Foot was born at Charlton, Wiltshire in 1744. He received a medical education in London, becoming a member of the Surgeons' Company, and about 1766 went to the West Indies, where he practised for three years in the island of Nevis, returning in 1769. After this he went to St. Petersburg, where he became a practitioner of the College of St. Petersburg, as he afterwards described himself. Returning to England, Foot was appointed house-surgeon to the Middlesex Hospital, and on the conclusion of his term of office began practice in London, in Salisbury Street, Strand, later moving to Dean Street, Soho. He died at Ilfracombe on 27 October 1826.
‘A Critical Inquiry into the Ancient and Modern Manner of Treating Diseases of the Urethra, and an Improved Method of Cure,’ London, 1774; 6th edit. 1811.
‘Observations on the New Opinions of John Hunter in his Treatise on the Venereal Disease,’ in three parts, 1786–7.
‘An Essay on the Bite of a Mad Dog, with Observations on John Hunter's Treatment of the Case of Master R—— , and also a Recital of the Successful Treatment of Two Cases,’ 1788; 2nd edit. 1791.
‘A New Discovered Fact of a relative nature in the Venereal Poison,’ 1790.
‘A Defence of the Planters in the West Indies, comprised in Four Arguments,’ &c., 1792.
‘A Complete Treatise on the Origin, Theory, and Cure of the Lues Venerea and Obstruction in the Urethra, illustrated by a great variety of Cases, being a course of twenty-three lectures read inDean Street, Soho, 1790 and 1791;’ 1792; new edit., 1820; German translation, Leipzig, 1793–4.
‘A Plan for Preventing the Fatal Effects of the Bite of a Mad Dog, with Cases,’ 1792.
‘Life of John Hunter,’ 1794; 2nd edit. 1797.
‘Dialogues between a Pupil of the late John Hunter and Jesse Foot, including passages in Darwin's “Zoonomia,”’ 1795.
‘Cases of the Successful Practice of the Vesicæ Lotura in the Cure of Diseased Bladders,’ pt. i. 1798, pt. ii. 1803.
‘Observations principally upon the Speech of Mr. Wilberforce on his Motion in the House of Commons, 30 May 1804, for the Abolition of the Slave Trade,’ 1805.
‘Important Researches upon the Existence, Nature, and Consummation of Venereal Infection in Pregnant Women, New-born Infants, and Nurses, by the late P. S. O. Mahon, contrasted with the Opinions of the late John Hunter upon the subject,’ 1808.
‘The Lives of Andrew Robinson Bowes, Esq., and the Countess of Strathmore, written from thirty-three years' professional attendance, from Letters and other well-authenticated Documents,’ 1810.
‘Life of Arthur Murphy, Esq.,’1811.
‘Review of Everard Home's Observations on the Diseases of the Prostate Gland,’ 1812.
‘Facts relative to the Prevention of Hydrophobia,’ in ‘Medical Facts and Observations,’ iii. 33.
See also for minor contributions Index to the London Medical and Physical Journal, vols. i–xl., 1820.
Family
Jesse Foot, surgeon, was the nephew of the preceding. He practised for many years as a surgeon at Clarendon, Jamaica, returned home about 1819, and lived with his uncle in Dean Street, Soho, for two years, marrying Miss Foot on 4 September 1819. He succeeded to his uncle's practice, and in 1826 brought out a new edition of his work on the urethra, which is described as the eighth edition. He became surgeon to the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital. He published Ophthalmic Memoranda, 1838, and wrote papers in The Lancet and the London Medical and Surgical Journal, enumerated in Amédée Dechambre, Dictionnaire encyclopédique des sciences médicales. In 1834 he published The Medical Pocket-book for 1835. Foot died at Ilfracombe, aged 70, on 5 January 1850.
