George Black (physician)
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George Black | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1854 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 5 May 1913 (aged 58–59) Torquay, England |
| Occupations | Physician, writer |
George Black (1854 – 5 May 1913) was a Scottish physician who operated a vegetarian hotel in Belstone called Dartmoor House.
Black was born in Edinburgh where he obtained his M.B. He was Medical Officer of Health to the Keswick Urban Council.[1] He worked as a medical doctor at Greta Bank on Greenway Road in Chelston, Torquay.[2] He became a vegetarian in 1896 for humanitarian reasons and was Vice-President of the Devon branch of the Vegetarian Society.[3][4] In 1899, he purchased Dartmoor House in Belstone and converted it into a vegetarian hotel for his patients. The Vegetarian Society's annual picnic was held at the grounds of the house.[4] The vegetarian cook at the hotel was Isabel Densham. In 1908, Black authored A Manual of Vegetarian Cookery featuring Densham's recipes.[5]
Black was an anti-vivisectionist.[3] He was a member of the British Homoeopathic Society and contributed articles to homeopathic journals. He was a supporter of the Order of the Golden Age.[6]
Black authored popular medical books which went through many editions.[7] He was the editor of Household Medicine which is notable for prescribing the correct amount of hours one should sleep, depending on age and physical health.[8] In 1899, he authored Viscum Album: The Common Mistletoe which documented its natural history and scientific uses in the treatment of disease.[1]
Black was a speaker at the Vegetarian Society's May conference in Bristol in 1909.[9] He died in Torquay on 5 May 1913.
