Synopsis of the contents of the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

  • Royal College of Surgeons of England
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Synopsis of the contents of the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    The Hunterian Collection, which forms the basis, and still a large proportion, of the contents of the present Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, was originally arranged in a building which its Founder, John Hunter, erected for it in 1785, behind his house in Leicester Square. In 1787 he had completed its arrangement, the principle of which is still adhered to; and the Museum was opened for inspection during the month of October to the Medical Pro- fession, and in May to non-professional Patrons, Cultivators, or Lovers of Physiology and Natural History. John Hunter died October 16th, 1793, aged 64. By his will he directed his Museum to be offered in the first instance to the British Government, on such terms as might be con- sidered reasonable, and in case of refusal, to be sold in one lot, either to some Foreign state, or as his Executors might think proper. In the‘year 1799 Parliament voted the sum of £15,000 for the Museum, and an offer of it being made to the Corporation of Surgeons, it was accepted on the terms proposed by Government*. * The following are the Terms and Conditions on which the Hunterian Collection, purchased by Parliament, was delivered to the late Corporation of Surgeons; which Corporation having become dissolved, the Members thereof were re-incorporated by Charter, dated the 22nd day of March, 1800, under the title of The Royal College of Surgeons in London:— 1st. The Collection shall be open Four Homs in the Forenoon of two days every Week for Inspection and Consultation of the Fellows of the College of Physicians, the’ Members of the Company of Surgeons, and persons properly introduced by them; a Catalogue of the Preparations, and a proper Person to explain it, being at those times always in the Room. 2nd. That one Course of Lectures, not less than twenty-four in number, on Comparative Anatomy and other subjects, illustrated by the Prepara- tions, shall be given every year by some Member of the Company. 3rd. That the Preparations shall be kept in a state of Preservation, and the Collection in as. perfect a state as possible, at the Expense of the Cor- poration of Surgeons, subject to the annual Inspection and Superintendence of the Trustees. 4th. That there shall be a Board of Trustees, to consist of sixteen [in- creased to seventeen by the Lords of the Treasury in 1856] Members, by