Early History of The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Factors that led to the award of the College’s Royal Charter. The definitive history of the College written in 1976 by Craig runs to over 1,100 pages, and that by Ritchie in 1899 is also substantial.1 It is unlikely therefore that this account could be other than a very brief chronology of the principal events associated with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh between the early 17lh century and the present time. While the College eventually received its Royal Charter in 1681 this was only after three previous abortive attempts had been made in 1617, 1630 and again in 1656. These various attempts were each made by small groups of dedicated physicians, all of whom had received their medical training on the Continent. On returning to Edinburgh, they particularly wished to elevate the status of their city, and the standard of medical practice in Scotland, but particularly in Edinburgh and its surrounding area. They were certainly aware that the standard of medical practice was without question far lower than it was on the Continent and even in England at that time. The award of a Royal Charter would also undoubtedly elevate the status of the Physicians as a corporate entity from the others that practised medicine in the same area. The Physicians in Edinburgh also believed that they would be in a similar position to their clinical brethren in London who had received their Royal Charter in 1518. Considerable difficulties were encountered over the years, however, before the Edinburgh physicians successfully obtained their Royal Charter. These came from a number of quarters, but particularly from the Edinburgh Surgeons, from the Church, from factions within the Town Council and from the University. Copyright Royal Medical Society. All rights reserved. The copyright is retained by the author and the Royal Medical Society, except where explicitly otherwise stated. Scans have been produced by the Digital Imaging Unit at Edinburgh University Library. Res Medica is supported by the University of Edinburgh’s Journal Hosting Service url: http://journals.ed.ac.uk ISSN: 2051-7580 (Online) ISSN: ISSN 0482-3206 (Print) Res Medica is published by the Royal Medical Society, 5/5 Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AL Res Medica, Volume 268, Issue 2, 2005: 49-53 doi:10.2218/resmedica.v268i2.1029 Early History of T he Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh M ATTH EW H KAU FM AN Professor of Anatom y, H onorary Librarian of Royal Medical Society, O lim Praeses School o f Biom edical and Clinical Labora to ry Sciences, U niversity o f Edinburgh , H ugh Robson Building, ED IN B U R G H , EH 8 9X D F a c to rs th a t led to th e aw ard o f th e C o lle g e ’s R oyal C h a r te r . The defin itive history o f the College w ritten in 1976 by Craig runs to over 1,100 pages, and that by R itchie in 1899 is also substan tial.1 It is un likely therefore that this account could be o ther than a very b rie f chronology o f the principal events associated w ith the Royal C ollege o f Physicians o f Edinburgh betw een the early 17lh century and the present tim e. W hile the C ollege eventually received its Royal C harter in 1681. this w as only after three previous abortive attem pts had been m ade in 1617, 1630 and again in 1656. T hese various attem pts w ere each m ade by sm all groups o f dedicated physicians, all o f whom had received their m edical tra in ing on the C ontinen t. On re tu rn ing to E dinburgh , they particularly w ished to elevate the status o f their city, and the standard o f m edical p rac tice in S co tland , but p a rticu la rly in E d inburgh and its surrounding area. They w ere certainly aw are that the standard o f m edical practice w as w ithout question far low er than it w as on the C ontinent and even in England at that time. The aw ard o f a Royal C harter would also undoubtedly elevate the status o f the Physicians as a corporate entity from the others that practised m edicine in the sam e area. The Physicians in Edinburgh also believed that they would be in a sim ilar position to their clinical brethren in London w ho had received their Royal C harter in 1518. Considerable difficulties w ere encountered over the years, however, before the Edinburgh physicians successfully obtained their Royal Charter. These cam e from a num ber o f quarters, but particularly from the Edinburgh Surgeons, from the C hurch, from factions w ithin the Town Council and from the University. In 1617, for exam ple, the establishm ent o f such a C harter undoubtedly had the b lessing o f K ing Jam es VI. but the opposition at that tim e principally cam e from the A rchbishops and B ishops. They w ere o f the view that the establishm ent o f such a College m ight restrict their privilege o f aw arding degrees, as at that tim e they w ere the C hancellors o f B rita in’s three oldest Universities.