author
Charles West
1816–1898
A pioneering British doctor, he helped change how children were treated in medicine and founded the hospital that became Great Ormond Street Hospital. His work made childhood illness a serious subject of study at a time when it was often overlooked.
1 Audiobook
The Mother's Manual of Children's Diseases
by Charles West
About the author
Born in London in 1816, he trained in medicine in London, Paris, and Berlin before building a career as a physician with a special interest in the diseases of women and children. He became one of the earliest important voices in pediatrics in Britain and was known for careful clinical observation as well as practical reform.
He is best remembered as the founder of the Hospital for Sick Children in Great Ormond Street, opened in 1852, the first hospital in Britain created specifically for children. He also wrote influential medical books and lectures, including Lectures on the Diseases of Infancy and Childhood, which helped establish the study of children's illnesses as its own field.
Later in life he continued to be recognized by leading medical institutions, including the Royal College of Physicians. He died in 1898, leaving a lasting mark on child health care in Britain.