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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  TEACHING 

IN  TRINITY  COLLEGE  DUBLIN 

AND  OF  THE  SCHOOL  OF 

PHYSIC  IN  IRELAND 


OXFORD:  HORACE  HART 
PRINTER  TO  THE  UNIVERSITY 


CQ 


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HISTORY 

OF  THE 

MEDICAL  TEACHING 

IN 

TRINITY  COLLEGE  DUBLIN 

AND  OF  THE 

SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  IN  IRELAND 

BY 

T.  PERCY  C.  KIRKPATRICK,  M.D.,  M.R.I.A. 

FELLOW  AND  REGISTRAR  OF  THE  ROYAL  COLLEGE  OF 
PHYSICIANS    OF    IRELAND 


DUBLIN 

HANNA  AND  NEALE 
1912 


I 


DEDICATED  BY  PERMISSION 

TO 

ANTHONY  TRAILL 

LL.D.,  M.D.,  M.CH.,  D.L. 

HON.  FELLOW  OF  THE  ROYAL  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  OF 

IRELAND;   HON.  FELLOW  OF  THE  ROYAL  COLLEGE  OF 

SURGEONS  IN  IRELAND  J   HON.  LL.D.  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITIES  OF  GLASGOW,  ABERDEEN 

AND  ST.  ANDREWS 

THE  FIRST  MEDICAL  PROVOST  OF 
TRINITY  COLLEGE  DUBLIN 


809747 


PREFACE 

IN  preparing  this  record  of  the  teaching  of 
Medicine  in  Trinity  College  and  in  the  School 
of  Physic  in  Ireland,  my  chief  object  has  been 
to  present  an  accurate  narrative  of  the  events  in 
the  history  of  the  School  and  in  the  lives  of  those 
who  have  been  responsible  for  its  management. 

To  write  a  complete  history  of  the  Medical 
School  would  involve  a  history  of  Medicine  during 
the  past  two  hundred  and  fifty  years.  The  limita- 
tions imposed  on  me  made  the  accomplishment  of 
such  a  task  impossible,  and  consequently  I  have 
contented  myself  with  merely  indicating  some  of 
those  points  in  which  the  work  of  the  teachers  in 
the  School  has  been  in  the  van  of  medical  pro- 
gress. The  time  of  the  Professors  was  so  fully 
occupied  with  teaching,  and  with  the  details  of 
school  management  that  little  opportunity  was 
left  them  for  original  research.  That  so  many 
of  them  have  been  able  to  earn  for  themselves 
places  in  the  history  of  medicine  proves  that  the 
title  of  the  '  silent  sister  ',  so  often  given  to  Trinity 
College,  is  not  altogether  justified  in  the  case  of 
the  School  of  Physic. 


viii  PREFACE 

I  am  much  indebted  to  the  work  of  previous 
writers  who  have  treated  of  the  different  periods 
embraced  in  this  history,  and  so  far  as  possible 
I  have  acknowledged  the  sources  of  my  informa- 
tion in  the  text  and  in  the  notes.  My  thanks 
are  especially  due  to  the  Board  of  Trinity  College 
for  having  given  me  free  access  to  the  College 
Registers  and  to  the  documents  connected  with 
the  school.  Without  this  privilege  much  of  the 
book  could  not  have  been  written.  My  thanks  are 
also  due  to  Professor  Beare  and  Mr.  Percy  Browne 
for  the  English  rendering  of  the  Latin  passages 
given  in  the  text.  To  Dr.  Robert  J.  Rowlette 
I  am  especially  indebted  for  the  trouble  he  has 
taken  in  reading  the  manuscript,  and  for  the 
many  valuable  suggestions  he  has  made.  I  wish 
also  to  thank  Mr.  William  Hodson,  of  the  Regis- 
trar's Office,  Trinity  College,  for  the  care  he  has 
taken  in  making  transcripts  from  the  Trinity 
College  Registers,  and  Mr.  Robert  J.  Phelps, 
Librarian  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians,  for 
similar  kind  offices  in  connexion  with  the  Registers 
of  that  College.  To  Miss  Gertrude  Thrift  and  to 
Miss  Sibyl  Kirkpatrick  I  am  indebted  for  their 
patient  researches  in  the  Record  Office. 

T.  PERCY  C.  KIRKPATRICK. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  I  PAGE 

INTRODUCTION i 

CHAPTER  II 
EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE         .         .       17 

CHAPTER  III 
TRINITY  HALL 32 

CHAPTER  IV 
THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY  .        .      49 

CHAPTER  V 
THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL       ...      76 

CHAPTER  VI 
THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 101 

CHAPTER  VII 
THE  PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN  .        .     126 

CHAPTER  VIII 
THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT     .         .         .     149 


x  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  IX  PAGE 

CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY         168 

CHAPTER  X 
THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800      .        .        .189 

CHAPTER  XI 
JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND  WHITLEY  STOKES  .        .     216 

CHAPTER  XII 
THE  NEW  SCHOOL 234 

CHAPTER  XIII 

SCHOOL    MANAGEMENT.    MACARTNEY'S    RESIGNA- 
TION    248 

CHAPTER  XIV 
SCHOOL  REFORM — GRAVES  AND  STOKES        .        .    266 

CHAPTER  XV 
MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 285 

CHAPTER  XVI 
THE  SCHOOL  STAFF    3°3 

CHAPTER  XVII 
MODERN  DEVELOPMENT 326 


XI 


PAGE 

I.   REFERENCES 340 

II.   THE  MEDICAL  STAFF  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE  AND 

OF  THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  IN  IRELAND      .     349 

INDEX     .  ...     359 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

SOME  OF  THE  SCHOOL  BUILDINGS,  1912  Frontispiece 
THE  LIBRARY  AND  ANATOMY  HOUSE,  1753  to  face  page  76 
MEDICAL  SCHOOL,  OPENED  IN  1825  .  to  face  page  234 


CHAPTER  I 
INTRODUCTION 

A  SEARCH  for  the  origin  of  medicine  leads  one 
back  to  the  earliest  existence  of  primitive  man. 
In  the  first  recorded  code  of  laws  which  we  now 
possess,  that  of  Hammurabi,  which  dates  back  to 
2200  B.C.,  we  find  the  position  of  the  Mesopotamian 
physicians  well  defined,  and  definite  rules  laid  down 
to  regulate  their  remuneration  and  responsibilities. 
Thus  we  read  : 

'  If  a  doctor  has  cured  the  shattered  limb  of  a  gentleman, 
or  has  cured  the  diseased  bowel,  the  patient  shall  give 
five  shekels  of  silver  to  the  doctor.'  '  If  a  doctor  has 
treated  a  gentleman  for  severe  wound  with  a  lancet  of 
bronze  and  caused  the  gentleman  to  die,  or  has  opened 
an  abscess  of  the  eye  for  a  gentleman  with  a  bronze 
lancet  and  caused  the  loss  of  the  gentleman's  eye,  one 
shall  cut  off  his  hands.' 1 

In  Egypt  also  medicine  had  reached  a  high  state 
of  development  at  the  earliest  time  of  which  we 
have  records.  Of  the  Greeks,  from  whom  most  of 
our  Western  medicine  is  derived,  we  know  nothing 
till  many  centuries  after  the  date  of  the  code  of 
Hammurabi,  but  at  the  siege  of  Troy,  some  five 
or  six  centuries  before  the  date  of  Hippocrates, 

1  Johns,  p.  46. 
B 


2  INTRODUCTION 

we  find  mention  of  Machaon  and  Podaleirios,  the 
sons  of  Asclepius,  the  son  of  Apollo,  and  later 
worshipped  as  the  god  of  healing.  Though  in 
Homer  we  find  the  statement  : 


Irirpfc  yap  avyp  TIO\\&V  avrd^Los  &\\q>v, 
'  A  physician  outweighs  many  other  men  ', 

it  is  evident  that  Greek  medicine  at  his  time  was 
very  far  from  being  as  highly  developed  as  that 
of  Mesopotamia,  some  thousand  years  earlier. 
With  Hippocrates,  who  was  born  about  460  B.C., 
and  died  about  377  B.C.,  Greek  medicine  reached 
its  zenith,  just  as  did  the  civilization  of  the  people. 
In  Roman  history  a  similar  sequence  of  events 
can  be  traced.  At  the  time  of  Hippocrates  there 
was  little  medicine  known  at  Rome,  but  at  the 
Christian  era  we  find  Celsus,  between  A.D.  25  and 
35,  writing  his  famous  book,  De  Medicina,  in 
which,  speaking  of  the  liver,  he  says  : 

'  Si  vera  jecur  vomica  laborat,  eadem  facienda  sunt, 
quae  in  caeteris  interioribus  suppurationibus.  Quidam 
etiam  ultra  id  scalpello  aperiunt,  et  ipsam  vomicam 
adurunt.'  x 

When  we  come  to  investigate  the  condition  of 
medicine  in  ancient  Ireland  we  are  met  with  the 
difficulty  that  there  are  few,  if  any,  authentic 
records  of  the  history  of  the  people  before  the 
Christian  era.  Tradition  must  here  take  the  place 
of  history,  and  fortunately  the  tradition  is  fairly 
full  and  well  authenticated.  Just  as  the  Greeks 
worshipped  Asclepius,  so  the  ancient  Irish  had 

1  Celsus,  bk.  iv,  cap.  8. 


INTRODUCTION  3 

their  medical  deity,  Diancecht.  This  Diancecht, 
whose  name  means  '  vehement  power ',  is  stated 
to  have  been  a  physician  and  one  of  the  chief  men 
of  the  Tuatha  de  Danann  in  the  time  of  King 
Nuada  of  the  Silver  Hand,  who  is  said  to  have 
lived  about  the  year  1272  B.C.  It  is  related1  that 
in  the  great  battle  of  Magh  Tuireadh,  between  the 
Tuatha  de  Danann  and  the  Firbolgs,  King  Nuada, 
though  victorious,  lost  his  arm,  and  this  physical 
defect  was  sufficient  to  debar  him  from  holding 
kingly  office.  A  viceroy,  however,  was  appointed, 
and  in  seven  years  Diancecht,  with  the  assistance 
of  Creidne,  the  great  worker  in  metal,  had  not 
only  cured  the  king's  wound,  but  fitted  him  with 
a  silver  hand.  Further,  in  the  second  battle  of 
Magh  Tuireadh,  fought  some  years  later  between 
the  Tuatha  de  Danann  and  the  Fomorians,  we 
hear  of  Diancecht  preparing  a  bath  medicated 
with  herbs  gathered  in  the  Lus  Mhagh,  or  '  Plain 
of  Herbs  ',  the  present  King's  County.  This  bath 
was  presided  over  by  Diancecht,  with  his  daughter 
Ochtrinil,  and  his  two  sons,  Airmedh  and  Mioch. 
The  wounded  of  the  de  Danann  were  brought  from 
the  field  of  battle  and  placed  in  this  bath,  and 
coming  out  whole,  were  enabled  to  return  to  the 
fight,  and  so  bring  victory  to  their  side. 

In  the  book  of  Genealogies  of  MacFirbis  we  read 
of  several  other  medical  heroes  of  the  Irish,  such 
as  *  Eaba  the  female  physician  '.  O'Curry  trans- 
lates the  passage  as  follows 2 : 

'  Thus  saith  the  Ancient  Authority  :   The  first  doctor, 
1  O'Curry,  MSS.  Mat.,  p.  246.  *  Ibid.,  p.  221. 


4  INTRODUCTION 

the  first  builder,  and  the  first  fisherman,  that  ever  were 
in  Erinn  were  : 

Capa,  for  the  healing  of  the  sick, 

In  his  time  was  all-powerful ; 

And  Luasad,  the  cunning  builder, 

And  Laighne",  the  fisherman. 

'  Edba,  the  female  physician  who  accompanied  the 
lady  Ceasair,  was  the  second  doctor  ;  Slanga,  the  son  of 
Partholan,  was  the  third  doctor  that  came  into  Erinn  (with 
Partholan)  ;  and  Fergna,  the  grandson  of  Crithinbel,  was 
the  fourth  doctor  who  came  into  Erinn  (with  Nemed). 
The  doctors  of  the  Firbolgs  were,  Dubhda  Dubhlosach, 
Condan  Corinchisnech,  and  Fingin  Fisiocdha  Maine,  the 
son  of  Gressach,  and  Aongus  Anternmach.  The  doctors  of 
the  Tuatha  De  Danann  were  Diancecht,  Airmedh,  Miach, 
&c.' 