-2 The Surgeons who, rightly or wrongly, believed that the estab lishm ent o f a C ollege o f Physicians m ight restrict their rights and privileges, also expressed strong reservations. For these and other reasons, this, their first request for a Royal Charter, was unsuccessful. A second request, in 1630, was m ade to C harles I. Possibly because o f the unsettled state o f his K ingdom at that tim e, he referred the m atter to his Privy Council. The physicians had supported their application with 17 A rticles, all o f w hich appeared to them to be particularly reasonable, although others did not necessarily agree with them . These included the follow ing: that their senior officers, their President, Council and all o f Figure 2. A nother view ol Physician’s Hall, G eorge Street, Edinburgh. Drawn by T hom as H . Shepherd and engraved by J. H enshall (1829). th e ir O ffice B e are rs , w ou ld be se lec ted on ly from am o n g st th e ir appropriately qualified m em bership. They also indicated that w ithin their sphere o f influence they w ould supervise the sale o f drugs, so that only drugs that they thought w ere safe w ere in fact sold, and that only certain appropriately qualified individuals would be able to sell them . O ne o f the Articles indicated that all that practised m edicine as Surgeons. Apothecaries or Physicians should be appropriately exam ined, and that all appropriately qualified indiv iduals w ould be licensed. I f physic ians passed certain exam inations, they w ould also be aw arded a doctorate. This was the first indication that they w ished to have the pow er to aw ard appropriately qualified individuals medical degrees. They also proposed that they should have the legal authority to deal with “unqualified” m edical practitioners. For reasons that are now unclear, this application was also rejected. The third unsuccessfu l application w as m ade in 1656, in the tim e o f O liver Crom w ell. On that occasion, a C om m ission was established to seek further advice on the matter. R ecom m endations w ere m ade to the Lords o f Council. A fter additional advice had been sought, the various interested parties in Scotland w ere sent a copy o f the proposed C harter for their consideration. The abreaction this received was considerable. This w as p rincipally from the C ity o f G lasgow, as their own Faculty a lread y p o ssessed a C h a rte r tha t w as a ll-e m b ra c in g and in c lu d ed Physicians, Surgeons and A pothecaries. The G lasgow Faculty was also concerned at the suggestion m ade in the C harter that the territory over w hich the Edinburgh Physicians proposed that they should have control w as all o f S cotland, ra ther than exclusively Edinburgh and the area im m ediately around it. S im ilarly , the Edinburgh surgeons w ere also particularly concerned. They believed that am ongst o ther things, the effect o f this exercise w ould alm ost certainly be to dim inish the value put on their acknow ledged expertise as well as restricting their activities. This w as despite the fact that they already possessed a Royal C harter that


Early History of The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh M A TTH E W H K A U F M A N
F a c to r s th a t led to th e a w a rd o f th e C o lle g e 's R oyal C h a r te r .T he d efin itiv e histo ry o f the C ollege w ritten in 1976 by C raig runs to over 1,100 pag es, and that by R itchie in 1899 is also su b stan tial.1 It is u n lik ely th e re fo re th at this acco u n t could be o th er than a v ery b rie f chro n o lo g y o f the prin cip al ev ents associated w ith the Royal C ollege o f P hysician s o f E dinburgh betw een the early 17lh century and the present tim e. W hile the C o lleg e ev en tu ally received its R oyal C harter in 1681.this w as only after three p rev io us abortive attem pts had been m ade in 1617, 1630 and again in 1656.T hese various attem pts w ere each m ade by sm all g ro u p s o f d ed icated p h y sicians, all o f w hom had received their m ed ical tra in in g on the C o n tin en t.O n re tu rn in g to E d in b u rg h , they particu larly w ished to elev ate the status o f their city, and the standard o f m ed ical p ra c tic e in S c o tla n d , but p a rtic u la rly in E d in b u rg h an d its surro u n d in g area.T h ey w ere certainly aw are that the standard o f m edical practice w as w ithout question far low er than it w as on the C ontinent and even in E ngland at that tim e. T he aw ard o f a R oyal C h arter w ould also undo u b ted ly elev ate the statu s o f the P hysicians as a corp o rate entity from the oth ers that p ractised m edicine in the sam e area.T he P hysicians in E dinburgh also b elieved that they w ould be in a sim ilar position to their clinical brethren in London w ho had received their Royal C harter in 1518.C onsiderable difficulties w ere encountered over the years, how ever, before the E dinburgh physicians successfully obtained their Royal Charter.T hese cam e from a n u m b er o f q u arters, but particularly from the E dinburgh S urgeons, from the C h u rch , from factions w ithin the Town C ouncil and from the University.
In 1617, for ex am p le, the estab lish m en t o f such a C harter undoubtedly had the b le ssin g o f K in g Ja m e s V I. but th e o p p o sitio n at th at tim e princip ally cam e from the A rch bishops and B ishops.T hey w ere o f the view that the estab lish m en t o f such a C ollege m ight restrict their privilege o f aw ard in g degrees, as at that tim e they w ere the C hancellors o f B ritain 's three oldest Universities.-2T he S urgeons w ho, rightly or w rongly, believed that the estab lish m en t o f a C o lleg e o f P hysicians m ight restrict th eir rights and privileges, also expressed strong reservations.For these and other reasons, this, their first request for a Royal C harter, w as unsuccessful.A second request, in 1630, w as m ade to C harles I. P ossibly because o f the unsettled state o f his K ingdom at that tim e, he referred the m atter to his P rivy C ouncil.T he phy sician s had supported their application w ith 17 A rticles, all o f w hich ap p eared to them to be p articu larly reasonable, altho u g h oth ers did not necessarily agree w ith them .T hese included the follow ing: that th eir sen io r officers, th eir P resident, C ouncil and all o f F ig u re 2 .A n o th er view ol P hysician's Hall, G eorge Street, E dinburgh.

D raw n by T h o m a s H . S hepherd and engraved by J. H e nshall (1829).
th e ir O ffic e B e a re rs , w o u ld be s e le c te d o n ly fro m a m o n g s t th e ir appropriately qualified m em bership.T hey also indicated that w ithin their sphere o f influence they w ould supervise the sale o f drugs, so that only drugs that they thought w ere safe w ere in fact sold, and that only certain appropriately qualified individuals w ould be able to sell them .O ne o f the A rticles indicated that all that practised m edicine as Surgeons.A pothecaries or P hysicians should be appropriately exam ined, and that all appropriately q u alifie d in d iv id u als w ould be licensed.I f p h y sic ia n s passed certain exam inations, they w ould also be aw arded a doctorate.T his w as the first indication that they w ished to have the pow er to aw ard appropriately qualified individuals m edical degrees.T hey also proposed that they should have the legal authority to deal w ith " unqualified" m edical practitioners.F or reasons that are now unclear, this application w as also rejected.
T he third un su ccessfu l application w as m ade in 1656, in the tim e o f O liver C rom w ell.O n that occasion, a C om m ission w as established to seek further advice on the m atter.R ecom m endations w ere m ade to the Lords o f C ouncil.A fter additional advice had been sought, the various interested parties in S cotland w ere sent a copy o f the proposed C harter for th eir consideration.T he abreaction this received w as considerable.T his w as p rin cip ally from the C ity o f G lasgow , as th eir ow n F aculty a lre a d y p o s s e s s e d a C h a rte r th a t w a s a ll-e m b ra c in g an d in c lu d e d Physicians, Surgeons and A pothecaries.T he G lasgow Faculty w as also concerned at the suggestion m ade in the C harter that the territory over w hich the E dinburgh P hysicians proposed that they should have control w as all o f S co tlan d , rath er than e x c lu siv ely E din b u rg h and th e area im m ed iately a ro u n d it.S im ilarly, the E din b u rg h su rg eo n s w ere also particularly concerned.T hey believed that am ongst o ther things, the effect o f this exercise w ould alm ost certainly be to dim inish the value put on their acknow ledged expertise as w ell as restricting th eir activities.T his w as d esp ite the fact that they already possessed a Royal C h a rter that dated from 1505.3 T he surgeons also em phasised that M em bers o f th eir Incorporation had carried out alm ost all o f the teaching o f the apprentices that had been undertaken in E dinburgh over the previous century and a half.T hey also objected to the fact that alm ost all o f the physicians w ho w ere applyin g for a C harter had qualified in foreign universities.T he M em bers o f the Incorporation also noted that the role and status o f the surgeons in these c o u n trie s w as in v a ria b ly su b s e rv ie n t to th a t o f th e p h y sic ia n s.T he universities, but particularly A berdeen that had for som e centuries granted m edical degrees, w ere also extrem ely agitated.It appeared to them that the physicians w ished to take over the granting o f m edical degrees, and that they (i.e. the proposed E dinburgh C ollege o f P hysicians) rather than the universities w ould thenceforth take over this role.
T his and other points w ere discussed at a m eeting held in D undee in July 1657.In 1672, the Incorporation o f Surgeons indicated that they w ere unanim ously supportive o f elevating the T ow n's C ollege o f Edinburgh into a University.T his w as clearly to prevent the physicians from being given the pow ers to aw ard m edical degrees.T hey w ere also agitated about the p ossibility that the P hysicians w ished to aw ard licentiate diplom as to others that they considered to be appropriately qualified practitioners, such as the S urgeons and A pothecaries.P robably due to the d edicated influence o f Dr R obert Sibbald (1641-1722), a fourth application, on this occasion to C harles II, w as eventually rew arded.4The Edinburgh College o f Physicians received its Royal Charter, and this w as dated 29 N ovem ber 1681, despite strenuous opposition, as previously p rincipally from the E dinburgh Incorporation o f Surgeons, from the Tow n C ouncil as w ell as from other interested parties.The C harter w as ratified by Parliam ent on 16 June 1685.T he Physicians w ere particularly agitated that they should be given legal authority to inhibit the activ ities o f persons w hom they considered to be illiterate and/or unqualified practitioners or " Q uacks."It w as principally because there w as no indication in their C harter o f 1681 that they w ould in any way influence the practice o f the surgeons, that the Incorporation eventually w ithdrew its reservations about the aw ard o f the C harter to the Physicians.It w as understood that the M em bers o f the Incorporation w ould retain the right to treat all conditions that had previously been treated by them , and any subsequent conditions that m ay have resulted from their activities.It should be noted that the apothecaries also indicated their support for the Physicians, p articularly for their desire to control the activities o f unqualified practitioners.T he G lasgow F aculty's objections w ere also countered by the insertion o f the clause into the P hysician's C harter that they would restrict their activities to Edinburgh and its im m ediate environs rather than to Scotland as a w hole, as had been suggested in their earlier application o f 1656.C o lle g e a c c o m m o d a tio n T he C ollege w as particularly keen to possess its ow n Hall w here all o f their m eetings could take place.H ow ever, before a suitable Hall w as found, the Fellow s used to m eet at regular intervals in S ibbald's lodgings.In 1698, it w as decided that a suitable house should be purchased, but for various reasons this plan w as not pursued.In 1704, a C om m ittee o f 6 Fellow s w as established to consider other possibilities.A decision was m ade later that year to purchase a house and its associated grounds at the foot o f Fountain C lose, near to the C ow gate-port, that would be used as their official m eeting place.Som e years later, when these prem ises w ere found to be som ew hat sm aller than they had anticipated, they found that they had insu fficien t funds to m ove elsew here.In 1722.funds w ere borrow ed from a city m erchant to allow the C ollege to erect a new Hall on the F o u n tain C lo se site.E v entually, even th is w as also found to be inadequate for th eir needs, and the site w as sold in 1770 for only £800, principally because o f its very poor state o f repair at that tim e. T his site w as sold to gentlem en o f the episcopal com m union in Edinburgh, and on it they later erected the English C hapel.6 B ecause som e o f the m ore valuable books in their Library w ere already sh o w in g c o n s id e ra b le sig n s o f d e te rio ra tio n , th ey a p p ro a c h e d the M anagers o f the Royal Infirm ary (then located in Infirm ary Street) to see w hether they m ight be able to store their books, on a tem porary basis, som ew here in the Infirmary.As the M anagers w ere extrem ely sym pathetic to the a ctiv ities o f the C ollege, they p rovided them w ith a suitable apartm ent w ithin the Infirm ary in w hich they could store their books.In addition, the Fellow s w ere allow ed to m eet at regular intervals in the M anagers' Board Room.T hese arrangem ents persisted for the follow ing 15 years, until the C ollege eventually acquired a suitable site in G eorge Street on w hich they could build their new Hall.An architect w as therefore engaged to draw up the necessary plans.The C ollege had originally been offered the site o f the present R egister H ouse, at the eastern end o f Princes Street.H ow ever, the G overnm ent decided that M r Robert A dam 's architectural plans for this site w ould be m ore suitable for their own needs, rather than for those o f the C ollege.T he w ork on the G eorge Street site com m enced in 1775, and although parts w ere occupied during A ugust 1781, the Hall w as not com pleted until about 1830.W hile the entire building w as not yet com pleted w hen certain engravings w ere prepared, its handsom e exterior is clearly displayed in S to rer's engraving published in 1820 (Figure 1) and in S hepherd's engraving published in 1829 (Figure 2 ).7 The land on w hich the G eorge Street Hall w as built w as feued from the Town C ouncil, and M r Jam es Craig, the architect o f much o f E dinburgh's N ew Tow n, w as engaged to design and supervise the building o f the Hall.Dr Cullen laid its foundation stone in the presence o f all o f the Fellow s on 27 N ovem ber 1775.

