Background

John Call Dalton was born on February 2, 1825 in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of Dr. John Call Dalton and Julia Ann (Spalding), the former a representative of a notable medical ancestry, he was apparently predestined for the medical profession.

Education

Graduating from Harvard College in 1844 and from the Harvard Medical School in 1847, Dalton went to Paris where he came under the influence of the renowned physiologist, Claude Bernard, and was at once impressed with the great value of experimental work in medicine, particularly in physiology.

From 1851 to 1854 he was professor of physiology at the University of Buffalo; 1854-56 at the University of Vermont; 1855-83 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.

Career

Dalton put aside all thought of medical practise, and began his work as a teacher, opening a new era in the teaching of physiology in America.

Before his time the didactic lecture and the textbook were the sole methods of instruction; he introduced the experimental method, illustrating the processes of life with living animals, which the action of ether, just then discovered, made it possible to do without pain.

From 1851 to 1854 he was professor of physiology at the University of Buffalo; 1854-56 at the University of Vermont; 1855-83 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.

From 1859 to 1861 he was also connected with the Long Island College Hospital.

During the period of the Civil War he served as surgeon in the medical corps of the volunteer army, with the rank of brigadier-general.

Such work, however, was not congenial to him; he was better fitted for the experimentation of the laboratory, where, with his logical mind and skilful manipulation, he made clear the functioning of the vital mechanisms of the body.

His writings were notable because what he wrote was based largely upon what he had actually seen experimentally. They included a Treatise on Human Physiology issued in 1859, which in 1882 had reached the seventh edition; A Treatise on Physiology and Hygiene (1868); Experimentation on Animals as a Means of Knowledge in Physiology, Pathology, and Practical Medicine (1875); The Experimental Method in Medical Science (1882); Doctrines of the Circidation (1884). Especially noteworthy was his morphological work, Topographical Anatomy of the Brain (1885), for which it is said he prepared with his own hands all the specimens, photographs of which made up a large part of the book.

For years he had to fight against interference by individuals and societies of anti-vivisectionists, who with misdirected zeal sought by legislative action to prevent all experimentation upon living animals, but with his firm conviction of the value to humanity of the knowledge to be gained by such methods of experimentation he used all his powers to contest these efforts and to lead the public to a better understanding of the matter.

During the later years of his life he served (1884 - 89) as president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, bringing to that office his great breadth of knowledge and critical judgment, combined with administrative powers of a high order which were freely used for the advancement of the college.

In the last year of his life he wrote down for his family some reminiscences of his Civil War service. These, still uncompleted, were privately printed in 1892 under the title, John Call Dalton, M. D. , U. S. V.

He was a member of many national and European societies and in 1864 was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Achievements

• Dalton was the first physician in the United States to devote his life to the pursuit of experimental physiology and the sciences related thereto. His most important physiological research was on the subject, “Sugar Formation in the Liver”; it confirmed the results and views of Claude Bernard which had been discredited by several English physiologists.

Works

More photos

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  • John Call Dalton

    (This collection of literature attempts to compile many of...)

  • A Treatise On Physiology and Hygiene: For Schools, Families, and Colleges

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • Galen and Paracelsus - 1873

    (John Call Dalton (February 2, 1825 – February 12, 1889) w...)

  • The Origin and Propagation of Disease

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • Memorial of Edward B. Dalton, M.D.

    (Leopold Classic Library is delighted to publish this clas...)

  • Topographical Anatomy Of The Brain: Horizontal Sections

    ( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

  • History of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of New York :: Medical Department of Columbia College /

    (Originally published in 1916. This volume from the Cornel...)

  • Doctrines of the circulation;: a history of physiological opinion and discovery, in regard to the circulation of the blood.

    (Originally published in 1907. This volume from the Cornel...)

  • The experimental method in medical science.Second course of the Cartwright lictures of the Alumni association, College of physicians and surgeons, New ... January 24, January 31, and February 7, 1882.

    (Originally published in 1911. This volume from the Cornel...)

  • Cerebral anatomy, with special reference to the form of the corpus striatum

Personality

Dalton lived a simple, unpretentious life, a bachelor, a quiet scholar, devoted to his studies; a deep thinker whose greatest happiness was found in his study and in the laboratory.

He dedicated his entire life to his profession. Psycology was a real passion for him and it was occupying him mind until the end of his life.

Connections

Dalton died unmarried.