Account of the life and works of Maister Peter Lowe : the founder of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow / by James Finlayson.

  • James Finlayson
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Account of the life and works of Maister Peter Lowe : the founder of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow / by James Finlayson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    “ oure and oure dearest spouse chief medicinarie.” (See Fourth provision of Charter.) III. The Charter further gave very complete power for the supervision of the sale of drugs : it is provided “ that na rnanir of personis sell onie droggis within the Citie “ of Glasgow, except the sam be sichtit be the saidis visitouris [Peter Lowe and “ Robert Hamiltone] and be William Spang, apothecar, under the pane of con- “ fiscatioune of the droggis.” (See Fifth provision of the Charter.) IV. Even more strict supervision of the sale of poisons (“ retoun poison, asenick, or sublemate ”) was provided by the Sixth provision of the Charter. V. Medico-legal functions were also imposed by the Charter, for “the saidis “ visitouris sail visit everie hurt, murtherit, poisonit, or onie other persoun tane awa “ extraordinary.” They were to report to the magistrate and so a kind of “ inquest ” was thus founded. (See Second provision of the Charter.) VI. The Charter further imposed on those nominated another public duty, viz. : “ to visite and give counsell to pure disaisit folkis gratis.” (See Seventh provision of Charter.) VII. The “ saidis visitouris ” and “ thair bretherene ” were exempted from serving on assizes, armour bearing, etc. (See Lastly of Charter.) On surveying the scope of this charter from our point of view at the present day we cannot fail to be struck by its comprehensive policy and by its antici- pation of many ideas only recently carried out, as for example, an official supervision and register of degrees, the supervision of druggists, and special care as regards the sale of poisons. The inquiry into murders and accidents seems to combine the functions of an Inquest and of the “ Fiscal ” in a way not yet adequately carried out in Scotland, while the provision for the poor antici- pated, so far, the medical relief of the poor law acts. The Charter founding the Faculty was dated November 29th, 1599, and it was submitted to the magistrates of Glasgow on February 9th, 1600. It was then endorsed by them “ provyding that the same nor na actis that thai sal- “ happinto mak salbe preiudiciall norhurtfull to the commouneweil and liberte “ of the towne.” 9 February, 1600. The provest, bailleis and counsale, viz., Thomas Muir, [and eleven others] present, haveanS inspectioune and advyseand with the priuilegeis and statutes of our Souerane Lordis letter of gift and faculte grantit to maister Petir Low, chyrurgian, maister Robert Hammiltoune, William Spang and thair successouris, professouris of thair artes, touching the liberte of thair artes, grantit