Coming  down  to  more  recent  times  we  have  the 
story  of  the  tragic  fate  of  Conchobhar  Mac  Nessa, 
King  of  Ulster  (obiit  A.D.  37),  which  is  preserved  in 
the  Book  of  Leinster  in  the  library  of  Trinity 
College.  The  king  was  wounded  in  the  head  by 
a  missile  from  the  sling  of  one  of  his  enemies,  and 
was  carried  helpless  from  the  field.  O'Curry * 
gives  this  translation  of  the  account  of  the  subse- 
quent events  : 

'  In  the  meantime  his  physician  was  brought  to  Con- 
chobar,  namely  Fingen.  He  it  was  that  could  know  by 
the  fume  that  arose  from  a  house  the  number  that  was  ill 
in  the  house,  and  every  disease  that  prevailed  in  the 
house.  "  Good,"  said  Fingen,  "  if  the  stone  be  taken  out 
of  thy  head,  thou  shalt  be  dead  at  once,  if  it  is  not  taken 
out  of  it,  however,  I  would  cure  thee,  but  it  would  be 
a  blemish  upon  thee."  "  The  blemish,"  said  the  Ulto- 

1  O'Curry,  MSS.  Mat.,  pp.  453  and  637. 


INTRODUCTION  5 

nians,  "  is  better  for  us  than  his  death."  His  head  was 
then  healed,  and  it  was  stitched  with  thread  of  gold, 
because  the  colour  of  Conchobar's  hair  was  the  same  as 
the  colour  of  gold. 

'  And  the  doctor  said  to  Conchobar  that  he  should  be 
cautious,  that  is  that  he  should  not  allow  his  anger  to 
come  upon  him,  and  that  he  should  not  go  upon  a  horse, 
and  that  he  should  not  run. 

'  He  continued  then  in  that  doubtful  state  as  long  as 
he  lived,  namely,  seven  years,  and  was  incapable  of 
action  but  to  remain  sitting  only.' 

The  tradition  is  recorded  in  several  writers * 
that  Josina,  the  ninth  king  of  Scotland,  and  one 
of  the  successors  of  Fergus,  who  died,  as  some  say, 
in  161  B.  c.,  or  according  to  others  in  137  B.  c.,  was 
sent  by  his  parents  to  Ireland  to  be  educated 
among  the  physicians  and  surgeons  there.  Such 
a  tradition  suggests  that  the  position  and  teaching 
of  the  Irish  physicians  was  acknowledged  not  only 
at  home  but  in  foreign  lands. 

Besides  these  traditional  reports  which  point  to 
a  development  of  medical  knowledge,  inferior  no 
doubt  to  that  of  Hippocrates,  but  quite  equal  to 
that  of  the  time  of  the  Trojan  war,  we  have  in  the 
Brehon  Laws  more  authentic  historical  evidence  of 
the  condition  of  Irish  medicine. 

The  Brehon  Laws,  the  ancient  laws  of  Ireland, 
have  come  down  to  us  from  prehistoric  time. 
They  grew  up  in  pagan  Ireland,  and  about  A.  D.  438, 
at  the  request  of  St.  Patrick,  they  were  codified  to 
their  present  form.  It  should  be  recognized  that 
at  this  time  these  laws,  though  brought  into  accord 

1  Kennedy,  Address  ;  Wilde,  Census  1831. 
B3 


6  INTRODUCTION 

with  Christian  ideas,  were  not  new,  and  were  not 
materially  added  to,  but  were  traditional  in  the 
country.  The  two  most  important  books  of  this 
code  which  have  been  preserved  are  the  Senchus 
Mor  (Great  Code)  and  the  Book  of  Aicill,  and  in 
both  of  these  we  have  several  references  to  medical 
matters,  some  of  which,  especially  those  dealing 
with  the  remuneration  and  responsibilities  of  the 
physician,  remind  us  strongly  of  the  code  of  Ham- 
murabi. A  few  extracts  from  the  published  trans- 
lation of  the  ancient  laws  will  show  with  what 
clearness  the  position  of  the  physician  is  denned. 

'  Half  "  dire  " — fine  with  compensation.1 

'  That  is,  from  the  unlawful  physician  if  he  has  removed 
a  joint  or  a  sinew  without  taking  guarantee,  without 
warning  of  bad  curing ;  if  he  has  done  either  of  these, 
it  (the  penalty]  is  one-fourth  fine  with  compensation  ;  if 
he  has  done  both,  he  is  exempt. 

'  Compensation  is  recoverable  from  the  lawful  physician 
if  he  has  removed  a  joint  or  sinew  without  taking 
guarantee  ;  and  if  he  has  taken  guarantee,  he  is  exempt. 

'  The  unlawful  physician  shall  make  compensation  for 
his  blood-"  letting  "  without  taking  guarantee,  without 
warning  of  bad  curing ;  if  he  has  done  both  he  is  exempt. 

'  The  lawful  physician  is  exempt  for  blood-letting  with- 
out taking  guarantee,  or  giving  warning  of  bad  curing. 
The  unlawful  physician  is  bound  to  take  guarantee  only. 
This  is  the  case  where  there  was  no  wound  upon  the  body 
before  him  (or  when,  though  there  was,  he  increased  the 
wound  too  much)  if  an  impartial  physician  declares  that  it 
could  have  been  cured  more  lawfully.  If  there  were  wounds 
on  the  body  before  him,  and  if  he  did  not  increase  them,  and 
an  impartial  physician  declares  that  they  could  not  have 
been  cured  more  lawfully,  he  is  exempt  as  regards  them.' 

1  Brehon  Laws,  vol.  hi,  p.  321. 


INTRODUCTION  7 

'  According  to  body-fine  is  calculated  the  physician's 
share  from  kings  and  their  co-grades,  and  from  the 
chieftain  grades,  and  it  is  paid  out  of  the  allowance  for 
sick  maintenance.  Whichever  of  them  is  the  smaller,  the 
body-fine  for  the  wound  or  the  allowance  for  sick  main- 
tenance, it  is  thereby  it  is  calculated  what  the  "  Feini " 
grades  pay,  and  it  is  paid  out  of  the  allowance  for  sick 
maintenance.  It  may  be  one-half,  it  may  be  one-third, 
it  may  be  one-fourth. 

'  The  physicians  share  from  these  following  ;  it  is  one- 
half  from  kings  and  their  co-grades,  it  is  one-third  from 
chieftain  grades,  and  it  is  one-fourth  from  "  Feini " 
grades.' 1 

If  one  person  wounded  another  the  aggressor 
had  to  pay  a  fine  to  the  injured  one  as  well  as 
provide  him  with  sick  maintenance  and  medical 
care.  If  the  wound  broke  out  again  within  a  cer- 
tain time  further  provision  had  to  be  made  for  the 
injured  person,  but  the  physician  had  to  attend  for 
nothing.  If,  however,  the  recurrence  of  the  trouble 

'  had  been  in  consequence  of  bad  curing,  with  the  know- 
ledge of  the  physician,  there  is  no  testing  time  to  be  taken 
into  consideration,  but  it  (the  penalty)  is  always  to  be 
paid  by  the  physician,  just  as  if  he  had  inflicted  it  (the 
wound)  with  his  own  hand  '.2 

In  explanation  of  what  is  meant  by  '  sick  main- 
tenance '  we  read  in  the  Senchus  Mor 3  : 

'  For  providing  him  with  proper  bed  furniture,  i.  e., 
plaids  and  bolsters,  i.  e.,  a  suitable  bed.  For  providing 
him  with  a  proper  house,  i.  e.,  that  it  be  not  a  dirty, 
snail-besmeared  house  ;  or  that  it  be  not  one  of  the  three 
inferior  houses,  i.  e.,  that  there  be  four  doors  out  of  it, 

1  Brehon  Laws,  vol.  iii,  p.  477.  2  Ibid.,  vol.  iii,  p.  535. 

3  Ibid.,  vol.  i,  p.  131. 


8  INTRODUCTION 

that  the  sick  man  may  be  seen  from  every  side,  and  water 
must  run  across  the  middle  of  it.  For  guarding  against 
the  things  prohibited  by  the  physician,  i.  e.,  that  the  sick 
man  may  not  be  injured,  i.  e.,  by  women  or  dogs,  i.  e.,  that 
fools  and  female  scolds  be  not  let  into  the  house  to  him, 
i.  e.,  or  that  he  may  not  be  injured  by  forbidden  food.' 

Sullivan  l  tells  us  that  as  a  rule  the  houses  of 
the  ancient  Irish  had  only  one,  or  at  most  two 
doors,  but  the  house  of  the  Irish  Liag  or  Leech 
was  to  have  four  doors,  and  also,  that  while  the 
ordinary  householder,  or  Brughfer,  was  allowed  to 
have  a  spring  of  water  in  his  house  if  he  chose, 
the  physician  was  obliged  to  build  his  house  over 
a  running  stream. 

It  would  appear  that  the  physician  was  allowed 
either  to  use  his  house  as  a  hospital  or  to  treat 
the  patient  in  his  own  home.  Thus  homes  of 
physicians  came  to  be  looked  on  as  general  hos- 
pitals, and  the  forus  tuaithe,  or  the  '  territory 
house ',  mentioned  in  the  laws  is  translated 
'  hospital  '.2  In  the  Senchus  Mor  the  probe 
(feaig)  is  mentioned,  and  is  the  only  reference  to 
a  medical  instrument  that  we  have  met  with  in 
these  laws  : 

'  As  to  the  distraint  of  a  physician  :  let  his  horsewhip 
or  his  probe  be  taken  up.  If  he  have  not  the  proper 
number  of  such  things,  let  a  thread  be  tied  about  the 
finger  next  to  his  little  finger.  If  he  does  not  cede  justice, 
it  is  the  same  as  absconding  on  his  part  ;  and  let  there  be 
notice  served  for  every  distress  taken  from  them  (the 
physicians}.'  3 

1  O'Curry,  M.  and  C.,  vol.  i,  p.  319,  and  p.  346. 

*  Brehon  Laws,  vol.  iv,  p.  303.  '  Ibid.,  vol.  ii,  p.  119. 


INTRODUCTION  9 

From  the  very  earliest  times  the  Irish  physician 
was  attached  to  the  clan  or  house  of  a  chieftain, 
and  the  profession  of  physic  passed  from  father  to 
son  just  as  did  the  profession  of  the  other  arts  and 
crafts  in  the  country.  This  hereditary  character 
of  the  Irish  physicians  was  not  unknown  in  other 
countries,  as  the  oath  of  Hippocrates  shows.  In 
Ireland,  however,  this  characteristic  appears  to 
have  persisted  until  comparatively  recent  times, 
and  the  names  and  records  of  many  families  of 
hereditary  physicians  have  come  down  to  us. 
Thus  we  have  the  O'Callenans  of  Desmond,  the 
O'Cassidys  of  Fermanagh,  the  O'Lees  of  Con- 
naught,  and  the  O'Hickeys,  hereditary  physicians 
to  the  O'Briens  of  Thomond,  to  the  O'Kennedys 
of  Ormond,  and  the  Macnamaras  of  Clare.1 

We  find  one  of  this  O'Hickey  family  appointed 
in  1590  physician  to  the  city  of  Dublin  under  the 
following  conditions : 2 

'  That  Nicholas  Hykie,  doctor  of  physick,  in  considera- 
tion that  he  shall  henceforward  dwell  and  make  his  abode 
in  Dublin,  shall  have  and  be  paid  by  the  hands  of  the 
thresorer  of  this  cittie  out  of  the  thresorie  and  revenewe 
of  the  said  cittie  yearlie  ten  pounds,  lawfull  mony  of 
Irland,  begynning  from  Maie  next,  during  his  good 
behavior  and  usadge,  and  shall  observe  the  orders  and 
dyrections  following,  that  is  to  saie,  taking  for  the  vewe 
and  loking  of  eche  passientes  uryn  without  visitation,  the 
pacient  being  a  cittezen,  sixe  pence  sterling  ;  for  every 
visitation  of  such  passient  and  vewe  of  his  water,  twelve 
pence  sterling  ;  item  for  eche  visitation  without  viewe 
of  his  water,  twelve  pence  sterling,  over  and  besyds 

1  Joyce,  vol.  i,  p.  600.  *  C.  A.  R.,  vol.  ii,  p.  147. 


io  INTRODUCTION 

consideration  that  if  he  undertake  to  cure  eny  man 
for  a  certayne  som  of  mony,  then  he  be  at  libertie  to 
agre  with  the  saide  partie ;  also,  that  uppon  lysence 
of  Mr.  Mayor  of  this  cittie  for  the  tyme  being,  he  may  goo 
threskore  myles  out  of  this  cittie,  so  as  he  return  agayne 
within  xn  daies  after,  and  that  without  lysence  he 
may  goo  no  further  then  that  he  may  retorne  within 
xxnii  howres  after ;  and  if  the  Mayor  for  the  tyme 
being  shall  send  for  hym  at  eny  tyme  he  shall  com  to  the 
said  Mr.  Mayor  presently,  uppon  payne  of  losing  halfe 
a  yeares  stipend.' 

