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Perfect published a series of oft-reprinted medical books on insanity.<ref name=wperfectep/> From 1778 to 1809 he published a series of psychiatric case reports in several editions, originally entitled ''Methods of Cure in Some Particular Cases of Insanity'', later ''Select Cases in the Different Species of Insanity'', and finally ''Annals of Insanity''.<ref>Black, 61.</ref> In the edition in 1809, Perfect wrote that he was presenting the results of his practice and observations. In advertising the 2nd edition, he offered a revised, corrected, and enlarged book. Cases of mania and depression were described in detail as well as cases of alcoholism, and attempted and successful suicides. The treatments prescribed to patients were recorded in detail, including the medications prescribed by the physician. Electricity was used with good results in some cases. He was convinced of the role of heredity, and recognized the involvement of the brain, its vessels, and its membranes. In a case report, he noted how “gentle treatment contributed much to the case and should always be adopted in preference to rigorous measures (where possible).... The proper management ... is more to be depended upon than medicine, but when both are judicially and humanely blended, the patient has always the best chance of recovery.” |
Perfect published a series of oft-reprinted medical books on insanity.<ref name=wperfectep/> From 1778 to 1809 he published a series of psychiatric case reports in several editions, originally entitled ''Methods of Cure in Some Particular Cases of Insanity'', later ''Select Cases in the Different Species of Insanity'', and finally ''Annals of Insanity''.<ref>Black, 61.</ref> In the edition in 1809, Perfect wrote that he was presenting the results of his practice and observations. In advertising the 2nd edition, he offered a revised, corrected, and enlarged book. Cases of mania and depression were described in detail as well as cases of alcoholism, and attempted and successful suicides. The treatments prescribed to patients were recorded in detail, including the medications prescribed by the physician. Electricity was used with good results in some cases. He was convinced of the role of heredity, and recognized the involvement of the brain, its vessels, and its membranes. In a case report, he noted how “gentle treatment contributed much to the case and should always be adopted in preference to rigorous measures (where possible).... The proper management ... is more to be depended upon than medicine, but when both are judicially and humanely blended, the patient has always the best chance of recovery.” |
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| − | He published 3 collections of poetry: ''A Bevin of Bays'' in 1763; a 2-volume collection, ''The Laurel-Wreath'', in 1766; and ''Poetic Effusions in 1796.<ref name=wperfectep/> |
+ | He published 3 collections of poetry: ''A Bevin of Bays'' in 1763; a 2-volume collection, ''The Laurel-Wreath'', in 1766; and ''Poetic Effusions'' in 1796.<ref name=wperfectep/> |
In 1795, the Freemasons' magazine published his memoirs. |
In 1795, the Freemasons' magazine published his memoirs. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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;Poems |
;Poems |
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| − | *Pastoral poems: "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/01/january-pastoral-poem.html January]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/02/february-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html February]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/03/march-pastoral-poem-in-habit-of-proteus.html March]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/04/april-pastoral-poem-william-perfect_18.html April]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/05/may-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html May]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/06/june-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html June]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/07/july-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html July]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/08/august-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html August]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/09/september-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html September]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/10/october-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html October]" |
+ | *Pastoral poems: "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/01/january-pastoral-poem.html January]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/02/february-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html February]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/03/march-pastoral-poem-in-habit-of-proteus.html March]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/04/april-pastoral-poem-william-perfect_18.html April]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/05/may-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html May]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/06/june-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html June]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/07/july-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html July]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/08/august-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html August]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/09/september-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html September]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/10/october-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html October]," "[https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2021/11/november-pastoral-poem-william-perfect.html November]" |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190319053110/http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/AuthorRecord.php?&method=GET&recordid=33588 Dr. William Perfect (1737-1809)] info & 47 poems at [[English Poetry, 1579-1830]] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190319053110/http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/AuthorRecord.php?&method=GET&recordid=33588 Dr. William Perfect (1737-1809)] info & 47 poems at [[English Poetry, 1579-1830]] |
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;About |
;About |
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Revision as of 23:09, 27 November 2021
William Perfect (1737-1809). Courtesy University of Cambridge.
Dr. William Perfect (1737 - June 1809) was an English poet and physician.
