What did William Withering discover?

What did William Withering discover?

Withering was born in Wellington, Shropshire, the son of a surgeon. He trained as a physician and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School….William Withering.

William Withering FRS
Citizenship Great Britain
Known for Discovery of digitalis
Scientific career
Fields Botanist, geologist, chemist, physician

What is Digitalis used for?

Digitalis is used to treat congestive heart failure (CHF) and heart rhythm problems (atrial arrhythmias). Digitalis can increase blood flow throughout your body and reduce swelling in your hands and ankles.

Why is it called foxglove?

The foxglove gets its name from the old Anglo-Saxon word “foxes-glew,” which means “fox music.” This is apparently because the flowers resemble an ancient hanging bell of the same name.

What is digitalis vs digoxin?

Digoxin also slows electrical conduction between the atria and the ventricles of the heart and is useful in treating abnormally rapid atrial rhythms. Digitalis is a cardiac glycoside used to treat certain heart conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and heart rhythm problems (atrial arrhythmias).

What is digitalis in pharmacology?

General Pharmacology. Cardiac glycosides represent a family of compounds that are derived from the foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea). The therapeutic benefits of digitalis were first described by William Withering in 1785. Initially, digitalis was used to treat dropsy, which is an old term for edema.

Is digoxin same as Digitalis?

Digoxin belongs to the class of medicines called digitalis glycosides. It is used to improve the strength and efficiency of the heart, or to control the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. This leads to better blood circulation and reduced swelling of the hands and ankles in patients with heart problems.

What is William Withering best known for?

William Withering, (born March 17, 1741, Wellington, Shropshire, Eng.—died Oct. 6, 1799, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, Warwickshire), English physician best known for his use of extracts of foxglove ( Digitalis purpurea) to treat dropsy ( edema ), a condition associated with heart failure and characterized by the accumulation of fluid in soft tissues.

What did William Withering write about the foxglove?

Withering W: An Account of the Foxglove and Some of Its Medical Uses: With Practical Remarks on Dropsy and Other Diseases. Birmingham, U.K., M. Sweeny 1785; So began William Withering’s description of his clinical experience with the purple foxglove, which was published 200 years ago.

What was the purpose of the work of John withering?

Withering’s later work, An Arrangement of British Plants (1787–92), was designed to show amateur botanists, many of whom were young women, the utility of the Linnaean classification system. In addition, this work introduced his specially designed field microscope, which subsequently became known as the Withering botanical microscope.

What happened to Charles withering after his marriage?

From all of this intense mutual study of flowers a budding romance blossomed, and in 1772, Cooke married Withering. After his marriage, Withering found himself spending much time collecting the rich flora of the Stafford area for systematic classification and study.