How  these  old  physicians  acquired  a  knowledge 
of  their  profession  cannot  now  be  fully  determined. 
Many  of  them  doubtless  studied  abroad,  since  at 
the  revival  of  learning  many  Irishmen  of  all  pro- 
fessions were  found  occupying  distinguished  posi- 
tions in  the  various  schools  of  Europe.  In  earlier 
times  it  is  probable  that  most  of  the  teaching  was 
done  by  means  of  a  system  of  pupilage,  the 
physician  imparting  his  knowledge  to  his  son  or  to 
his  immediate  dependants,  and  so  carrying  on  the 
hereditary  profession.  The  monastic  institutions 
of  early  Christian  Ireland  were  homes  of  learning, 
but  in  these  places  divinity  and  law  were  the  two 
faculties  most  cultivated,  and  we  do  not  read 
of  any  regular  medical  teaching.  In  the  Middle 
Ages,  however,  medicine  was  often  studied  as  a 
part  of  a  liberal  education,  and  it  is  more  than 
probable  that  many  of  the  students  in  the  monas- 
teries, though  chiefly  occupied  with  the  study  of 
divinity  or  philosophy,  also  studied  medicine  as 
did  the  philosophers  of  Greece  in  the  time  of  Plato 
and  Aristotle.  The  Brehon  Laws,  as  we  have  seen, 


INTRODUCTION  n 

draw  a  distinction  between  the  qualified  and  un- 
qualified physicians,  but  they  do  not  tell  us  what 
the  distinction  was. 

Many  medical  manuscripts  in  the  Irish  language, 
some  dating  as  far  back  as  the  thirteenth  century, 
have  been  preserved,  and  some  of  these  are  known 
to  have  been  the  treasured  books  of  the  old  families 
of  physicians. 

Though  the  earliest  of  these  manuscripts  does 
not  date  earlier  than  the  end  of  the  thirteenth 
century,  some  of  them  are  undoubtedly  copies  of 
earlier  works.  Very  few  of  these  writings  have 
been  fully  examined,  but  those  that  have  are 
chiefly  translations  of  the  Latin  renderings  of  the 
Arabian  physicians  and  their  commentaries  on 
the  writings  of  Hippocrates,  Aristotle,  and  Galen. 
The  existence  of  these  manuscripts  proves  con- 
clusively that  the  Irish  physicians  of  the  time 
were  fully  conversant  with  the  best  medical 
knowledge  current  in  Europe,  and  it  is  probable 
that  it  was  to  a  study  of  such  works,  aided  by 
personal  observation  of  the  sick  under  their  care, 
that  these  men  owed  their  skill  as  physicians. 
Several  of  these  manuscripts  are  to  be  found  in 
the  libraries  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  and 
of  Trinity  College,  as  well  as  in  the  libraries  of 
England  and  Scotland,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 
translations  of  some  at  least  of  them  will  soon 
be  available  for  the  students  of  medical  history. 

Dr.  Norman  Moore  1  has  examined  some  of  the 
Irish  medical  manuscripts  in  the  British  Museum, 

1  Moore,  Med.  in  Ireland. 


12  INTRODUCTION 

and  finds  that  they  are  generally  Irish  transla- 
tions of  the  Latin  works.  One  of  the  most 
celebrated  of  these,  known  as  the  Book  of  the 
O'Hickeys,  is  a  translation  of  the  Lilium  Medi- 
cinae  of  Bernardus  de  Gordon,  the  celebrated 
professor  of  Montpelier,  who  died  in  1305.  The 
book  was  first  printed  in  Naples  in  1480,  and  then 
at  Ferrara  in  1486,  and  twice  in  Venice  before 
1500.  There  is  an  excellent  copy  of  the  second, 
or  Ferrara,  edition  in  the  Worth  Library  at 
Steevens'  Hospital.  Besides  the  manuscript  of 
this  work  in  the  British  Museum  there  are  several 
others  in  the  Irish  language,  notably  one  of 
the  fifteenth  century  in  the  Edinburgh  Uni- 
versity Library,  which  has  been  described  by 
Dr.  Mackintosh.1 

The  existence  of  hospitals  for  the  care  of  the 
sick  is  another  feature  of  Irish  medicine  to  which 
reference  must  be  made.  It  is  doubtful  how  far, 
if  at  all,  these  institutions  were  used  for  teaching 
purposes.  We  have  already  seen  from  the  Brehon 
Laws  that  from  very  early  times  hospitals  were 
in  use  in  Ireland,  and  were  governed  by  rules 
which  appeal  to  us  even  in  these  days  of  advanced 
hygiene.  Though  later  on  many  of  the  hospitals 
were  attached  to  monastic  institutions,  and  were 
used  not  only  for  the  sick  but  also  for  the  aged 
and  infirm,  yet  secular  hospitals  were  also  common 
in  the  country.  Some  of  these  institutions  were 
devoted  specially  to  the  care  of  those  afflicted 
with  leprosy,  a  disease  which  was  common  in 

1  Mackintosh,  p.  170. 


INTRODUCTION  13 

Ireland.  One  of  these  leper  houses,  the  hospital 
of  St.  Stephen  at  Waterford,  is  said  to  have  been 
founded  by  King  John.  It  continued  to  be  used 
as  a  leper  hospital  till  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  when  it  was  converted  to  its 
present  use,  '  As  it  was  thought  that  a  public 
Infirmary  would  best  answer  the  intent  of  the 
pious  benefactor  :  since  leprosy  is  not  a  disease 
now  much  complained  of.' 1  Wilde  tells  us  that 
the  last  leper  was  treated  in  this  hospital  in 

1775- 

In  Dublin  there  were  several  hospitals,  of  which 

the  most  famous  was  perhaps  that  of  St.  John, 
founded  in  the  twelfth  century  by  Alrued  le 
Palmer,  outside  the  Newgate  of  the  city,  on  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  Church  of  SS.  Augustine 
and  John  in  Thomas  Street.  Ware  2  tells  us  that 
this  hospital  contained  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III 
155  sick  persons.  The  Hospital  of  St.  Stephen,3 
founded  in  1344,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Mercer's 
Hospital,  was  a  leper  house  which  was  still  in  use 
in  the  sixteenth  century. 

How  far  these  monastic  hospitals  are  comparable 
with  our  modern  hospitals  it  is  now  very  difficult 
to  judge.  We  have  no  record  of  physicians  or 
surgeons  being  attached  to  them,  or  of  such  per- 
sons using  them  for  the  study  of  disease.  It 
seems  probable  that  they  merely  afforded  a  home 
for  the  sick  poor,  who,  while  there,  were  fed  and 
attended  by  the  brothers  of  the  house.  These 

1  Wilde,  Census  1851.  *  Ware,  De  Hibern.,  p.  143. 

1  Evans,  Irish  Builder,  October  15,  1896,  p.  218. 


I4  INTRODUCTION 

monks  no  doubt  had  considerable  skill  in  medicine, 
but  they  were  not  the  regular  practitioners  of  the 
country,  and  the  experience  which  they  gained 
from  their  contact  with  the  sick  added  little  to 
the  general  stock  of  medical  knowledge. 

In  the  year  1542,  when  the  Act  of  Henry  VIII 
was  passed  for  the  suppression  of  the  monasteries, 
most  of  these  hospitals  were  closed,  and  in  the 
seventeenth  century  there  were  few,  if  any,  civil 
hospitals  in  active  existence  in  Ireland. 

The  only  medical  corporation  existing  in  Ireland 
at  this  time  of  which  we  have  any  record  was  that 
of  the  Barber-Surgeons  in  Dublin.1  The  Guild  of 
the  Art  of  Barbers,  or  Guild  of  St.  Mary  Mag- 
dalene, of  the  City  of  Dublin,  was  established  by 
Royal  Charter  on  the  i8th  of  October  in  the 
twenty-fifth  year  of  Henry  VI  (1446),  for  the 
promotion  and  exercise  of  the  art  of  Chirurgery. 
This  guild,  consisting  of  both  men  and  women, 
continued  its  separate  existence  till  the  year  1576. 
During  this  time  there  appears  to  have  sprung  up 
a  body  of  surgeons,  for  the  Charter  of  Elizabeth 
(1576)  states  : 2 

'  because  there  are  now  two  distinct  Societies  practising 
the  said  art  &  faculty  in  our  city  aforesaid,  viz.  :  one  of 
barbers  and  the  other  of  Chirurgeons,  which  said  Society 
of  Chirurgeons  is  not  yet  constituted  or  incorporated  into 
any  body  politick  ;  and  it  being  necessary  to  blend,  joyn, 
and  reduce  the  said  distinct  and  separate  Societies  of 
barbers  and  Chirurgeons  into  one  body,  that  in  one  close, 
aggregate  and  connected  fellowship  the  art  and  science 
of  chirurgery  may  flourish  as  well  in  theory  as  in  practice.' 
1  Moore,  Hist.  Pharm.  *  Ibid. 


INTRODUCTION  15 

In  a  further  Charter  dated  February  10,  1687, 
the  apothecaries  and  periwig-makers  were  united 
to  the  barber-chirurgeons  in  the  Guild  of  St.  Mary 
Magdalene  and  remained  so  connected  till  Sep- 
tember 18,  1745,  when  the  apothecaries  obtained 
a  separate  Charter  incorporating  them  as  the 
Guild  of  St.  Luke.  The  barbers  and  surgeons 
continued  united,  in  name  at  all  events,  till  the 
foundation  in  1784  of  the  College  of  Surgeons.1 

In  Ireland  during  the  latter  half  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  progress  in  medicine  had  ceased, 
and,  indeed,  like  other  branches  of  learning,  the 
study  of  medicine  seems  to  have  gone  backward. 
There  is  much  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
part  taken  by  the  monasteries  in  Irish  culture. 
Mahaffy 2  in  his  Epoch  in  Irish  History  gives 
weighty  reasons  for  thinking  that  their  share  was 
a  small  one,  but  he  seems  to  have  underrated  it. 
As  teaching  centres  they  may  not  have  been  very 
active,  but  they  secured  a  home  for  learned  men, 
and  afforded  a  safe  repository  for  the  manuscripts 
and  other  accumulations  of  a  long  line  of  scholars. 
With  the  suppression  of  these  houses  the  scholars 
were  scattered  and  many  of  them  left  the  country 
to  seek  a  safer  refuge  in  foreign  universities.  The 
continuous  fighting  of  the  Irish  among  themselves 
and  with  the  English  of  the  pale,  left  little  time 
or  opportunity  for  studying  the  arts  of  peace. 
The  houses  of  the  great  chieftains  could  no  longer 
give  shelter  to  learning,  and  no  institution  had 

1  Cameron,  Hist.  R.  C.  S.  I.,  p.  89. 
*  Mahaffy,  Epoch,  chap.  i. 


16  INTRODUCTION 

been  founded  to  take  their  place.  The  art  of 
printing,  introduced  into  Europe  in  the  middle  of 
the  fifteenth  century,  did  not  reach  Ireland  till 
nearly  a  century  later,  and  very  few  books  were 
printed  in  the  country  before  iGoo.1 

The  hereditary  physicians  still  continued  with 
their  clans,  but  they  had  little  leisure  to  advance 
the  study  of  their  profession,  or  even  to  keep 
themselves  acquainted  with  the  advances  which 
were  made  elsewhere.  We  find  no  Irish  manu- 
scripts of  the  works  of  men  like  Vesalius,  as  we 
do  of  the  work  of  Bernard  of  Gordon,  nor  is  there 
any  evidence  of  the  presence  in  the  country  at 
this  time  of  printed  copies  of  the  works  of  the 
great  European  physicians.  The  condition  of 
learning  at  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth 
century  was  bad,  and  there  seemed  to  be  little 
ground  for  hope  of  improvement. 

1  Dix,  Part  I,  p.  9; 


CHAPTER  II 
EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

As  the  darkest  period  of  the  night  is  said  to 
be  that  which  immediately  precedes  the  dawn, 
so  when  the  outlook  was  blackest  for  Irish 
learning  Queen  Elizabeth  granted  the  Charter 
founding  the  University  of  Dublin  and  Trinity 
College. 

This  Charter,  which  is  dated  March  3,  1591/2, 
states  that 

'  Since  it  has  been  ascertained  that  the  institution  of 
certain  degrees  in  Arts  and  faculties  have  been  of  assis- 
tance to  learning  we  ordain  by  these  presents  that  the 
Students  of  this  College  of  the  Holy  and  Undivided 
Trinity  of  Queen  Elizabeth  near  Dublin,  shall  have 
liberty  and  power  of  obtaining  the  degrees  of  Bachelor, 
Master  and  Doctor,  each  at  its  proper  time  in  all  arts  and 
faculties.' 

