J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002;73:303 303 J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry: first published as 10.1136/jnnp.73.3.303 on 1 September 2002. Downloaded from HISTORICAL NOTE........................................................................................... Thomas Laycock (1812–1876) mong medical historians, Thomas diseases.6 The concept probably anticipates containing one volume on philosophy, one on Laycock1 is best known for his deter- modern ideas of biological clocks and diurnal physiology. mining influence on the young Hugh- rhythms. He wrote articles on hysteria and on A 7 JMS Pearce lings Jackson. Laycock’s interests were the reflex function of the brain, and systemic 23 8 304 Beverley Road, Anlaby, Hull HU10 7BG; nervous system and psychology. disorders. [email protected] Thomas Laycock was the son of a Wesleyan Following Robert Whytt, and Marshall Hall, minister. In Bedale, a pretty Yorkshire village Laycock emphasised that the nervous system References just one mile off the Great North road (A1), he must be seen as one continuous series of 1 MacLeod K. [Thomas] Laycock. Glasgow: trained as an apprentice surgeon-apothecary. structures obeying one law, that of the Macdougall, 1908. He attended the University College, London, reflex.9 2 Pitman J. Thomas Laycock. Proc R Coll Physicians Edinb 1992;22:384–9. furthering his training in Paris for two years, He extended the studies of Johann August 3 Anon. Thomas Laycock (1812–1876). Mental under Alfred Armand Velpeau (1795–1867) Unzer (1727–1799) and Jirí Procháska (1749– physiologist, medical psychologist. JAMA and the pathologist, Pierre Louis (1787–1872) 1820), which he translated.10 Unzer’s book 1968;205:301–2 an initiator of statistics. In Göttingen, he Erste Gründe einer Physiologie der eigentlichen 4 Laycock T, Bucknill JC. A Manual of received his doctorate degree, summa cum thierischen Natur thierischer Körper was a system Psychological Medicine, 1858. laude. He returned to the York County Hospi- of physiological metaphysics introducing re- 5 Laycock T. Evidence and arguments in proof of the existence of a general law of periodicity tal, receiving preferment as lecturer at York flex action, afferent or “external sensory in the phenomena of life. Lancet 1842–3; Medical School and physician to the York Dis- impression” and efferent or “internal impres- i:124–9; 160–4; On the influence of the pensary. sion” paths, but wrongly localised the central moon on the atmosphere of the earth, and on In 1852 Laycock encountered Hughlings part of the reflex. Procháska termed the the pathological influence of the seasons. Jackson, a new student; he also taught central mechanism of the reflex the sensorium Lancet 1842–3;ii:438–44; On some of the Jonathan Hutchinson whom Jackson was to commune lying in the spinal root ganglia and causes which determine the minor periods of vital movements. Lancet 1842–3;i:929–33. meet in 1859 and share a house with at 14 peripheral plexuses. Lavie P 7 6 . Two 19th-century chronobiologists: Finsbury Circus, London for three years. Laycock stated : Thomas Laycock and Edward Smith. Chronobiol Hutchinson was to become surgeon to the Int 1992;9:83–96; discussion 97–101. London Hospital (1863), President of the “The brain, although the organ of 7 Laycock T. On the reflex functions of the brain. British and Foreign Medical Review Royal College of Surgeons (1889), and FRS consciousness, was subject to the laws (1881). In 1848 he wrote: 1845;xix:298–311. of reflex action and in this respect it did 8 Laycock T. A treatise on the nervous diseases of women. London: Longman, 1840. “Dr Laycock: a real treat to listen not differ from other ganglia of the nervous system.” 9 Amacher MP. Thomas Laycock, I M to—some good observations against Sechenov, and the reflex arc concept. Bull Hist copyright. materialism.” Med 1963;xxxviii:168–83. He concluded that the entire nervous 10 Laycock T. Trans and ed. The principles of He later acknowledged, that Dr Laycock had system was the seat of reflex function in physiology, by John Augustus Unzer; and a taught him about heredity. which the mind played no part.11 This revolu- dissertation on the functions of the nervous system, by George Procháska. London: Printed Laycock taught in York from 1846 and tionary idea was later supported by the for the Sydenham society, 1851. worked with Daniel Hack Tuke who had stud- experiments of Sechenov and were the foun- 11 Clarke E, O’Malley CD. The human brain ied treatment in psychiatric disorders. He dation for the work of Pavlov, Ferrier, and and spinal cord: a historical study. 2nd edn. published an acclaimed and lasting Manual of Sherrington. Laycock’s role in such a funda- San Francisco: Norman, 1996:361–3. Psychological Medicine in 1858.4 Tuke took the mental aspect of the history of the study of 12 Laycock T. Further researches into the young Jackson to visit his mentally ill patients mind and brain has perhaps been neglected.12 functions of the brain. British and Foreign at The Retreat. Laycock’s studies led to papers In 1855, Laycock became Professor of Medi- Medical Chirurgical Review 1855;xvi:155–87. 5 13 13 Barfoot M. To ask the suffrages of the on periodic illness (proleptics), in the Lancet, cine in Edinburgh. There he met David patrons: Thomas Laycock and the Edinburgh since he considered an understanding of Ferrier and orientated him towards neurology. Chair of Medicine, 1855. Med Hist Suppl periodicities essential for the treatment of Laycock published Mind and Brain in 1860, 1995;15:i–xv; 1–226. http://jnnp.bmj.com/ on September 30, 2021 by guest. Protected www.jnnp.com.