Thomas Sydenham. Portrait of Thomas Sydenham (1624-89), English physician and epidemiologist. Sydenham was the first to describe measles, scarlet fever and Sydenham's chorea. He pioneered the use of quinine to treat malaria, iron compounds to treat anaemia and opium to provide pain relief. His reputation as the 'English Hippocrates' is based upon his belief that careful observations of symptoms and patients are more useful than acting on abstract speculations. He stated that I have consulted my patient's safety and my own reputation most effectually by doing nothing at all". In 1676 he published the result of his studies in the book Observationes medicae."