Thus,  though  no  special  mention  is  made  of  the 
faculty  of  medicine,  it  was  undoubtedly  intended 
that  it  should  be  taught  within  the  halls  of  the 
College.  Moreover,  one  of  the  first  functions  con- 
nected with  the  University  had  a  medical  bearing. 
In  pursuance  of  the  decision  of  the  Corporation 
of  Dublin  at  their  meeting  on  the  '  Fourth  Friday 
after  the  25  December,  1590  ',  '  that  the  scite  of 
Alhallowes  and  the  parkes  thereof  shalbe  wholly 


i8    EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

gyven  for  the  erection  of  a  College  there/  J  the 
deed  granting  this  site  was  drawn  up  and  signed 
on  July  21,  I592.2  On  March  13,  1592/3,  the 
first  stone  of  the  College  buildings  was  laid  by 
the  Mayor,  Thomas  Smith,  Apothecary.  This 
Thomas  Smith  was  a  man  of  some  repute  in  his 
profession,  for  we  find  that  in  1566  he  was  granted 
a  concordatum  in  the  following  terms  :  '  Smythe. 
Thapothecaries  Concordatum  that  evry  Counsaillo 
shall  give  hym  a  yerely  Reward  of  XXs.  and  evry 
of  the  Army  i  daies  wags  yerely.' 3  This  grant, 
or  Concordatum,  was  a  gift  made  by  Order  of 
Council  in  cases  when  it  was  deemed  right  to  give 
assistance  to  some  person  or  corporation,  although 
such  person  or  corporation  was  not  on  the  regular 
establishment  or  pay-list  of  the  country.  The 
early  support  which  the  College  received  from  the 
Government  was  largely  granted  in  this  way. 

The  foundation  of  Trinity  College  did  not  at 
first  effect  any  change  in  the  medical  teaching 
or  practice  of  the  country.  The  record  in  the 
Particular  Book  of  the  Concordatum  of  forty 
pounds  a  year  described  as  '  the  Physician's  pay  ' 
has  been  regarded  by  many  as  the  origin  of  the 
medical  professorship  of  the  University.  It  has 
also  been  suggested  that  the  money  was  granted 
to  the  College  in  order  that  the  services  of  a 
physician  might  be  retained  in  the  College,  much 
as  the  Concordatum  was  granted  to  Thomas  Smith 
in  order  that 

1  C.A.R..  vol.  ii,  p.  240.  •  Mahaffy,  Epoch,  p.  63. 

'  C.  S.  P.  ;  Gilbert,  Hist.,  vol.  i,  p.  428. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE    19 

'  he  shoulde  be  reteyned  and  enhabeted  from  hencefurth 
the  better  to  provide  from  tyme  to  tyme  during  his 
contynuance  here  fresshe  and  newe  druggs  and  other 
Apothecarye  wares  in  plentifull  maner  to  the  nedefull  and 
good  helpe  of  suche  of  the  Englishe  byrthe  in  this  realme 
resident  and  of  the  nobilitie  and  others  of  the  graver  and 
civylier  sorte  of  this  realme  wch  shall  covett  the  same 
for  their  redye  mony.'  * 

That  such  an  office  would  be  necessary  in  the 
College  is  evident  from  a  note  in  the  Register  in 
June  i6o4,2  that  '  the  Colledg  broke  upp  because 
of  the  plague  '.  It  is,  however,  almost  certain 
that  the  Concordatum  of  '  the  Physician's  pay ' 
had  nothing  whatever  to  say  to  either  the  teaching 
of  medicine  or  the  remuneration  of  a  medical  man 
in  the  College.  The  following  description  given 
by  Harris  of  this  grant  makes  this  matter  quite 
clear  : 

'  Archbishop  Loftus,  who  had  been  a  great  instrument 
in  the  first  foundation,  was  one  of  the  lords  justices  in 
1597  and  1598,  in  conjunction  with  sir  Robert  Gardiner, 
chief  justice  of  the  queen's  bench.  These  lords  justices, 
"  in  regard  of  the  decay  of  the  revenues  of  the  college  in 
those  times  of  rebellion,  and  as  the  same  was  of  her 
majesty's  princely  foundation,  having  no  other  means 
of  relief,  granted  to  the  college  a  concordatum  of  40^. 
sterling  per  annum,  and  also  the  allowance  of  six  dead 
payes  out  of  such  cheques  as  should  be  imposed  upon  her 
majesty's  army,"  and  the  earl  of  Essex,  lord  lieutenant 
in  1599,  reciting  the  said  grant,  by  concordatum  dated 
the  3d  of  May  that  year,  continued  the  same  during 
pleasure,  and  ordered  the  concordatum  of  40^.  a  year  to 
be  paid  quarterly,  and  the  dead  payes,  amounting  to 

1  Gilbert,  Hist.,  vol.  i,  p.  427. 
1  Reg.,  vol.  i,  p.  25  a. 


20    EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

5/.  I2s.  a  month  to  be  paid  monthly.  In  November  the 
same  year  archbishop  Loftus  and  sir  George  Carey,  being 
then  lords  justices,  the  fellows  and  corporation  of  the 
college  petitioned  them  for  "  present  relief,  setting  forth 
the  utter  decay  of  the  college  rents  in  the  then  general 
revolt,  whereby  they  were  fallen  into  great  want,  and 
not  able  to  hold  their  society  together  ".  Upon  which 
petition  they  obtained  a  warrant  on  the  3Oth  of  that 
month,  for  the  payment  of  405.  a  week  out  of  the  enter- 
tainment appointed  for  a  canoneer,  to  continue  till  the 
vice-treasurer  should  receive  warrant  to  the  contrary. 
On  the  2Qth  of  January  following,  the  lords  justices  and 
council  issued  another  concordatum  in  behalf  of  the 
college,  reciting,  "  that,  forasmuch  as  by  several  lords 
deputies,  lords  justices,  and  the  late  lord  lieutenant, 
there  had  been  granted  to  the  provost  and  some  of  the 
fellows  of  Trinity  college  near  Dublin,  a  concordatum 
of  40/.  sterl.  yearly,  for  keeping  a  publick  and  standing 
lecture  unto  the  state,  and  that  by  the  death  of  Matthias 
Holmes,  late  fellow  of  the  college,  the  same  place  is 
fallen  void ;  they  therefore  order,  that  the  said  college 
should  have  as  her  majesty's  bounty,  for  the  better 
maintenance  of  the  provost,  and  to  the  use  before  men- 
tioned, the  said  sum  of  40/.  sterling  yearly,  to  be  paid 
to  them  out  of  such  fines,  impost  of  wines,  and  other 
casualties  as  should  come  to  the  vice-treasurer's  hands, 
to  be  paid  quarterly,  until  contrary  directions  be  issued".'1 

The  Matthias  Holmes  here  referred  to  was 
elected  a  Fellow  of  the  College  in  1593,  and  he 
is  described  by  Ware  z  as  '  Lecturer  to  the  State 
of  Ireland  for  which  he  received  forty  pound  per 
Annum  out  of  the  concordatum  '.  Holmes  died 
in  1599  ;  several  tracts  by  him  are  preserved  in 
manuscript  in  the  College  Library. 

|  Harris.  Hist,  of  Dublin,  p.  399  ;   Ware,  vol.  ii,  p.  249. 
Ware's  Writers,  bk.  ii,  p.  329. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE    21 

Further  confirmation  of  this  view  of  '  the  Physi- 
cian's pay '  is  found  in  the  following  entries  in 
the  Calendar  of  State  Papers,  Ireland  : 

'  March  13,  1598/9.  The  Provost  and  Fellows  of 
Trinity  College  near  Dublin,  for  the  physician's  fee 
allowed  unto  them  by  the  State,  untill  a  physician  shall 
be  appointed,  viz.,  for  a  year,  ended  ultimo  Septembris. 
40/.' ! 

'  Concordatums  allowed  from  April  14,  1599  to  17  July 
following. 

'  To  the  society  of  Trinity  College,  for  a  half-year's 
annuity  ending  ultimo  March,  zol? 

'  To  the  said  society  for  six  dead  pays  for  four  months 
ending  10  Junii.  22/.  8s. 

'  Book  of  Concordatums  granted  beginning  primo 
Martii  1588/9  and  ending  decimo  Novembris  1599. 

'  The  Society  of  Trinity  College  near  Dublin,  for  six 
dead  pays  at  8d.  le  piece  per  diem  for  six  months  (and) 
a  half  ending  ultimo  Septembris  1599.  $61.  8s. 

'  The  said  Society  for  one  year's  fee  ended  eodem  die 
et  anno  ut  supra.  40^.' 3 

It  was  a  common  practice  at  this  time  for  the 
State  grant  to  be  described  and  denned  as  the 
pay  of  some  officer,  and  '  the  physician's  pay ' 
was  evidently  the  pay  of  a  physician,  just  as  the 
'  405.  a  week  out  of  the  entertainment  appointed 
for  a  canoneer '  was  money  which  would  other- 
wise have  been  paid  to  '  Gunners  who  were  then 
out  of  ye  Kingdom'.4  The  'dead  pays'  were 
evidently  the  pay  of  soldiers  which  had  fallen  to 
the  government  on  account  of  the  death  of  the 
recipients. 

1  C.S.P.,  1598-9,  p.  490.  *  Ibid.,  1599-1600,  p.  98. 

*  Ibid.,  1599-1600,  p.  240.  *  T.C.D.  Cal.t  p.  395. 

C3 


22    EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

Later  on,  as  we  shall  see  in  the  history  of  the 
College,  the  Professorship  of  Medicine  was  en- 
dowed by  the  government  when  the  grant  was 
made  to  John  Stearne  of  £60  a  year,  and  it  was 
evidently  to  this,  and  not  to  the  Concordatum, 
that  Henry  Styles,  Professor  of  Laws  in  Trinity 
College,  refers  in  his  petition  to  the  king  dated 
October  24,  1668,  when  he  says  : l  '  The  Pro- 
fessors of  Divinity  and  Physic  have  encouragement 
in  their  studies  by  salaries  allowed,  the  former  out 
of  Ancient  College  revenue,  the  other  out  of  the 
Exchequer,'  and  he  goes  on  to  ask  that  the  Pro- 
fessor of  Law  '  May  have  the  same  encouragement 
as  those  of  Divinity  and  Physic  '. 

The  first  Statutes  of  the  University  and  the 
College  lay  down  regulations  both  for  degrees  in 
medicine  and  also  for  establishing  a  medical 
fellowship.  In  a  copy  of  these  statutes,  partly 
in  the  handwriting  of  Sir  William  Temple,  Provost 
between  1609  and  1627,  and  partly  in  that  of 
William  Bedell,  Provost  between  1627  and  1629, 
there  is  the  following  :  * 

Cap.  XIII.    De  Doctoratu  in  Medicina. 

'  That  which  we  require  in  the  case  of  a  student  of  Law 
we  likewise  require  in  the  case  of  a  student  of  Medicine  ; 
namely  that  he  shall  be  a  Master  of  Arts,  and  that,  after 
taking  the  degree  of  Master,  he  shall  have  diligently 
devoted  seven  years  to  the  study  of  Medicine  before 
he  comes  forward  to  seek  that  degree. 

'  Moreover  we  require  that  he  must  on  six  occasions 
prelect  in  the  School  of  Physicians  ;  that  he  must  be 

1  C.  S.  P.,  1666-9,  P-  654.  *  Barrett  Book,  p.  313. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE    23 

present  at  three  anatomical  dissections  ;  that  he  must 
on  four  occasions  successfully  carry  to  a  conclusion  the 
cure  of  different  diseases  ;  that  after  frequent  attendance 
in  the  laboratories  of  the  apothecaries  he  must  throughly 
know  and  keep  clearly  in  his  mind  all  the  simples  and  the 
drugs  compounded  from  those  simples  that  are  met  with 
in  the  laboratories  ;  and  lastly  that  he  must  on  three 
occasions  respond  and  as  many  times  oppose  in  his  faculty. 

'  When  all  these  requirements  have  been  fulfilled  then 
he  can  be  dignified  by  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Medicine. 

'  If  some  failure  prevents  the  fulfilment  of  any  one 
of  these  requirements  then  the  same  course  is  to  be 
adopted  as  has  been  prescribed  in  the  Statute  concerning 
the  Doctors  of  Law.' 

With  regard  to  the  position  of  Medical  Fellow, 
we  find  the  following  statute  adopted  by  Provost 
Bedell : ' 

De   Admittendis  in  Collegium  Professoribus  Juris- 
prudentiae  et  Medicinae.     Cap.  17. 

