John Ayrton Paris, FRS (7 August 1785 – 24 December 1856) was a British physician. He is a possible inventor of the thaumatrope, which he published with W. Phillips in April 1825.
Life
Paris made one of the earliest observations of occupational causes of cancer when, in 1822, he recognised that exposure to arsenic fumes might be contributing to the unusually high rate of scrotal skin cancer among men working in copper-smelting in Cornwall and Wales. He also wrote about accidents caused by explosives in mines and gave lectures on chemistry to the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, serving as its first secretary. In 1844, he was elected president of the Royal College of Physicians, an office he held until his death. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in June 1821. Paris advocated for the use of scientifically assessed herbal preparations in medical treatment.
The exact date and location of Paris's birth are uncertain, with some sources listing 7 August 1785, and others noting either Cambridge or Edinburgh as his birthplace, a city with which he had connections.
