Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Blundell, James

by no contributor recorded

BLUNDELL, JAMES (1790–1877), physician, was born in London on 27 Dec. 1790. He was educated by the Rev. T. Thomason, and studied at the United Borough Hospitals under his uncle Dr. Haighton, a well-known physiologist. He graduated as M.D. at Edinburgh on 24 June 1813. In 1814 he began to lecture at London, in conjunction with his uncle, on midwifery, and soon afterwards began a course on physiology. He succeeded Haighton as lecturer at Guy's Hospital, and for many years had the largest class on midwifery in London. He ceased to lecture in 1836. He made a large fortune, leaving 350,000l. He was admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians in 1818 and fellow on 6 Aug. 1838. He was author of 'Researches, Physiological and Pathological, instituted principally with a View to the Improvement of Medical and Surgical Practice' (1825). Dr. Munk says that this work shows great original research and prepared the way for many improvements in abdominal surgery. He also published 'Principles and Practice of Obstetricy, with Notes' (1834), and 'Observations on some of the more important Diseases of Women' (1837). Both of these were edited by Dr. Castle.

[Monk's Roll, i. vii, iii. 180.]