Robert Bentley Todd

Infobox Scientist
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birth_date = 1809 April 9
birth_place =Dublin, Ireland
death_date = death date and age|1860|1|30|1809|4|9|mf=y
death_place =London, England
residence =
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field = medicine
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known_for = Todd's palsy
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Robert Bentley Todd (1809 – 1860) was an Irish-born physician who is best known for describing the condition postictal paralysis in his Lumleian Lectures in 1849 now known as Todd's palsy. He was the younger brother of noted writer and minister James Henthorn Todd.

Early life

He was the son of physician Charles Hawkes Todd and Eliza Bentley. He attended day school and was tutored by the Rev. W. Higgin, who was afterwards the bishop of Derry. Todd entered Trinity College in 1825, intending to study for the bar. When his father died the next year, he switched to medicine and became a resident pupil at a hospital in Dublin. He was a student of Robert Graves, and graduated B.A. at Trinity in 1829. He became licensed at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland two years later.

Professional life

He then moved to London, where he practiced medicine and lectured. He received a M.S. at Pembroke College, Oxford in 1832, a B.M. the following year, and a D.M. in 1836. He travelled widely in Europe, lecturing and becoming acquainted with a number of eminent men in his field. He took the license of the Royal College of Physicians in 1833, became a Fellow in 1837, and a Censor in 1839-40. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society and served on the council in 1838-9. In 1836-7 he served on a sub-committee of the British Association to inquire into the motions of the heart, and in 1839-40 was Examiner for the University of London. In 1844 he was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.Todd's abiding interests were in physiological medicine (a field then in its infancy) and in the improvement of hospital nursing, and always held to a high standard of general and religious knowledge. He became a Professor at King's College in 1836 and was prominent in the opening of King's College Hospital in 1840, and in the founding of its new building in 1851. It was largely through his advocacy that the Sisters of St. John's commenced nursing at King's College Hospital.

Todd's increasing practice forced him to resign his professorship in 1853, and in the final years of his life his practive grew enormously. In failing health, he was finally forced to give up his clinical lectures at the hospital that he had helped found.

Robert Bentley Todd died in his consulting room, at his house in London, on 30 January of 1860. He left a widow, Elizabeth (c.1814-1894), daughter of the late J. H. Hart, of Tenerife, and four children, Elizabeth Marion (b.1841), Alice Margaret (b.1843), Bertha Jane(b.1846) and James Henthorn (1848-1891). A statue of Todd was erected in the great hall of King's College Hospital.

Legacy

Todd was a popular lecturer, and was noted for his accuracy in the observation of disease, correctness of diagnosis, and clarity and exactness in expressing his views. He was the first to lay down definite principles for the treatment of serious cases of fever. In his Lumleian lectures he discussed the nature and treatment of various forms of delirium, and showed the significant role that exhaustion played in patient deterioration, and how bleeding and lowering remedies contributed to deterioration, while supporting treatment was followed by relief.

Todd was a prolific contributor to medical publications, including "The Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology". He immediately integrated newly available technology, particularly the microscope, into the study and practice of medicine, and was a driving force in raising the standards of medical knowledge.

Partial bibliography

Among Todd's publications were
* "The Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology" (1835 – 1859, with other notables)
* "Gulstonian Lectures on the Physiology of the Stomach" (1839)
* "Physiological Anatomy and Physiology of Man" (1843 – 56, with W. Bowman) — this was among the first works in which histology played an important role
* "Practical Remarks on Gout, Rheumatic Fever, and Chronic Rheumatism of the Joints" (1843)
* "Description and Physiological Anatomy of the Brain, Spinal Cord, and Ganglions" (1845)
* "Lumleian Lectures on the Pathology and Treatment of Delirium and Coma" (1850)
* "Clinical Lectures" (1854 – 7 – 9, in three volumes)
* Contributions to the "Transactions" of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society from 1833 through 1859 ('chirurgical' is a now-obsolete term meaning 'surgical')
* Ten articles to the "Cyclopaedia of Medicine" from 1833 to 1835, including discussions of paralysis, pseudo-morbid appearances, suppuration, and diseases of the spinal marrow

References

*Citation
date=1898
editor-last=Stephen
editor-first=Leslie
editor-link=Leslie Stephen
editor2-last=Lee
editor2-first=Sidney
editor2-link=
contribution=Todd, Robert Bentley
title=Dictionary of National Biography: Teach — Tollet
volume=LVI
edition=
publisher=The MacMillan Company
publication-date=1898
publication-place=New York
pages=432-34
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ECgJAAAAIAAJ
access-date=2008-08-10

Citations

*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=McIntyre
first=Neil
authorlink=
year=2008|month=Feb.

title=Robert Bentley Todd (1809-60)
journal=Journal of medical biography
volume=16
issue=1
pages=2
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 18463057
doi = 10.1258/jmb.2005.005068
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Reynolds
first=E H
authorlink=
year=2005|month=Dec.

title=Vis attractiva and vis nervosa
journal=J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr.
volume=76
issue=12
pages=1711-2
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 16291899
doi = 10.1136/jnnp.2005.073858
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Todd
first=Robert Bentley
authorlink=
year=2005|month=Jul.

title=The Lumleian Lectures for 1849. On the pathology and treatment of convulsive diseases
journal=Epilepsia
volume=46
issue=7
pages=995-1009
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 16026551| pmid = 16026550
doi = 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2005.10205.x
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Reynolds
first=Edward H
authorlink=
year=2005|month=Jul.

title=Robert Bentley Todd's electrical theory of epilepsy
journal=Epilepsia
volume=46
issue=7
pages=991-4
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 16026550| pmid = 16026551
doi = 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2005.11205.x
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Reynolds
first=Edward H
authorlink=
year=2004|month=Sep.

title=Todd, Faraday, and the electrical basis of brain activity
journal=Lancet neurology
volume=3
issue=9
pages=557-63
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 15324724
doi = 10.1016/S1474-4422(04)00842-7
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Reynolds
first=Edward H
authorlink=
year=2004|month=Aug.

title=Todd, Faraday, and the electrical basis of epilepsy
journal=Epilepsia
volume=45
issue=8
pages=985-92
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 15270768
doi = 10.1111/j.0013-9580.2004.12004.x
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Binder
first=Devin K
authorlink=
year=2004|month=Feb.

title=A history of Todd and his paralysis
journal=Neurosurgery
volume=54
issue=2
pages=480-6; discussion 486-7
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 14744294
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Lyons
first=J B
authorlink=
year=1998|month=Apr.

title=Some contributions of Robert Bentley Todd
journal=Journal of the history of the neurosciences
volume=7
issue=1
pages=11-26
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 11620236
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Reynolds
first=E
authorlink=
year=2001|month=Aug.

title=Todd, Hughlings Jackson, and the electrical basis of epilepsy
journal=Lancet
volume=358
issue=9281
pages=575-7
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 11520547
doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05710-5
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Pearce
first=J M
authorlink=
year=1994|month=Mar.
title=Robert Bentley Todd (1809-60) and locomotor ataxia
journal=J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr.
volume=57
issue=3
pages=359
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 8158187
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Pearce
first=J M
authorlink=
year=1994|month=Mar.
title=Robert Bentley Todd (1809-60) and Todd's paralysis
journal=J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr.
volume=57
issue=3
pages=315
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 8158178
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Helmstadter
first=C
authorlink=
year=1993|month=.
title=Robert Bentley Todd, Saint John's House, and the origins of the modern trained nurse
journal=Bulletin of the history of medicine
volume=67
issue=2
pages=282-319
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 8329858
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =
*cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Goldblatt
first=D
authorlink=
year=1986|month=Sep.
title=The great names of our profession. Robert Bentley Todd (1809-1860)
journal=Seminars in neurology
volume=6
issue=3
pages=332-5
publisher = | location = | issn =
pmid = 3332438
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote =

External links

* Todd, Robert Bentley, [http://vlp.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/concepts/browse?source=Todd The Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology] (1836 - 1852) as fullscan from the original or from [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wjoAAAAAQAAJ Google Books Search] (1859).
* cite book
last= Todd
first= Robert Bentley
coauthors=
title= On the Structure of the Mucous Membrane of the Stomach.
origyear=
edition=
url=
accessdate=
date=
year= 1839
publisher= Wilson & Ogilvy
location= London
* cite book
last= Todd
first= Robert Bentley
coauthors=
title= Vorlesungen über Gicht und Rheumatismus
origyear=
edition=
language = German
url=
accessdate=
date=
year= 1844
publisher= Kollmann
location=
* cite book
last= Todd
first= Robert Bentley
coauthors=
title= The descriptive and physiological anatomy of the brain, spinal cord and ganglions, and of their coverings
origyear=
edition=
url= http://books.google.com.au/books?id=dhYEAAAAQAAJ
accessdate=2008-08-03
date=
year= 1845
publisher= Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper
location= London

* cite book
last= Todd
first= Robert Bentley
coauthors=
title= Clinical Lectures on Paralysis, Certain Diseases of the Brain, and Other Diseases of the Brain
origyear=
edition= second
url= http://books.google.com.au/books?id=sw-RMOsaKScC
accessdate=2008-08-03
date=
year= 1856
publisher= John Churchill
location= London available for full download

* cite book
last= Todd
first= Robert Bentley
coauthors= Bowman, William
title= The Physiological Anatomy and Physiology of Man
origyear=
url= http://books.google.com.au/books?id=rfglMUpvO2oC
accessdate=2008-08-03
date=
year= 1857
publisher= Blanchard and Lea
location= Philadelphia available for full download

* cite book
last= Todd
first= Robert Bentley
coauthors=
title= Clinical Lectures on Certain Diseases of the Urinary Organs: And on Dropsies
origyear=
edition=
url= http://books.google.com.au/books?id=i5_-h8K4DZoC
accessdate=2008-08-03
date=
year= 1857
publisher= Blanchard and Lea
location= Philadelphia available for full download

* cite book
last= Todd
first= Robert Bentley
coauthors=
title= Clinical Lectures on Certain Acute Diseases
origyear=
edition=
url= http://books.google.com.au/books?id=GXepL3_qMs4C
accessdate=2008-08-03
date=
year= 1860
publisher= Blanchard and Lea
location= Philadelphia available for full download

Persondata
NAME = Todd, Robert Bentley
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = physician
DATE OF BIRTH = 1809
PLACE OF BIRTH = Dublin, Ireland
DATE OF DEATH = 1860
PLACE OF DEATH = London, England