It appears that when
B ecause o f the very considerable expense involved in the actual building o f their Hall, the C ollege w ent into increasing debt over the years, so that even before it w as occupied proposals w ere m ade for its sale should a suitable purchaser be found.Indeed, the C ollege w as alm ost plunged into bankruptcy over the inordinate cost involved.B ecause o f the latter, m any o f the internal fittings m eant for the various apartm ents w ithin the building and in the Hall sim ply failed to m aterialise.Because the C ollege had no capital, it had no option but to sell its H all w hen the first available reasonable offer w as received.This was for £ 19,700.and had been received from agents acting on behalf o f the Commercial Bank o f Scotland.It was desperately hoped that this sum would prove adequate for them to build a slightly less ostentatious Hall.This also meant that from 1843 to 1846 the College was without its own Hall.They were forced to rent premises that were then located at 119 George Street.and it was in a house on this site that the College used as their m eeting place during this period.
It was also during extensive reconstruction work undertaken on their previous Hall in George Street that its original foundation stone was discovered.As with other foundation stones laid at about that tim e,10 this was found to contain a num ber o f items within it that related to the date that the stone was incorporated into the building.Also found within the stone, were two silver medals.One o f these bore the C ollege's coat o f arms on one side with the names o f the President and the architect on the other side.The second medal had an image o f the College's Hall, associated with the Aesculapian serpent and rod, on one side, while on the other side was the name o f the architect, associated with the following inscription: "Architecto Propter Optimam Edinburgi Novi Ichnographiam." The foundation stone o f the C ollege's present Hall, in Queen Street, the main entrance to which is shown in Figure 3, was laid on 8 August 1844.As previously, the President o f the College laid the foundation stone in the presence o f num erous Fellows.In addition, Civic dignitaries and representatives o f the University were also present.Once again, following tradition, contained w ithin the foundation stone w as a copy o f the E dinburgh P harm acopoeia associated with a full list o f the College Fellows.The foundation stone also contained a copy o f the Edinburgh Almanac for 1844, several coins bearing the date 1844 and an item o f silver plate with an appropriate Latin inscription.The Hall's architect was Thomas Hamilton, who had also shortly before designed the Royal High School o f Edinburgh.The ornate Meeting Hall o f the College was completed in 1868, and over the years has been modified and refurbished on a num ber o f occasions.In order to erect their new Hall in Queen Street, the houses then located on the site (Num bers 9 and 10 Queen Street) had first to be demolished.The total cost o f the C ollege's new Hall was close to £10,000.
Even by 1864, further accomm odation was required, due principally to the increased number o f Fellows and the addition o f a substantial number o f books to the Library (Figure 4).In order to achieve the necessary expansion, the property at Num ber 8 Queen Street was purchased for £6,000.This house was to the east o f the C ollege's Hall, at Num ber 9 Queen Street.Number 8 was designed by Robert Adam, and was believed to have been the first house erected in Queen Street.It dated from 1770, was built on three storeys, and suited the needs o f the College at that time.This also allowed extensions to be made to both the main Hall and the Library.A further property.Number 11 Queen Street, to the west o f the C ollege's main Hall was purchased in 1970, and has also allowed the College to extend further, as well as improving the facilities for its Fellows.P hysic G a rd e n s .D uring the 17th cen tu ry , both the S u rg e o n s, but p a rtic u la rly the A pothecaries associated with them, and the Physicians in Edinburgh recognised the value o f establishing Physic Gardens.In these gardens they we re able to grow considerable numbers o f different medicinal plants and herbs that would be o f great value to them in their clinical practice.In 1670, for exam ple, tw o physicians in E dinburgh w ere principally instrumental in establishing one o f these Physic Gardens.These were Drs R obert S ibbald and A ndrew B alfour (16 3 0 -9 4 ), and this w as established in the small garden attached to Dr B alfour's house.In order to obtain the necessary plants, they sought advice from M r John Brown "gardener o f the North Yardes in the Abbey" (i.e.o f Holyrood Abbey).They also became acquainted with Jam es Sutherland and he, because o f his industry and very considerable botanical knowledge, was appointed in overall charge o f the garden.The Town Council later leased a second Physic Garden, within the grounds o f Trinity Church and Hospital, to M r S u th e rla n d .D e sp ite in itia l re s e rv a tio n s from th e S u rg e o n -Apothecaries, it