Frederick Batten (1865-1918): father of paediatric neurology

Abstract

Frederick Batten made many major contributions to neurology and rehabilitation. He was one of a group of eminent physicians at Queen Square in the Edwardian period and devoted his energies to paediatric neurology. Amongst many published works his papers on familial ‘Cerebral degeneration with symmetrical changes in the maculae’ (Batten’s disease), subacute combined degeneration of the cord, and dystrophia myotonica are highlighted and summarised.