-1873) in the discovery of the albumin that was to become known as Bence Jones protein. This protein is often found in the blood and urine of patients with multiple myeloma. He published his findings in a treatise called On the microscopic character of mollities ossium.

Dalrymple also composed two important books on ophthalmology called "The anatomy of the human eye" (1834) and "Pathology of the human eye" (1852).[2] The eponymous Dalrymple's sign is named after him, which is an abnormal wideness of the palpebral fissures in exophthalmic goiter.

He died on 2 May 1852 and was interred with his father William in the Terrace Catacombs on the western side of Highgate Cemetery.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Cansick, Frederick Teague (1872). The Monumental Inscriptions of Middlesex Vol 2. J Russell Smith. p. 12. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Bettany, George Thomas (1888). "Dalrymple, John (1803-1852)" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 13. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
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