The Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons under the Medical Act : the introductory address at Surgeons' Hall, session 1861-62 / by John Struthers.

  • John Struthers
Date:
1861
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons under the Medical Act : the introductory address at Surgeons' Hall, session 1861-62 / by John Struthers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    after much research among its reco]-ds.* Tliere are not many in- stitutions whose history goes back over the long reach of three centuries and a half, and we need not seek further for the expla- nation of a history so interesting and so creditable, than the open constitution of the College. No close body could have ex- isted for nearly so long a time without the page of its history being covered with many blots. I may be allowed to add that we read the Historical Sketch by Dr Gairdner, to which I have referred, with the more interest, as it is from the pen of one than whom no one has done more to promote in the College the interests of the profession, and to secure that freedom of teaching to which the Edinburgh school owes so much. THE EOYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS. The Royal College of Physicians was founded by Royal Char- ter in 1681. Earlier efforts to incorporate the physicians in a College had been unsuccessful in consequence of the endeavour to include power to license in Surgery as well as in Medicine. We find the College immediately commencing action in various important matters. The preparation of a Pharmacopeia engaged its first attention, the origin of what has since been known in successive editions as the Edinburgh Pharmacopeia. In connec- tion with this it may be mentioned that the College has also formed a valuable Museum of Materia Medica. The formation of a Medical Library was also commenced, and this has been maintained, by constant additions down to the present day of new and old works in every department and in all languages, at a very high standard of completeness. The historian of the Collegef informs us, with just pride, that, at the second meeting of the College, the subject of the care of the sick poor engaged its * Historical Sketch of the Eoyal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; with Notes and Documents. By John Gairdner, M.D., Fellow and for- merly President of the College. 1860. t Address delivered at the Opening of the New Hall of the Royal College of^Physicians, November 1846. By William Beilby, M.D., President.