Background
He was born in London on 16 January 1808, and was educated at Street Paul"s School and Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating Bachelor of Arts in January 1831.
He was born in London on 16 January 1808, and was educated at Street Paul"s School and Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating Bachelor of Arts in January 1831.
He studied medicine at Addenbrooke"s Hospital, Cambridge, and Saint George"s Hospital, London, and became Doctor of Medicine
Cambridge in 1837, and fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1838. He lectured on medicine first at his own house, afterwards at the Hunterian School of Medicine and at the Aldersgate Street School. He was successively physician to the London Dispensary, 1839.
The Surrey Dispensary, 1843.
The Farringdon Dispensary, 1844. The Western Dispensary, Westminster.
And the Saint Paul and Saint Barnabas Dispensary, Pimlico, founded in 1848. A great part of Aldis"s life was occupied in the arduous and unremunerated service of these institutions.
Aldis took great interest in the sanitary condition of great towns, and co-operated with eminent sanitary reformers in drawing attention to the subject.
He gave evidence before the Health of Towns Commission, 1844, and by his numerous publications contributed to the improvements which have since been effected. When medical officers of health were appointed under the Metropolis Local Management Acting in 1855, Aldis was elected to that office in the parish of Saint George"s, Hanover Square. He discharged the duties of this office till his death with singular energy and devotion, and set the example of how such work ought to be done.
He became well known also for his zeal in carrying out the provisions of the hops" Regulation Acting as applied to the limitation of hours of work in dressmakers" and similar establishments in London.
This field of work he made specially his own, and to no one man is a larger share of cr due for the amelioration which has been effected of late years in the condition of the poor women employed in such businesses. Aldis also took an active part in the Social Science Association, the Association of Medical Officers of Health, and similar bodies, and was in all ways one of the most energetic of medical sanitary reformers.
He was a man of scholarship and culture. His practical wisdom is shown in a sensible lecture on the power of individuals to resist melancholy, and in other popular lectures.
His life was spent in working and waiting for success which never came.
In 1867 a testimonial of substantial value was presented to him by some well-known men interested in philanthropic and sanitary work. He died suddenly of heart disease on 26 July 1872.
He was an active member of the council of the College of Physicians, and in 1859 was selected to deliver the Harveian Oration (in Latin).