was they who had assisted Drs Sibbald and Balfour in obtaining a long lease for Mr Sutherland from the Town Council.This garden was, from 1676, termed the (Edinburgh) Botanical Garden, and both Sibbald and Balfour were appointed its honorary "visitors." The fact that the Surgeon-Apothecaries had approached the Town Council on behalf o f Mr Sutherland is o f some interest.The Surgeons had since about 1664, or possibly even earlier, their own Physic Garden in which their gardener, Mr G eorge C athcart, grew considerable num bers o f medicinal plants.This garden was located in High School Yards, and Mr Cathcart, albeit unpaid, occupied a small house rent-free beneath the Surgeons' convening room at Curryhill House.This was located in what became known as Surgeons' Square.Flowering plants were also grown in this garden, principally but not exclusively for the benefit o f the Surgeons.Mr Cathcart also grew plants for his own use that he could sell to the public, and was additionally allowed to sell liquor and keep a bowling alley.These w ere all on condition that the row dier elem ents o f the population were denied access to the garden, the liquor and the bowling alley.Similarly, the Scholars at the High School were also denied access to the bowling alley.James Sutherland's skills and very considerable botanical knowledge were soon recognised by the Town Council, and he was then appointed their Professor o f Botany in 1676.In 1683. he published his important Hortus Medicus E d in b u r g e n s is and received a salary o f £20 Sterling p e r annum from the Town Council.In 1689, during the siege o f the Castle, when it was considered necessary to drain the North Loch, the water ran over the Physic Garden at T rinity Hospital, com pletely ruining it.Sutherland then had no option but to concentrate his efforts in extending and improving the Garden at Holyrood.This became the second oldest Botanical Garden in Britain, that in Oxford having been founded in 1632.For his services, Sutherland was appointed King's Botanist for Scotland when he was in charge o f the Royal Garden at Holyrood Palace .14Towards the end o f the 17th century, James Sutherland was authorised by the Surgeons to instruct their apprentices and servants in the elem ents o f medicinal botany.His teaching course was given four times yearly, and for which he received a guinea from each o f his pupils.Because o f a difference o f opinion with the Town Council,15 he resigned his College Professorship, and C harles Preston succeeded him in 1705.He was requested by the Surgeons to continue teaching their apprentices and servants in a sim ilar manner to that o f his predecessor.W hen Charles Preston died in 1711, his brother George succeeded him in this office.During his period o f office, the surgical apprentices attended his garden from the middle o f May until the end o f September, from 5-7 am each morning.During the early 18th century, there were four Physic Gardens in Edinburgh.16That the University was: "in d o w ed with the previleg es o f erecting pro fessio n s o f all sorts, particularly o f M edicen," and that there is "a necessity ther be ane professour o f Physick in the said Colledge, therefor as Patrons o f the said Colledge and University unanimously elect, nominate, and choyse the sd Sir Robert Sibbald to be Professor o f Physick in y e sd University."On 4 September 1685, the Minute intimates as follows: "that the Counsell appoynts two Professors o f Medicen to be jo yn ed with Sir Robert Sibbald in the University."On 9 September the Minute records "Considering that ther is ane necessity ther be more Professors o f Medicen in the said University, and understanding the abilityes and great qualifications o f Doctor James Halkit and Doctor Archibald Pitcairne, Doctors o f Medicen, and ther fitness to teatch the airt o f Medicen in the said University, Doe therfore elect, nominate, and choyse ye sds two Doctors to be jo yn ed with the said Sir Robert Sibbald, his Majestie's Phisitian in ordinary, to be Professors o f Medicen in the sd University," etc., etc.17   11 Shortly after the Surgeons took possession o f Curryhill House, they extensively altered this property, and a gardener's house was subsequently built in its grounds.While the main house soon proved unsatisfactory for their needs, the Incorporation were unable to afford to build a more suitable Hall on this site.By the early 1670s the house became increasingly d ila p id ated .In a bout 1694 it w as re-ro o fed , and rented by the Presbyterians, who used it for some years as their meeting hall and place o f worship.At this time, the Surgeons used another house nearby as their meeting hall.

P
rofessor of A natom y, H on o rary L ibrarian of Royal M edical Society, O lim Praeses School o f B iom edical and Clinical La b o ra to ry Sciences, U n iversity o f Edinburgh , H u gh R obson Building, E D IN B U R G H , E H 8 9X D

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Physician's H all, G eorge Street.E dinburgh.Drawn and engraved b y J & H S S tore r ( 1820).This building was designed in 1775 by Jam es Craig, and dem o lish ed in 1 8 1 1 .
