Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smith, John (1630-1679)
SMITH, JOHN (1630–1679), physician, was born in Buckinghamshire in 1630. He entered Brasenose College, Oxford, on 7 Aug. 1647, and graduated B.A. in 1651, M.A. in 1653, and M.D. on 9 July 1652. He was admitted a candidate of the College of Physicians on 22 Dec. 1659, and a fellow on 2 April 1672. He died at his house in Great St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, in the winter of 1679, and was buried in the parish church.
He was the author of ‘Γηροκομία Βασιλικὴ: King Solomon's Portraiture of Old Age. Wherein is contained a Sacred Anatomy both of Soul and Body. And a Perfect Account of the Infirmities of Age, incident to them both. Printed by J. Hayes for S. Thomson, at the Sign of the Bishop's Head in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1666.’ A second edition appeared in 1676, and a third in 1752. The book consists of a commentary on Ecclesiastes xii. 1–6, and seeks to show that Solomon was acquainted with the circulation of the blood. The author has been doubtfully identified with John Smith, doctor in physic, author of ‘A Compleat Practice of Physick. Wherein is plainly described the Nature, Causes, Differences, and Signs of all Diseases in the Body of Man. With the choicest Cures for the same,’ London, 1656.
[Munk's Roll of the Royal Coll. of Physicians, i. 366; Wood's Athenæ Oxon., ed. Bliss, iii. 1200; Foster's Alumni Oxon., 1500–1714.]