Neil Arnott

1788 - 1874

Inventor, natural philosopher and physician. Arnott was born in Arbroath. He twice travelled to China acting as a surgeon in the service of the East India Company (1807 and 1810). He invented a smokeless and highly-efficient stove called Arnott's Stove and a ventilating chimney-valve. He also invented the water-bed (1832), championing its therapeutic value through improved patient comfort and preventing bed-sores. This was later developed into a water-filled chair intended to prevent sea-sickness.

His publications included a multi-volume Elements of Physics or Natural Philosophy, which proved popular in the 1820s and 30s, and a treatise on heating and ventilation.

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