Sibbald show ed C harles II the W arrant signed by his grandfather Jam es VI in 1621, he im m ediately recognised his handw riting, and w as happy to o ffe r th e ap p lican ts his full support.F urtherm ore.A rchibald Pitcairne, one o f the E dinburgh petitioners, like som e o f the M em bers o f the C ouncil o f the London C ollege o f Physicians, had all either been pupils or strong ad vocates o f the teaching o f W illiam Harvey.O ut o f the original 2 1 Physicians w ho constituted the C ollege at the tim e they received their C harter, 11 w ere graduates o f the U niversity o f Leyden, w hile a further 6 w ere graduates o f other C ontinental universities.5During 1682, the C ollege received as a gift from Sibbald o f a substantial num ber o f his books, and these w ere to form the basis o f the C ollege's im portant Library.A s a result o f the passing o f the U niversities' A ct o f 1858, a num ber o f the item s in the C o lleg e's C harter o f 1681 becam e obsolete, and it becam e necessary for them to obtain an updated Charter.T his w as obtained on 31 O ctober 1861.A short supplem entary C harter dated 8 January 1920 gave the C ollege the authority to adm it w om en on the sam e term s as men.

Figure 3 .Figure 4 .
Figure 3. Recent photograph of the m ain e ntrance to the Royal College o f Physicians o f Edinburgh in Q u een Street.Edinburgh.(Published with Perm ission, R C A H MS, E D /2 4 5 8 )

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lo se a s so c ia tio n b e tw ee n th e C o lle g e o f P h y sic ian s a n d the U n iv e rsity d u rin g the late 17th a n d early 18th c e n tu rie s .While the Town's College o f Edinburgh had been established in October 1583. in the late 17th century it required the appointm ent o f three Fellows o f the Royal College o f Physicians o f Edinburgh to Professorships in Medicine to elevate its status to that o f a University.The Town Council appointed, but without salary.Sir Robert Sibbald, Drs Jam es Halket and Archibald Pitcairne (1652-1713) to these posts.The Town Council Minute records as follows: While always a controversialist, after one particular difference o f opinion with the College o f Physicians, Pitcairne decided to transfer his allegiance to the Surgeons.He became a Fellow o f the Incorporation, without examination, on 16 October 1701.He always had a strong interest in the teaching o f Anatomy, and played a critical role in their public dissections o f 1702 and 1704, carried out in Surgeons' Hall.On both occasions he presented the epilogue or conclusion on the last day o f each o f these public demonstrations.This undoubtedly led to the appointment o f Robert Elliot as their "public dissector," and he was, on 29 A ugust 1705, appointed the first Professor o f Anatomy in the University o f Edinburgh.Since neither Sibbald, Halket or Pitcairne were apparently ever instructed to teach students, it is unclear whether they delivered any lectures.While, theoretically at least these three Professors o f Medicine formed the nucleus o f a Faculty o f Medicine, this did not formally materialise until 1726.This was when their successors formally gave lecture courses in their disciplines to complement those already given by Professor Alexander Monro primus, who had been appointed by the Town Council to the Chair o f Anatomy on 22 January 1720.He had succeeded Professors Robert Elliot, Adam Drummond and John McGill as Professor of Anatomy in the University o f Edinburgh and, as they had, he received a salary o f £15 Sterling per annum from the Treasurers of the Town's College.Professors Andrew St C lair (also spelled Sinclair) (d.1728), John Rutherford (1695-1779), Andrew Plummer (d.1756) and John lnnes (d.1733) were all appointed to University Chairs.The latter had been appointed by the College o f Physicians to teach the Theory and Practice o f Medicine, as well as Chemistry.They, with Monro primus, constituted the first Faculty o f Medicine in Edinburgh and, from 12 October 1726, constituted an organized School o f M edicine.On 9 February 1726 they applied to the Town Council to be appointed Professors in the University on the same footing on which their colleague Monro had been appointed several years previously, but without salaries.Their petition was granted.19In 1725, Lord Provost Drummond with the support o f John and Alexander Monro, the Fellows o f the Royal College o f Physicians and a number of influential citizens, played a critical role in obtaining sufficient funds to allow the erection o f a small teaching hospital in Edinburgh.It was formally opened on 6 July 1729.This was called the " Little House," and was to be a Hospital for the Sick Poor o f Edinburgh.It later became the first "Royal" Infirmary when it received a Royal Charter