Percivall Pott (1714-1788), British surgeon. In 1745 Pott became assistant-surgeon and in 1749 full surgeon at St Bartholomew's hospital, London. During his time there Pott found an association between exposure to soot and a high incidence of scrotal skin cancer in chimney sweeps. This was the first occupational link to cancer and the first demonstration of cancer being caused by an environmental agent. This cancer is now known as Pott's or chimney sweep cancer. A number of other diseases and injuries have been named after Pott. These include Pott's fracture, a compound fracture just above the ankle and Pott's disease, tuberculosis of the spine.