'  Whereas  the  study  of  Jurisprudence  and  Medicine  is 
both  in  accordance  with  the  Charter  of  the  foundation 
of  the  College  and  the  current  statutes  of  Colleges  in 
England,  and  in  as  much  as  it  is  not  only  a  fitting  distinc- 
tion for  any  body  of  students  into  which  it  is  admitted, 
but  also  as  it  imparts  a  singular  utility  both  to  the 
Church  and  the  State  ;  Therefore  our  will  and  pleasure 
is  that  it  be  lawful  that  one  of  the  Fellows  be  specially 
selected  by  the  decision  of  the  Provost  and  the  majority 
of  the  Senior  Fellows  for  the  teaching  of  Jurisprudence 
and  another  for  the  study  of  Medicine,  such  appointment 
to  be  entered  upon  immediately  after  election,  or  within 
six  months  after  taking  out  the  degree  of  Master.  But 
if  it  happen  that  such  appointment  be  made  before 
admission  to  that  degree,  our  will  is  that  the  clause  in  the 

1  Mahafiy,  Epoch,  p.  357. 


24    EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

Oath  (de  fine  studiorum)  be  omitted  by  him  who  is 
elected  ;  or  that  the  terms  "  Jurisprudence  "  or  "  Medi- 
cine "  be  respectively  inserted  therein  instead  of  the 
term  "  Theology  ".  And  as  regards  the  duties  required 
of  the  Clerical  Fellows  during  each  term,  it  is  our  will 
that  such  be  not  remitted  in  the  case  of  the  Professors 
of  Jurisprudence  and  of  Medicine,  but  that  such  be  duly 
performed  by  them,  just  as  if  they  were  Commonplaces 
or  Theological  Disputations.  Moreover  it  is  our  will  that 
every  Professor  of  Law  and  Medicine  upon  the  comple- 
tion of  the  first  year  of  his  Professorship  deliver  prelec- 
tions in  his  faculty  once  in  each  term.' 

Laud,  in  the  Caroline  Statutes,  which  were 
given  to  the  College  in  1637,  modifies  this  as 
follows  : 

'  But  our  Will  is  that  no  one  be  compelled  to  these 
Studies  against  his  Will,  but  that  one  be  chosen  who 
makes  choice  of  these  Studies  respectively,  if  such  a  one 
can  be  found  among  the  Fellows  ;  but  if  no  one  be 
willing  to  quit  Divinity,  and  apply  himself  to  these 
Studies,  in  that  Case  our  Will  is,  that  the  Fellow  who  is 
the  youngest  Master  of  Arts  be  always  chosen  ;  and  if  he 
who  is  so  chosen  refuses  to  take  upon  him  that  Profession, 
he  shall  be  ipso  facto  expelled  from  this  our  College.' 1 

Though  the  first  evidence  we  have  of  the  statute 
relating  to  the  medical  fellowship  is  in  the  time 
of  Bedell,  it  is  certain  that  such  a  position  existed 
at  a  much  earlier  date.  In  the  Barrett  MSS.,2 
under  the  date  of  October  24,  1618,  it  is  stated  : 
'  Sir  Temple  (probably  John,  afterwards  Master 
of  the  Rolls,  and  the  Provost's  son)  and  Sir  Kelly 
were  chosen  junior  Fellows.  The  first  of  them 
for  the  Physician's  Place,  the  other  for  the  Pro- 

1  Bolton,  Statutes,  p.  80.  »  Barrett  Book,  p.  151. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE    25 

fession  of  a  Divine.'  Again,  on  December  6,  1620, 
Thomas  Beere  '  was  chosen  Fellow  for  the  Physi- 
cian's Place  '.* 

Neither  Temple  nor  Beere,  however,  took  medical 
degrees  in  the  University,  and  there  is  no  evi- 
dence that  either  of  them  had  any  medical 
qualifications.  Temple,  who  was  born  in  1600, 
became  Master  of  the  Rolls  in  1640,  was  created 
Knight  and  Privy  Councillor  (Ireland),  and  sat  as 
M.P.  for  Chichester  in  the  English  Parliament, 
and  afterwards  for  Carlow  in  the  Irish  Parliament. 
He  was  the  author  of  the  History  of  the  Irish 
Rebellion  published  in  London  in  1646.  He  was 
the  father  of  Sir  William  Temple,  Bt.,  the  cele- 
brated statesman  and  grandfather  of  Henry, 
first  Viscount  Palmerston,  so  created  March  12, 
1722.  John  Temple  died  November  14,  1677,  and 
was  buried  at  the  foot  of  the  Provost's  seat  in 
the  old  College  Chapel.2  Of  Thomas  Beere  we 
know  little,  except  that  he  took  his  B.A.  in  the 
summer  of  1614,  and  his  M.A.  in  i62o.3 

In  spite  of  these  regulations  for  medical  studies 
there  seems  to  have  been  no  graduate  in  medicine 
in  the  University  for  many  years.  In  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  public  commencements  held  in  1616, 
in  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  we  are  told  that  during 
the  twenty-three  years  since  the  foundation  of 
the  University  there  had  been  one  degree  granted 
in  Physic,4  but  of  this  there  is  no  record  in  the 

1  Barrett  Book,  p.  151. 

*  Ware,  vol.  ii,  p.  350  ;   T.  C.  D.  Cal. 

•  Todd's  Roll.  *  Taylor,  Hist.  T.  C.  D.,  p.  16. 


26    EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

University  Register,  or  in  the  Roll  of  Graduates 
published  by  Todd. 

The  study  of  medicine  in  Ireland  was  not,  how- 
ever, lost  sight  of,  as  we  may  see  by  the  letter 
of  Charles  I,  to  the  Lord  Deputy  Falkland,  dated 
Westminster,  August  5,  1626.  In  this  letter  the 
king  speaks  of  the  zeal  which  his  father  '  always 
had  to  reduce  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland  to  civility, 
and  to  an  uniform  manner  of  Government  with 
the  realm  of  England ',  and  then  goes  on  to  say  : 

'  Wee,  therefore,  in  imitation  of  so  Royall  an  example 
have  now  taken  into  our  consideration  that  the  estab- 
lishing and  practice  of  Learning  and  humane  Sciences 
is  not  a  little  available  thereunto ;  and  amongst  others 
that  laudable  and  necessary  art  of  Physick,  the  practise 
whereof,  as  we  are  informed,  is  daily  abused  in  that 
our  Kingdom  by  wandering,  ignorant  montebanks  and 
Empyricks,  who  for  want  of  restraint  do  much  abound  to 
the  daily  impaireing  of  the  healths,  and  Hazarding  of  the 
Lives  in  generall  of  our  good  Subjects  there.  For  the 
Reformation  of  which  abuse,  Wee  think  it  fitt,  upon  your 
recommendation,  and  hereby  doe  require  and  authorize 
you,  with  the  advice  of  some  of  our  learned  Councill 
there,  by  Letters  patents  to  be  made  and  past  from  us, 
our  Heirs  and  successors,  under  the  great  seale  of  that  our 
Realme — To  erect  in  our  Citty  of  Dublin,  in  that  our 
Kingdom,  a  colledge,  society  corporation  of  Physicians, 
according  to  the  Rule  and  forme  of  the  Charter  heretofore 
granted  to  the  Physicians  in  our  Citty  of  London  for  the 
incorporating  of  them.' x 

The  intended  College  was  to  be  given  power  to 
purchase  lands  to  the  annual  value  of  forty  pounds 

1  Gilbert,  Hist.,  vol.  iii,  p.  10  ;  Smith,  Origin  Col.  P.,  p.  89 ; 
Belcher,  Mem.  Stearne,  p.  18. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE    27 

Irish,  and  was  to  make  laws  for  the  government 
of  physicians  practising  in  Dublin,  or  within 
twenty  miles  thereof. 

This  matter  also  was  engaging  the  attention  of 
Provost  Bedell,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  following 
letters.1 

Writing  from  London,  April  i,  1628,  to  Archbishop 
James  Usher,  concerning  College  affairs,  he  says  : 

'  And  shortly  it  seems  to  me,  that  with  one  labour,  the 
University  might  be  brought  into  a  more  perfect  form, 
and  yet  without  touching  our  Charter.  At  my  being  in 
Dublin,  there  came  to  me  one  Dr.  deLaune  a  Physician, 
bred  in  Immanuel  Colledg :  Who  in  speech  with  me, 
discovered  their  purpose  to  procure  a  Patent,  like  to  that 
which  the  Colledg  of  Physicians  hath  in  London.  I  noted 
the  thing,  and  partly  by  that  occasion,  and  partly  also 
the  desire  of  the  Fellows,  to  extend  their  time  of  stay  in 
the  Colledg  ;  I  have  drawn  a  Plot  of  my  Thoughts  in  that 
behalf,  which  I  send  your  Grace  herewith.  I  have  im- 
parted the  same  generally  to  my  Lord  of  Canterbury  ; 
who  desireth  that  your  Grace  would  seriously  consider  of 
it,  and,  to  use  his  own  words,  That  it  may  be  weighed  with 
Gold  Weights  ;  and  if  it  be  found  fit,  will  concur  thereto 
when  the  time  shall  be.  I  could  have  wished  to  have 
been  present  with  you  at  the  survey  of  it,  to  have  rendred 
the  reason  of  some  things,  which  will  now  perhaps  be  e/>7j/xo 
/3oTj077o-ai>ro? ;  but  your  Wisdom,  Experience,  and  Knowledg 
of  the  Place,  will  easily  pierce  through,  and  disperse  all 
those  Mists  which  perhaps  overcloud  my  understanding ; 
and  howsoever  I  shall  hereby,  dare  sapienti  occasionem.' 

Writing  again  to  the  Archbishop  from  '  Hornin- 
gerth,  April  the  I5th,  1628,'  Bedell  says  : 

'  I  suppose  it  hath  been  an  Error  all  this  while,  to 
neglect  the  Faculties  of  Law  and  Physick,  and  attend 
1  Parr,  p.  388. 


28    EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

only  to  the  ordering  of  one  poor  Colledg  of  Divines  ; 
whereas,  with  a  little  more  labour,  and  a  few  Privileges 
attained,  a  great  many  more  good  Wits  might  have  been 
allured  to  study,  and  seasoned  with  Piety,  and  made 
Instruments  for  the  bringing  in  Learning,  Civility,  and 
Religion,  into  that  Country.  I  did  communicate  the 
Plat  to  my  Lord  of  Canterbury,  at  my  first  being  with 
him,  especially  in  that  point  of  admitting  all  Students 
that  should  be  matriculated,  though  they  lodg  in  Dublin 
in  private  Houses  ;  and  of  the  four  Faculties,  with  their 
several  Promoters,  &c.,  who  seemed  not  to  dislike  it  ; 
but  required  it  should  be  maturely  thought  of,  by  your 
Grace  and  the  University,  and  promised  his  assistance 
if  it  were  found  fit.  At  the  same  time  I  left  with  him  the 
Statutes  of  our  Colledg,  which  I  had  this  Winter  written 
out  with  mine  own  hand,  and  caused  to  be  fair  bound. 
He  retained  them  with  him  till  the  very  morning  of  my 
departing  from  London.  At  the  same  time  he  signified 
his  good  approbation  of  the  whole  ;  only  accounted  that 
too  strait,  for  the  Provost's  absence  but  six  weeks,  whereas 
many  Causes  there  should  be,  which  would  require  longer 
discontinuance.  I  shewed  his  Grace,  that  Colledg- 
Business  was  excepted,  and  that  we  had  not  innovated 
any  thing  in  that  Statute,  it  being  so  before  my  Elec- 
tion. Another  Point  he  disliked,  was,  touching  Students 
wearing  Gowns  always  in  the  Colledg,  and  if  it  might  be 
when  they  went  into  Town.  Whereas  that  of  all  other 
(said  he)  would  have  been  provided  for.  I  answered, 
The  Streets  in  Dublin  are  very  foul,  and  that  by  the 
Statutes,  Scholars  were  not  permitted  to  go  ordinarily 
into  the  Town,  without  their  Tutors  consent.  He  said, 
they  might,  if  the  Streets  were  never  so  foul,  take  their 
Gowns  under  their  Arms.  I  told  him  that  this  was  also 
an  old  Statute,  e're  I  came  there.'  * 

Writing  from  '  Horningerth  this  ijih  of  January 
1627/8  ',  to  '  Mr.   Dr.  Ward,   Master  of  Sidney 

1  Parr,  p.  391. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE    29 

Colledge,'  Bedell  makes  inquiries  about  the  Uni- 
versity of  Cambridge,  and  asks  : 

'  To  what  vse  your  matriculation  money  is  put :  and 
how  the  Schooles  were  first  founded,  and  are  yet  repaired, 
if  you  haue  vnderstood  what  summes  of  money  Professors 
of  Law  or  Physick  do  pay  to  the  University  for  their 
chairs,  and  whether  the  Professors  of  Divinity  do  the 
like  or  not.  Whether  the  Physitians  and  lawiers  do  make 
any  Profession  at  their  taking  Degrees  of  Dr.,  as  Divines 
do.  And  the  copy  of  the  Profession  of  Divinity  if  you  can 
conveniently  come  by  it.' l 

Bedell,  however,  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Kil- 
more  in  1629,  and  at  once  resigned  his  position 
as  Provost,  and  nothing  more  seems  to  have  come 
of  these  proposals  at  the  time.  During  the  next 
thirty  years  the  College  records  are  silent  on 
medical  matters  except  for  the  mention  made  in 
the  Statutes  of  Charles  I  in  1637. 

