William Gowers

1. William Gowers Digre, Corbett

2. Jackson's contemporary, the British neurologist, William Gowers in 1879 in his Medical Ophthalmoscopy lead physicians to realize the importance of systematically viewing the optic disc and retina to diagnose medical and neurological conditions. His opening sentence to his book, Medical Ophthalmoscopy, reflects his sentiments: "The ophthalmoscope is of use to the physician because it gives information, often not otherwise obtainable, regarding the existence or nature of disease elsewhere than in the eye."Sir William R. Gowers (1845-1915) was a great clinical neurologist. Born to a poor family in London, he attended Christ Church College School in Oxford and thereafter became apprenticed to a country practioner. After studying medicine at University Hospital College in London, he became a resident (medical registrar) at the National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic, Queen Square (the hospital to become famous for neurology and neurologists). His first book, "A Manual and Atlas of Medical Ophthalmoscopy," was published in 1879. Thereafter, he published numerous books and papers, encouraged women in medicine, and was elected to many honorary societies including the American Neurological Association. Photograph courtesy ofNational Library of Medicine