Samuel Wilks (1824-1911): neurologist and generalist of the Mid-Victorian Era

Abstract

Sir Samuel Wilks, sometime Physician to Guy's Hospital and President of the Royal College of Physicians (1896-99), was regarded as the leading British scientific physician of his day. His contributions to gastroenterology, cardiology and clinical science in general have been emphasized in recent times. He also recognized that syphilis affected the internal organs as well as the skin. In 1866 he realised that epileptogenesis occurred in the cerebral cortex: independently of Sir Charles Locock (1799-1875), he discovered the antiepileptic properties of potassium bromide. He provided possibly the first account of alcoholic peripheral neuritis and published an early account of probable myasthenia gravis.