In  the  first  fifty  years  of  her  existence  Trinity 
College  had  hardly  justified  the  hopes  formed  at 
her  foundation  as  far  as  medicine  was  concerned. 
Medicine  was  still  much  in  the  same  condition  as 
it  was  when  Bacon,  writing  in  the  beginning  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  says  of  it  : 

'  Medicine  therefore  (as  we  have  seen)  hitherto  hath  been 
such,  as  hath  been  more  professed,  than  laboured ;  and 
yet  more  laboured  than  advanced  ;  seeing  the  pains 
bestowed  thereon,  hath  been  rather  in  a  circle,  than  in 
progression.  For  I  find  much  Iteration  but  small  Addition 
in  Writers  of  that  Faculty."*1 

Dermod  O'Meara,  writing  in  1619  to  the  Lord 
Deputy,  Sir  Oliver  St.  John,  gives  us  an  interesting 

1  Shuckburgh,  p.  274.  *  Advan.  of  Learning,  p.  121. 


30    EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

glimpse  of  medical  practice  in  Dublin  at  the  time. 
O'Meara,1  a  poet  and  a  physician,  was  born  in 
the  County  Tipperary  and  educated  at  Oxford. 
He  says  : 

'  There  are  certainly  more  persons  in  Dublin  at  the 
present  day  practising  the  Art  of  Medicine  than  any  other 
art,  yet  there  are  very  few  of  them  who  have  the  six 
qualifications  which  Hippocrates  requires  in  a  Medical 
Doctor.  Here,  not  only  cursed  mountebanks,  ignorant 
barbers,  and  shameless  quack  compounders,  but  also 
persons  of  every  other  craft  whatsoever,  loose  women,  and 
those  of  the  dregs  of  humanity  who  are  either  tired  of  their 
own  proper  art  and  craft  or  inflammed  with  an  unbridled 
passion  for  making  money,  all  have  free  leave  to  profane 
the  holy  temple  of  Asculapius.  Here  might  not  one  justly 
exclaim  in  the  words  of  the  poet 

Here  are  those 

Who,  groping  in  the  dark,  are  licensed  still 
To  rack  the  sick,  and  murder  men  at  will. 

Malpractice,  indeed,  takes  place  in  every  country  in  the 
world,  but  not  everywhere  with  impunity.  In  every  well 
governed  city  and  state  legal  precaution  is  taken  that 
no  one  should  essay  medical  practice  unless  one  who  is 
duly  qualified  by  the  public  certificate  and  authorisation 
of  some  University.  In  these  Cities  and  States  no  barber 
dares  to  open  a  vein,  no  compounder  dares  to  sell  medi- 
cines, much  less  to  attend  patients,  without  a  medical 
Doctor's  prescription.  Thrice  happy  were  this  royal  city 
of  ours — thrice  happy  our  whole  state — had  they  the 
benefit  of  such  wise  legal  precautions.' 2 

In  contrast  with  this  we  may  put  the  statement 
of  John  Baptist  van  Helmont,  who  was  born  in 
1577  an<3  died  in  1644.  In  the  collected  edition 

1  Ware,  p.  108.  «  Gilbert,  Hist.,  vol.  i,  p.  428. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE    31 

of  his  works,  first  published  after  his  death  in 
1648,  in  the  Confessio  Authoris,  we  read  : * 

'  For  I  remember  that  the  Chieftains  of  Ireland  used 
each  to  give  a  piece  of  land  to  a  '  healer  '  who  lived  with 
them — not  one  who  had  come  back  trained  from  the 
Universities,  but  one  who  could  really  make  sick  people 
well.  Each  such  healer,  I  may  mention,  has  a  book 
crammed  with  specific  remedies  bequeathed  to  him  by 
his  forefathers.  Accordingly  he  who  inherits  the  book 
inherits  also  the  piece  of  land.  This  book  describes  the 
symptoms  of  ailments  and  the  country  remedies  used  for 
each ;  and  the  people  of  Ireland  are  cured  more  success- 
fully when  ill,  and  have  generally  far  better  health  than 
the  people  of  Italy,  who  in  the  several  village  com- 
munities have  their  practitioners  living  on  the  blood  of 
their  unhappy  patients.  Therefore  I  said  to  myself  :— 
'  What  foolish  mistake  has  mislead  you  ;  you  may  have 
thought  out  what  is  destined  to  be  a  great  moment  for 
your  neighbour,  although  Universities  have  scoffed  at  your 
poor  dissertations  and  trampled  them  under  foot  ;  and 
even  though  it  has  not  been  for  your  own  vain-glory's 
sake  that  you  have  written  them,  still  all  efforts  are  vain 
whose  issue  rests  only  in  the  hands  of  men." 

The  Rebellion  in  1641,  followed  by  the  Civil 
War  in  England  and  the  Commonwealth,  put  an 
end  for  the  time  to  all  hope  of  improvement,  but 
the  seeds  so  carefully  sown  by  Temple  and  Bedell 
were  to  bear  good  fruit  after  the  Restoration  of 
Charles  II. 

1  Op.  omnia,  1682,  p.  13. 


CHAPTER  III 
TRINITY  HALL 

IN  the  Assembly  Rolls  of  the  Corporation  of 
Dublin  for  '  the  Second  Friday  after  Easter,  1604  ', 
Easter  Day  being  on  the  8th  of  April,  1604,  there 
is  the  following  record  : * 

'  Whereas  Mr.  Doctor  Challinor,  Mr.  John  King, 
Mr.  James  Ware,  and  Mr.  James  Carroll  did  in  last 
Christmas  assembly  prefer  a  peticion  to  undertake  to 
build  a  Bridewell  near  this  city,  which  is  now  in  building  ; 
and  whereas  the  same  is  a  chargeable  work,  and  is  to  be 
furthered  by  everyone  that  hath  a  feeling  of  the  good 
which  thereby  will  redound  to  the  city  in  particular,  and 
generally  to  the  whole  kingdom  :  ordered,  that,  for  the 
above  purpose,  an  estate  in  fee-simple  be  granted,  under 
the  city  seal,  to  three  persons  to  be  nominated  by  the 
Mayor,  and  three  by  the  petitioners,  of  so  much  land  as 
shall  be  thought  convenient  in  the  Hoggen  Green,  from  the 
gate  in  the  north  towards  Tirrells  Park  in  the  south,  and 
from  the  wall  leading  from  the  gate  in  the  west  towards 
the  Butts  eastward.  The  building  to  be  named  Bridewell, 
and  to  be  a  place  of  punishment  for  offenders,  and  for 
putting  idle  persons  to  work  ;  regulations  to  correspond 
with  those  of  London  Bridewell ;  master  and  officials 
to  be  appointed  by  and  under  jurisdiction  of  Mayor, 
Sheriffs,  commons  and  citizens  ;  the  building  to  be  used 
solely  as  a  Bridewell.  The  ground,  according  to  the 
survey,  contains  in  breadth  one  hundred  and  twelve  yards, 
in  length  thirty-three  yards.' 

1  C.A.R.,  vol.  ii,  p.  420. 


TRINITY  HALL  33 

In  the  following  January l  the  '  Undertakers  of 
the  Newe  Bridewell '  asked  for  an  amendment  of 
the  conditions  agreed  upon  in  '  the  conveighans  ' 
which  was  to  be  passed  between  them  and  the 
city,  and  this  was  agreed  to. 

It  would  appear  that  the  house  was  never  used 
for  the  purpose  it  was  intended  for,  and  the 
builder,  George  Breddam,  petitioned  the  Privy 
Council  for  the  repayment  of  the  money  he  had 
advanced  on  the  building.  The  matter  was  re- 
ferred to  arbitrators,  who  decided  that  £40  should 
be  paid  to  Breddam,  provided  he  handed  over  the 
house  in  perfect  order.  A  rehearing  of  the  case 
was  however  granted,  and  the  Mayor  and  James 
Ware  were  appointed  arbitrators.  They  reported 
that  Breddam  was  content  to  take  £32  in  payment 
of  all  his  claims,  but  neither  the  Corporation  nor 
the  original  undertakers  were  willing  to  pay  the 
sum,  and  consequently  the  Lord  Deputy  offered 
the  place  to  Trinity  College  for  £so.2 

In  pursuance  of  this  offer  we  find  in  the  Assembly 
Rolls  : 3 

On  the  '  Fourth  Friday  after  the  24  June,  1615  '  it 
was  agreed  by  the  Corporation  '  that  the  Provost  and 
felloes  of  the  Trynity  Colledge,  near  Dublin,  at  the 
request  of  the  right  honorable  the  lord  deputy,4  and 
in  consyderacion  of  the  remittall  of  the  fyne  of  fyfty 
powndes  imposed  uppon  this  city  for  the  escape  of 
Thomas  Russell,  the  younger,  shall  have  the  precincts  of 
the  howse,  called  Bridewell  uppon  the  Hogges  Green,  with 

1  C.A.R.,  p.  433. 

*  Gilbert,  Hist.,  vol.  iii,  p.  8  ;   Smith,  Origin  Col.  P.,  p.  87. 
3  C.  A.  R.,  vol.  iii,  p.  57.  *  Sir  Arthur  Chichester. 

D 


34  TRINITY  HALL 

thappurtenances,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  two  shillinges,  to 
be  used  and  converted  by  them  onely  for  a  free  schoole, 
and  not  otherwyse,  the  said  assurance  to  be  made  forth- 
with. Provided  that  yf  the  said  howse  be,  at  any  time 
heerafter,  without  the  privity  and  assent  of  the  Maior, 
Sheryfes,  commons  and  cittizens  of  this  citty,  converted 
to  any  other  use  than  for  a  schoole  howse,  that  then  it 
shall  revert  againe  to  the  cittie  in  such  manner  as  nowe 
they  have  it,  soe  as  they  repaie  the  fyfty  powndes  soe 
forgiven  them  for  the  said  escape.' 

This  holding  so  granted  to  the  College  was  then 
named  Trinity  Hall.  The  exact  site  has  not  been 
clearly  defined,  but  it  is  figured  as  '  Bridewell '  in 
Speed's  map  of  Dublin,  published  in  1610,  situated 
on  the  south  side  of  Dame  Street,  somewhere 
between  the  present  Exchequer  Street  and  Trinity 
Street.  Gilbert x  says  that  a  portion  of  the  site 
was  afterwards  occupied  by  the  Almshouse  of 
St.  Andrew's  parish. 

Trinity  Hall  was  then  opened  by  the  College  as 
a  residence  house  for  some  of  the  students,  for 
whom  there  was  insufficient  room  in  the  College 
buildings,  just  as  later,  in  1629,  Kildare  Hall  and 
a  house  in  Bride  Street  were  opened  for  a  similar 
purpose.  It  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  Rector,  and 
the  students  were  to  attend  in  the  College  for 
exercises,  disputations,  and  meals.  The  plan  does 
not  seem  to  have  worked  well,  and  at  the  time  of 
the  Rebellion  the  Hall  seems  to  have  been  almost 
abandoned  by  the  College.  In  the  Register  for 
February  20,  i66i,2  it  is  stated  that,  '  In  processe 

1  Gilbert,  Hist.,  vol.  iii,  p.  17. 
'  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  65. 


TRINITY  HALL  35 

of  the  wane  the  sd.  Hall  was  by  poore  people 
occupied  and  in  a  maner  ruinated  the  sd.  College 
being  not  in  a  condition  to  looke  after  itt  or  wholley 
neglecting  it.' 

When  peace  was  restored  during  the  Common- 
wealth, the  city  fathers  decided  to  resume  posses- 
sion of  the  Hall,  '  because  it  was  not  imploy'd  to 
the  use  intended.' 