from King George II on 25 August 1736.E n d n o te s and Re fe re nces.' Craig, W.S. (1976).History o f the Royal College o f Physicians o f Edinburgh.Oxford, London etc.: Blackwell Scientific Publications.See also: Ritchie, R.P. (1899 London: Jones & C om pany [the pages on w hich the engravings are displayed are unpaginated].8 A detailed description o f the architectural features o f both the interior and exterior o f the College's Hall and Library were published by Arnot.See:Arnot, op.cit.ref. 6, 322-24.9 This is part o f the site presently occupied by the offices o f the Church o f Scotland, and is located towards the western end and northern side of George Street.10 The foundation stone o f the first Hall o f the Royal Medical Society (RM S), at 11 Surgeons' Square, was found when this building was demolished, and was later incorporated into the stairwell o f the Society's second Hall in Melbourne Place.This foundation stone was laid on Friday 21 April 1775 by the President o f the Royal College o f Physicians of Edinburgh, Professor William Cullen.He had suggested both the site and plan o f the building.This foundation stone, when examined carefully, was found to contain a glass bottle and a hermetically-sealed leaden case.Inside the bottle was found the inscribed silver medal that is now worn by the Society's Senior President on official occasions.It is also relevant to note that Cullen was presented with a suitably inscribed handsome gold medal by the Society in 1775 in recognition o f his services to them.This medal is now on display in the Extension to the National Museum o f Scotland, in Chambers Street.The RMS obtained their Royal Charter in 1778.William Cullen had been elected President o f the Royal College o f Physicians o f Edinburgh on 3 August 1773, and held this post until 30 November 1775.He was Professor o f Medicine between 1773-90, when James Gregory succeeded him.
This had been built by the Town Council for the use o f the Professor o f Divinity.See: Creswell, C.H. (1926).The Royal College o f Surgeons o f Edinburgh: Historical Notes from 1505 to 1905.Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 48-50.52 • RES M E D IC A C C L X V III (II) ).The Early Days o f the Royall Colledge o f Phisicians, Edinburgh: the extended oration o f the Harveian Society, Edinburgh, delivered at the 114"' Festival by the President.Edinburgh: George P. Johnston. 2 In Scotland at that time, the Chancellors o f St Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities were also either Bishops or Archbishops.3 For a copy o f this Seal o f Cause, that is preserved in the Records o f the Town Council o f the City o f Edinburgh, and a full transcription o f its text, see: Comrie, J.D. (1932).H istoiy o f Scottish Medicine.2nd Edition.In 2 Volumes.London: Baillière, Tindall & Cox, Volume 1, 160-64.4 Sibbald had first studied theology in Edinburgh before proceeding to Leyden where he studied medicine.For further details o f his medical career, see: Sibbald, R. (1833, but published after his death).The Autobiography o f Sir Robert Sibbald, Knt., M.D. To which is prefixed some account o f his MSS.Edinburgh: Thomas Stevenson; London: John Wilson, 15-17 [autobiography began on 23 September 1695, pp.11-44].This is an extremely interesting and valuable volume, and should be perused by those interested in the early history o f what was to become the Royal College o f Physicians o f Edinburgh.It is probably also relevant to note that Sibbald received a knighthood at Holyrood Palace during the following year, in 1682, as did two other College Fellows, Drs Archibald Stevensone (1629-1710) and Andrew Balfour (1630-1694).All o f those to be awarded a knighthood apparently went to Holyrood Palace on other business, and the award o f a knighthood came as a complete surprise to them.See: Sibbald, ibid., 32. 5 For a complete list o f the original petitioners, see Craig, op.cit.ref. 1, 65-6.6 Arnot, H. (1779).The History o f Edinburgh.Edinburgh: W. Creech; London: J. Murray, 322-23.7 Storer, J. & Storer, H.S. (1820).Views in Edinburgh and its Vicinity; drawn and engraved by J. & H.S. Storer, Exhibiting remains o f Antiquity, Public Buildings, and Picturesque Scenery.In 2 Volumes.Edinburgh: A. Constable & Co.; London: J.M. Richardson, Chapell & Son, Nornaville & Fell, Smith & Elder, Cowie & Co., Taylor & Hessey, T. Wilson & Sherwood, Neely, & Jones [the section in Volume 1 with the engravings is unpaginated, as is all o f Volume 2], See also: Shepherd, T.H. (1829).Modern Athens!Displayed in a Series o f Views: or Edinburgh in the Nineteenth Century: Exhibiting the Whole o f the New Buildings, Modern Improvements, Antiquities, and Picturesque scenery o f the Scottish Metropolis and its Environs, from Original Drawings.