Life
Youth and education
Perfect was born in Oxford, England,[1] the son of William Perfect (1712-1757), a clergyman of Huguenot extraction who was vicar of East Malling, Kent, from 1745.[2]
The son was educated at the grammar-school at Maidstone.[3]
In 1749, Perfect began an apprenticeship under William Everred, a London surgeon,[4] which lasted 7 years, and attended lectures by Colin MacKenzie, a Scottish obstetrician.[5]
Career
Perfect opened his medical and obstetric practice in High Street, West Malling, Kent in 1756,[6]
In the 1760s, with Humphrey Porter, a doctor at Aylesford, Kent, Perfect conducted an extensive programme of inoculation against smallpox, in Kent and further afield.[7] Also in the 1760s, he began to accommodate mentally ill people in his home, a practice that continued until his death in 1809, when his son George took over until 1815.[8] The West Malling Asylum, which soon after moved to Malling Place, West Malling, continued to function through the 20th century as a principal private mental hospital in the county.
Perfect joined the Freemasons in 1765, following the early death of his 1st wife Elizabeth Shrimpton (1735-1763), and became Provincial Grand Master of Kent from 1795 until his death.[9]
He obtained his Medicinae Doctor (M.D.) from St. Andrews University in 1783.[10] He published 3 editions of his book, Cases in Midwifery, 1781-1787, each edition containing case reports describing in detail the conditions of the patients and the treatments which were administered.
Perfect died in June 1809, and was buried in East Malling churchyard.
Writing
Perfect published a series of oft-reprinted medical books on insanity.[3] From 1778 to 1809 he published a series of psychiatric case reports in several editions, originally entitled Methods of Cure in Some Particular Cases of Insanity, later Select Cases in the Different Species of Insanity, and finally Annals of Insanity.[11] In the edition in 1809, Perfect wrote that he was presenting the results of his practice and observations. In advertising the 2nd edition, he offered a revised, corrected, and enlarged book. Cases of mania and depression were described in detail as well as cases of alcoholism, and attempted and successful suicides. The treatments prescribed to patients were recorded in detail, including the medications prescribed by the physician. Electricity was used with good results in some cases. He was convinced of the role of heredity, and recognized the involvement of the brain, its vessels, and its membranes. In a case report, he noted how “gentle treatment contributed much to the case and should always be adopted in preference to rigorous measures (where possible).... The proper management ... is more to be depended upon than medicine, but when both are judicially and humanely blended, the patient has always the best chance of recovery.”
He published 3 collections of poetry: A Bevin of Bays in 1763; a 2-volume collection, The Laurel-Wreath, in 1766; and Poetic Effusions in 1796.[3]
In 1795, the Freemasons' magazine published his memoirs.
Publications
Poetry
- A Bavin of Bays: Containing various original essays in poetry. Rochester, UK: privately published, 1763.
- The Laurel-wreath: Being a collection of original miscellaneous poems, on subjects moral, comic, and divine. (2 volumes), London: Fletcher & Anderson / Williams et al, 1766.
- Poetic Effusions: Pastoral, moral, amatory, and descriptive. London: A. Paris, for A. Milne, 1796.
Non-fiction
- Methods of Cure, in Some Particular Cases of Insanity: The epilepsy, hypochondriacal affection, hysteric passion, and nervous disorders. Rochester, UK: privately printed by T. Fisher, 1777.
- An Address to the Public: On the matter of insanity. Rochester, UK: privately printed by T. Fisher, [1778?]
- Cases in Midwifery: With references, quotations, and remarks. (2 volumes), Rochester, UK: privately printed by T. Fisher, 1781, 1784. Volume I, Volume II
- Select Cases in the Different Species of Insanity. Rochester, UK: W. Gillman, / J. Murray, London / J. Bew, London, 1787.
- A Remarkable Case of Madness: With the diet and medicines, used in the cure. Rochester, UK: W. Gillman, et al, 1791.
- Annals of Insanity: Comprising a variety of select cases in the different species of insanity, lunacy, or madness. London: privately printed by Chalmers, 1800.
Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy WorldCat.[12]
See also
References
- Shirley Burgoyne Black, An 18th Century Mad-Doctor: William Perfect of West Malling. Otford, Kent, UK: Darenth Valley, 1995.
Notes
- ↑ Parish register, St Cross, Holywell, Oxford
- ↑ Black, 2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dr. William Perfect (1737-1809), English Poetry, 1579-1830, Center for Applied Technologies in the Humanities, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. Web, Sep. 4, 2016.
- ↑ Black, 10.
- ↑ Black, 12.
- ↑ Black, 14.
- ↑ Black, 44.
- ↑ Black, 50ff.
- ↑ Black, 35ff.
- ↑ Black, 64.
- ↑ Black, 61.
- ↑ Search results = au:William Perfect, WorldCat, OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. Web, Sep. 4, 2016.
External links
- Poems
- Pastoral poems: "January," "February," "March," "April," "May," "June," "July," "August," "September," "October," "November"
- Dr. William Perfect (1737-1809) info & 47 poems at English Poetry, 1579-1830
- About
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