The  College  authorities  were  then  in  a  difficulty, 
as  they  could  not  afford  to  repair  the  Hall  them- 
selves, but  were  anxious  not  to  lose  their  title  to 
it  from  the  city.  In  this  difficulty  a  proposal *  was 
made  about  the  year  1654  to  the  '  pretended  ' 
Provost  and  Fellows  for  a  lease  from  them  of 
Trinity  Hall  and  the  ground  thereunto  belonging 
by  Colonel  Markham  and  Dr.  John  Kerdiff,  who 
promised  to  secure  the  title  of  the  College  '  against 
the  Citty  &  to  repair  the  sd.  Hall '.  The  Register 
goes  on  to  say  : 

'  This  motion  was  opposed  by  Dr.  John  Stearne  and 
was  quash'd  by  his  alledging  and  proving  that  to  make 
a  lease  of  the  premises  would  be  more  directly  contrary 
to  the  intent  of  the  conveyance  of  the  premises  upon  the 
sd  College,  then  any  former  either  inability  or  neglect 
&  consequently  give  greater  colour  and  advantage  to  the 
Citty  to  prosecute  theyer  design. 

'  This  motion  being  laid  aside,  the  sd  John  Stearne 
moves  the  sd  pretended  Provost  &  Fellowes  that  hee 
might  be  by  them  constituted  President  of  the  sd  Hall 
during  his  naturall  life  &  accomodated  with  certain 
lodgings  therein,  upon  several  conditions,  whereof  three 
were,  to  keep  out  the  Citty,  &  to  repair  the  sd  Hall, 
without  charge  to  the  College  (which  our  college  at  that 
1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  65. 


36  TRINITY  HALL 

time  was  not  able  to  defray)  and  to  convert  the  remainder 
to  what  should  bee  unto  him  allotted  for  his  own  accomo- 
dation,  unto  the  sole  and  proper  use  of  Physicians.  Upon 
acceptance  of  this  proposall  the  sd  John  Stearne  was 
made  President  of  the  sd  Hall  by  the  then  pretended 
Provost  &  Fellowes  and  accomodated  with  a  certaine 
number  of  roomes  therein,  &  the  sd  John  Stearne  took 
of  the  Citty  from  persecuting  theyer  designe,  laid  out  of 
his  own  purse  above  an  hundred  pounds  in  repairing  the 
sd  Hall,  and  procured  disbursements  from  others  for 
accomodating  Physicians  with  a  convenient  place  to 
meete  in,  in  order  to  the  erection  of  a  College  of  Physicians 
as  soone  as  possibly  itt  could  be  effected.  Thus  the  case 
stood  untill  his  Majesty's  happy  restoration.' 

It  should  be  remembered  when  dealing  with  the 
period  of  the  Commonwealth  that  the  Provost  and 
Fellows  of  the  College  who  had  held  office  in  the 
time  of  the  late  king  were  all  dispossessed,  and 
a  new  Provost  and  new  Fellows  appointed.  At  the 
restoration  of  the  King  it  was  considered  that 
these  persons  had  not  been  legally  elected  to  the 
offices  they  held,  and  they  are  always  referred  to 
as  the  '  Pretended  Provost  and  Fellows  '.  Those 
of  the  Fellows  who  were  continued  in  their  places 
at  the  Restoration  were  re-sworn,  just  as  if  they 
had  never  been  elected  before. 

John  Stearne,  one  of  the  '  pretended  Fellows  ', 
was  the  most  remarkable  man  of  his  time  in 
Trinity  College.  Some  record  of  his  life  has  been 
published  in  Harris's  edition  of  Ware's  Writers,  by 
Aquilla  Smith  in  his  Account  of  the  Origin  of  the 
College  of  Physicians,  in  Belcher's  Records  of  the 
College  of  Physicians,  and  by  Professor  Mahaffy  in 


TRINITY  HALL  37 

his  sermon  in  the  College  Chapel  on  Trinity  Mon- 
day, 1907,*  and  in  his  Epoch  of  Irish  History. 

Stearne  came  of  a  stock  whose  members  on  both 
sides  were  distinguished  for  learning.  His  father, 
John  Stearne,  was  a  scion  of  the  same  family  as 
Richard  Sterne,  Archbishop  of  York,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  87  in  1683.  This  John  Stearne  came 
to  Ireland  and  married  a  daughter  of  Margaret 
Birmingham,  a  sister  of  James  Usher,  who  had 
been  elected  Fellow  of  Trinity  College  in  1600  and 
Archbishop  of  Armagh  in  1624.  James  Usher's 
connexion  with  the  College  was  most  intimate. 
His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  James  Stanihurst, 
Speaker  of  the  Irish  House  of  Commons  in  the 
reigns  of  Queens  Mary  and  Elizabeth,  who  in  the 
latter  reign  had  made  the  first  motion  in  Parlia- 
ment for  the  foundation  of  Trinity  College.  James 
Usher's  uncle,  Henry  Usher,  was  Archbishop  of 
Armagh  in  1595,  and  was  nominated  the  first 
Fellow  of  the  College  in  the  Charter  of  Elizabeth. 
This  Henry  Usher's  son,  Robert,  succeeded  Bedell 
as  Provost  in  1629. 

John  Stearne  was  born  on  the  26th  November, 
1624,  at  Ardbraccan,  in  County  Meath,  at  the 
home  of  his  grand-uncle,  James  Usher,  who  was 
then  Bishop  of  Meath.  He  tells  us  that  as  2  a 
'  boy  he  was  well  and  liberally  educated  but  where 
is  not  worth  telling  '.  He  entered  Trinity  College 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  on  the  22nd  May,  1639,  and 
was  allowed  a  scholarship  in  1641.  There  is  no 
record  in  the  College  of  his  having  taken  any  further 

1  Irish  Times,  May  28,  1907.  *  Mahaffy,  Sermon. 

D3 


38  TRINITY  HALL 

degrees  there,  and  on  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Rebellion  he  left  the  country  and  went  to  Cam- 
bridge, bringing  with  him  a  recommendation  from 
Archbishop  Usher  to  Samuel  Ward,  the  Master  of 
Sidney  College.  There  he  remained  some  years, 
till,  driven  out  by  the  troubles  of  the  times,  he 
took  refuge  for  a  time  in  Oxford,  where  he  was 
received  by  Seth  Ward,  Fellow  of  Wadham  College. 
While  in  Cambridge  Stearne  must  have  studied 
medicine,  and  he  probably  had  every  facility  for 
doing  so  in  Sidney  College,  which  was  at  the  time 
the  College  chiefly  frequented  by  medical  students. 
Driven  from  Oxford  as  he  had  been  from  Cam- 
bridge by  the  stress  of  the  times,  Stearne  returned 
to  Dublin.  It  has  been  suggested  that  Stearne  had 
been  elected  a  Fellow  of  Trinity  College  about  the 
year  1644  while  he  was  at  Cambridge,  but  of  this 
there  is  no  direct  evidence.  It  seems  more  prob- 
able, as  Dr.  Mahaffy l  suggests,  that  he  was  induced 
to  return  by  Samuel  Winter,  who  was  made 
Provost  about  1650  or  1651,  and  the  way  was 
prepared  for  his  return  by  the  following  Order 
in  Council,2  dated  '  Dub.  22d  Octob  1651 '  : 

'  Ordered  that  Mr.  John  Stearne  be  admitted  into 
Trinity  Colledge  neere  Dublin  as  One  of  the  Fellowes 
there  for  six  monthes  from  the  date  hereof,  in  wch  time  the 
said  Mr  Stearne  is  to  produce  Testimonialls  of  his  former 
carriage  and  good  affection  to  the  Parliamt  from  godly  and 
honest  persons  in  England,  either  att  Cambridge  or  in 
Bedfordshire  where  the  said  Mr.  Stearnes  last  abode  was.' 

'  Mahafly,  Sermon. 

'  Council  Boohs  of  the  Commonwealth,  vol.  xlii,  Orders,  1651-3. 
p.  46. 


TRINITY  HALL  39 

At  all  events  we  have  him  signing  the  Register 
of  the  College  as  '  Registrarius  ',  and  therefore 
a  Senior  Fellow,  on  September  3,  1652.  There 
was  at  this  time  a  great  epidemic  of  plague  raging 
in  the  city,  and  Stearne  may  have  felt  that  his 
medical  skill  would  ensure  him  a  cordial  and  re- 
munerative welcome.  He  appears  to  have  at  once 
entered  on  medical  practice,  for  in  the  College 
Register  of  the  22nd  May,  1655, l  there  is  the 
following  entry : 

'  We  ye  Provost  &  Senior  ffellows  of  Trinity  Collegdge 
neere  Dublin  at  ye  request  of  John  Stearne,  senior  ffellow 
of  ye  sd  Colledge,  doe  for,  and  in  consideration  of  the  sd 
John  Stearne  his  practice  in  physicke  hereby  give  and 
grante  vnto  the  sd  John  Stearne  full  liberty  to  lye  in 
the  Cyty  of  Dublin  or  els  where,  when  so  ever  in  his 
discretion  his  physicall  employments  shall  require  his 
absence  any  night  from  the  Colledge.' 

This  minute  is  signed  by  the  Provost,  the  Vice- 
Provost,  and  three  Senior  Fellows. 

On  the  24th  November,  1656,  Stearne  was 
elected  Professor  of  Hebrew.  There  was  some  dis- 
pute between  him  and  the  Board  about  the  salary 
of  this  Professorship,  and,  in  spite  of  a  letter 
from  the  Chancellor  of  the  University,  Henry 
Cromwell,  in  favour  of  Stearne,  the  Board  refused 
to  pay  the  full  amount,  and  on  the  I7th  November, 
1659,  "there  is  the  following  minute  in  the  College 
Register2:  '  Memorandum,  that  Dr.  John  Stearne, 
Dr.  of  Physique  resigned  his  Fellowship.'  It  is 
said  that  the  prospect  of  the  coming  Restoration  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  ii,  p.  84.  *  Ibid.,  vol.  ii,  p.  91. 


4o  TRINITY  HALL 

the  king  had  more  to  say  to  Stearne's  resignation 
than  his  dispute  on  the  salary  of  the  Hebrew 
Professorship.  At  all  events,  in  the  king's  letter, 
dated  'Whitehall  December  29  1660',  we  find 
Stearne  nominated  Senior  Fellow  of  the  College, 
but  associated  with  him  Nathaniel  Hoyle  as 
Vice-Provost;  Caesar  Williamson,  Public  Orator; 
Joshua  Cowley,  Jurist;  each  of  whom  had  held 
a  fellowship  during  the  Commonwealth. 

On  January  22,  1660/1,  Stearne,  with  the  others, 
took  the  oath  as  a  Senior  Fellow,1  and  on  January  29 
following  he  was  again  elected  Registrar.2  Almost 
immediately  Stearne  proceeded  to  carry  out  his 
plan  for  establishing  a  Fraternity  of  Physicians  in 
Trinity  Hall,  and  the  Register3  of  February  18, 
1660/1,  contains  the  following  proposals  : 

'  The  humble  proposalls  of  John  Steam  unto  the 
worshipfull  ye  Provost  &  Sr.  Fellows  of  Trinity  Colledge 
neere  Dublin  : 

4 1.  That  Trinity  Hall  with  the  land  thereunto  belonging 
may  be  set  apart  in  perpetuum  for  the  advancemt  of 
ye  study  of  Physick  in  Ireland. 

'  2.  That  in  pursuance  of  ye  sayd  designe  John  Steam 
bee  constituted  President  of  the  sd  Hall  for  and  during 
his  naturall  life. 

'  3.  That  the  nomination  of  a  President  of  ye  sayd  Hall 
upon  vacancyes  bee  always  in  the  Provost  &  Senr. 
Fellows  aforesd  &  their  successours. 

'  4.  That  the  sd  John  Stearne  may  accomodate  him- 
sclfe  with  gardening  upon  the  ground  belonging  to  the 
sd  Hall,  &  with  chambers  out  of  the  present  building, 
or  out  of  such  as  hereafter  shall  be  raised  upon  the 
ground  unto  ye  sd  Hall  appertaining. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  49.  «  Ibid.,  p.  52.  *  Ibid.,  p.  59. 


TRINITY  HALL  41 

'  5.  That  the  President  of  ye  sd  Hall  shall  call  into 
a  fraternity  able  Physitians  who  together  with  him  are 
desired  to  endeavour  to  advance  moneys  for  additional 
buildings  to  ye  sd  Hall,  &  to  procure  a  Charter  for  to  be 
a  body  Corporate  with  privileges. 

'  6.  That  all  the  students  of  Physicke  in  ye  sd  Hall  shall 
until  ye  Presidente  of  the  sd  Hall,  &  the  fraternity 
thereof  bee  made  a  body  corporate  by  chart,  bee  bound 
to  come  to  prayers  in  Trinity  Colledge  aforesd  &  to 
performe  exercises  there  according  to  their  severall 
capacityes. 

'  7.  That  the  President  &  Fraternity  of  ye  sd  Hall  shall, 
if  demanded  meet  &  consult  upon  the  best  means  for  the 
recovery  of  ye  Provost  &  Senior  Fellows  aforesd  &  their 
successours,  whensoever  any  of  them  shall  happen  to  be 
sicke. 

