John Langdon Down
John Langdon Down (18 November 1828 – 7 October 1896) was a British physician best known for his description of a condition now known as Down syndrome, which he originally classified in 1862.
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
John Langdon Down was born in Torpoint, Cornwall in 1828. His father was a merchant. He was the third of six children in his family. He attended local schools and later the Devonport Classical and Mathematical School. His original career choice was to enter the church, but at the age of 18, he decided to study medicine.
Career[edit | edit source]
In 1858, Down was appointed medical superintendent of the Earlswood Asylum for Idiots in Redhill, Surrey, where he worked for ten years. During this time, he undertook research into the condition that would later be named after him. He published his observations in a series of lectures and papers, the most famous of which was "Observations on an Ethnic Classification of Idiots" (1866).
In 1868, Down left Earlswood to establish his own private home for the mentally disabled, which he called Normansfield. He ran this institution with his wife, Mary, until his death in 1896.
Down syndrome[edit | edit source]
Down is best known for his description of the condition that is now known as Down syndrome, which he originally classified in 1862. He was the first person to categorise the condition as a distinct form of mental disability. His work in this area was groundbreaking and has had a lasting impact on the field of medicine.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Down's work has had a significant impact on the field of medicine and the understanding of mental disabilities. His description of Down syndrome has led to improved treatment and understanding of the condition. His work at Normansfield also set a precedent for the care and treatment of those with mental disabilities.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
John Langdon Down Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD