The 18th century
By the middle of the century, the success of the School came from teaching both Medicine and Surgery in a university setting, but with a clinical base in a teaching hospital.
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
The establishment of the Medical Faculty was soon followed by the founding of a public hospital, originally in temporary accommodation in 1729, but after 1741 in the purpose-built Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh close to the University.
The physicians had already established a botanic garden for the study of medicinal plants and this gave the base for the development of studies in Materia Medica (Pharmacology) and Chemistry.
By 1764 the numbers of medical students were so great that a new 200-seat anatomy theatre was built in the College Garden.
Edinburgh’s fame was enhanced later by a succession of brilliant teachers, such as William Cullen, James Gregory and Joseph Black (discoverer of carbon dioxide and of latent heat).
The School attracted many students from Ireland, America and the Colonies, and Edinburgh graduates were closely involved in the founding of several of the first Medical Schools in the US and Canada.
This article was published on Feb 23, 2009