'  8.  That  no  students  be  admitted  into  ye  sd  Hall,  but 
such  as  are  first  admitted  or  incorporated  into  ye  Trinity 
Colledge  aforesd  :  John  Stearn. 

'  These  proposals  were  approved  of  by  ye  Provost  & 
Senr.  Fellows  of  Trinity  Colledge  aforesd  and  it  is  by  them 
ordered  that  according  to  ye  Tenor  of  ye  sayd  proposalls 
an  Instrument  be  drawne  up  in  due  forme  of  law. 

'  Thorn.  Seele  Prp.        Nat.  Hoyl  Vice  Prep. 
'  Joshua  Cowley. 
'  Witt.  Vincent. 
'  Pat.  Sheridan.' 

These  proposals  were  accepted,  and  the  Board 
of  the  College  adopted  the  following  resolution  : l 

'  Trinity  Hall  appropriated  to  the  study  of  Physicke 
by  an  Instrument  which  is  as  followeth  : — 

"To  all  Christian  people  to  whom  this  present 
writinge  shall  come.  We,  ye  Provost,  Fellowes  and 
Scholars  of  the  Colledge  of  ye  Holy  and  vndivided 
Trinitye  of  Queene  Elizabeth  neere  Dublin,  send  greetinge. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  53. 


42  TRINITY  HALL 

Whereas  ye  study  of  Physicke  is  found  very  necessary 
for  ye  publique  good,  and  noe  course  hitherto  hath  been 
taken  for  ye  advancemt.  thereof  in  Ireland,  know  ye 
yt  we  the  Provost  Fellowes  and  Scholars  aforesd  being 
desireous  to  promote  soe  necessary  a  pointe  of  learninge 
in  Ireland  doe  for  our  selves  and  our  successours  vnani- 
mously  consent  assent  and  agree  and  by  these  presents 
declare  our  will  to  be  yt  the  messuage  or  house  unto  us 
belonging  and  now  in  our  possession  comonly  knowne  and 
called  by  the  name  of  Trinity  Hall  scituate  lyinge  and 
beinge  neere  the  City  of  Dublin  in  Hoggen  Greene 
together  with  all  the  gardens  orchards  curtelages  lands 
and  all  other  the  appurtenances  thereunto  belonginge  be 
from  henceforth  for  ever  converted  to  ye  sole  and  proper 
use  and  advantage  of  the  study  of  Medicine  and  of  such 
as  shall  therein  studye  or  professe  ye  same.  And  for  that 
end  and  purpose  We  doe  hereby  nominat  constitute  and 
appoint  John  Stearne  Doctor  in  Physicke  and  Senr. 
Fellow  of  Trinity  Colledge  aforesaid  President  of  ye  said 
Hall  for  &  dureinge  his  naturall  life  And  doe  further 
impower  ye  sd  John  Stearne  to  accomodate  himselfe  with 
gardening  upon  ye  ground  unto  ye  sd  Hall  belonginge 
and  wth  Chambers  out  of  ye  present  buildinge  or  out  of 
such  buildings  as  hereafter  shall  be  raysed  upon  ye 
ground  unto  ye  sd  Hall  belonginge,  reaservinge  unto 
ourselves  and  successors  for  ever  ye  nomination  of  a 
President  of  ye  said  Hall  upon  vacancy  of  ye  President- 
ship Provided  always  yt  ye  said  John  Stearne  call  unto 
a  fraternity  able  Physitians  who  together  wth  him  are 
hereby  desired  to  endeavour  to  advance  moneyes  for 
additional  building  to  ye  said  Hall  and  to  procure  a 
charter  for  to  be  a  body  corporate  with  priviledges  And 
yt  untill  such  time  as  ye  President  and  Fraternity  of  ye 
sd  Hall  shall  be  made  a  body  corporate  All  the  students 
of  ye  sd  Hall  shall  be  bound  to  come  to  prayers  in  Trinity 
College  aforesd  and  to  performe  exercises  therein  accord- 
inge  to  theire  severall  capacityes  Provided  alsoe  that  ye 
President  and  Fraternity  of  ye  said  Hall  shall  if  demanded 


TRINITY  HALL  43 

meete  and  consult  upon  the  best  meanes  for  ye  recovery 
of  ye  Provost  and  Senior  Fellowes  of  Trinity  Colledge 
aforesd  and  theire  successors  whensoever  they  or  any  of 
them  shall  happen  to  be  sicke  And  yt  the  President  of  ye 
sd  Hall  admitt  noe  students  into  ye  sd  Hall  but  such  as 
are  first  admitted  or  incorporated  into  Trinity  Colledge 
afforesaid.  In  witness  whereof  we  have  here  unto  sett  our 
cofhon  scale  and  subscribed  our  names  this  two  and 
twentieth  day  of  ffebruary  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
sixty. 

"  Signed  sealed  &  Tho  :  Seele  prp  :  Memorandu  that 
delivered  in  ye  Nath.  Hoyle  Vice  p.  this  above  deed 
presence  of  Joshua  Cowley.  was  cancelled, 

Arthur  Parsons     Will.  Vincent.  and  with  the  ex- 

Arthur  Bulkely.    Pat.  Sheridan.  ception   of  what 

Locus  sigilli.  was  set  unto  Mr. 

Sams,  &  some 
other  small  varia- 
tion, was  renewed 
signed  and  sealed 
ye  22  of  April, 
1661."  ' 

On  March  the  igth  *  the  Board  agreed  that  '  the 
sd  John  Stearne  shall  not  be  penally  obliged  to 
be  present  at  College-prayers  unlesse  he  be  there- 
unto specially  required.  And  that  he  receave  his 
Commons  in  money.' 

On  the  3rd  June,  i662,2  Stearne  was  '  constituted 
and  elected  publiq  professor  of  Medicine  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Dublin  for  &  during  his  naturall  life'. 

Just  before  the  Restoration  we  have  the  record 
of  a  medical  degree  granted  by  the  University  on 
'  July  23  i66o.3  Ordered  by  the  Viceprovost  & 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  54.  '  Ibid.,  p.  68. 

*  Ibid.,  vol.  ii,  p.  99. 


44  TRINITY  HALL 

Sen.  Fellows  of  Trin.  Coll.  Dublin  that  Mr.  John 
Archer  bee  passed  Dr.  of  Physicke  in  the  house  it 
being  provided  that  he  pay  whatsoever  fees  are 
usual  for  such  a  degree  and  performe  his  acts  when 
he  shall  be  called  thereunto.' 

Just  a  year  previously,  '  on  June  20,  1659, 
John  Tailor,  seven  years  a  student  at  Magdalen 
College,  and  John  Clearke,  also  of  Oxford  are 
admitted  M.D.,  being  recommended  by  the  Chan- 
cellor Henry  Cromwell,  in  pleno  Senatu  Academical l 

Stearne  was  not  slow  to  fulfil  his  obligations  to 
'  call  into  a  fraternity  able  Physitians  ',  for  on  the 
26th  January,  i66o/i,2  Johannes  Cusacke  was  pro- 
moted and  Drs.  Bramhall,  Halle,  and  Lamb 
Goughman  were  incorporated  '  Doctores  in  Medi- 
cina ',  Dr.  Goughman,  or  Gougleman,  was  in 
accordance  with  the  King's  letter  elected  Senior 
Fellow  three  days  later.3 

Having  succeeded  in  his  enterprise  with  regard 
to  Trinity  Hall,  Stearne  then  attempted  to  obtain 
a  Royal  Charter  for  the  College,  but  in  this  he  was 
not  immediately  successful.  Under  the  date  of 
January  28,  1665,  there  is  in  the  Calendar  of  State 
Papers  *  the  '  note  of  a  letter  to  the  Lord  Lieu- 
tenant for  a  College  of  Physicians  in  Ireland  ',  but 
the  charter  was  not  granted  till  August  8,  1667. 
In  this  charter  Stearne  was  nominated  President 
for  life,  and  after  his  death  the  Presidents  were  to 
be  elected  by  the  Provost,  Fellows,  and  Scholars 
of  Trinity  College,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 

1  Mahafiy,  Epoch,  p.  304.  *  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  51. 

1  Keg.  ibid.,  p.  52.  «  c.  S.  P.  1663-5,  P-  600. 


TRINITY  HALL  45 

Lord-Lieutenant,  and  provided  that  Trinity  Hall 
and  the  lands  belonging  thereto  were  settled  on 
the  newly  incorporated  College.  On  the  applica- 
tion of  Stearne,  the  Provost  and  Fellows  executed 
a  deed  dated  August  13,  1668,  settling  Trinity 
Hall  on  Matthew  Barry  and  Launcelot  Sandes, 
Esquires,  in  trust  for  the  sole  use  of  the  College 
of  Physicians. 

Thus  was  established  the  College  of  Physicians, 
which  at  its  inception  was  an  integral  part  of 
Trinity  College,  and  which,  ever  since,  has  main- 
tained its  connexion  with  the  University.  The 
Presidency  of  the  College  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
University  authorities,  and  no  one  was  to  be 
admitted  a  student  within  its  walls  until  he  had 
first  been  enrolled  a  student  of  Trinity  College. 
As  the  Registrar  of  Trinity  College  records  in  the 
minutes  : *• 

'  Trinity  Hall  is  not  alienated  from  Trinity  College  : 
but  by  this  converted  into  the  use  intended.  And  it  may 
be  considered  that,  after  the  death  of  the  said  John 
Stearne,  and  perhaps  before,  there  will  be  accomodation 
for  Students  of  the  Coll :  of  Physicians  (and)  they  are  as 
considerable  a  proportion  of  Scholars  as  any  number  of 
Undergraduates  wherewith  the  said  Hall  was  heretofore 
stored,  and  as  useful  to  the  whole  Kingdom/ 

In  1663  2  the  Lord-Lieutenant  had  forwarded  to 
the  King  a  letter  for  his  signature,  granting  '  £60 
a  year  to  Dr.  Stearne  by  letters  patent  as  Public 
Professor  of  Physic  in  the  University  of  Dublin  to 
be  put  upon  the  Establishment '.  This  letter  was 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  65.  *  C.  S.  P.  1663-5,  P-  39- 


46  TRINITY  HALL 

accompanied  by  a  note  of  recommendation  from 
the  Lord-Lieutenant,  and  on  March  20  of  the  same 
year  there  is  a  letter  from  the  King  to  the  Lord- 
Lieutenant  directing  the  pension  of  £60  a  year 
given  to  Dr.  Stearne,  who  was  public  Professor  of 
Physic  in  the  University  of  Dublin  by  patents 
passed  on  the  i8th  September,  1662,  in  con- 
sequence of  letter  dated  i8th  June,  1662,  to  be 
placed  on  the  establishment.1 

Stearne  did  not  live  long  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
his  work,  or  nurture  the  College  in  its  early  youth, 
for  he  died  on  the  i8th  November,  1669,  at  the 
early  age  of  45. 

The  remaining  facts  in  the  life  of  Stearne,  so 
far  as  they  are  known,  can  be  told  in  a  few  words. 
We  learn  from  the  Register  of  Cambridge  University 
that  John  Stearne  matriculated  as  a  pensioner 
there  on  July  8,  1642,  and  was  in  the  same  year 
admitted  to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and 
in  1646  to  that  of  Master.  It  appears  that  his 
matriculation  was  deferred  until  he  was  in  a 
position  to  proceed  to  the  B.A.  degree,  a  pro- 
cedure which  was  not  unusual  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  There  is  no  record  in  the  Register  of  his 
having  taken  any  degree  in  Dublin,  though  it  is 
almost  certain  that  he  took  his  doctor's  degree  in 
both  laws  and  medicine.  In  his  published  works 
he  styles  himself  '  M.  &  J.  U.  D.',  or  '  Medicinae, 
ct  Juris  Utriusque,  Doctor'. 

In  1659,  just  at  the  time  of  his  dispute  with 
the  Board  about  his  salary  as  Hebrew  Lecturer, 

1  C.  S.  P.,  1663-5,  p.  46. 


TRINITY  HALL  47 

Stearne  married  Miss  Dorothy  Ryves,  daughter 
of  Charles  Ryves,  Esq.,  and  it  was  possibly  this, 
and  not  either  the  dispute  or  the  anticipation  of 
the  Restoration,  which  led  to  the  resignation  of  his 
fellowship  on  November  17  of  that  year.  The 
statute  enforcing  celibacy  on  the  Fellows  was  not, 
however,  at  this  time  strictly  enforced,  and  the 
Provost,  Samuel  Winter,  was  a  married  man. 
Belcher  states  *  that  at  the  Restoration  Stearne 
was  appointed  Public  Professor  of  Laws,  but  of  this 
we  can  find  no  evidence  in  the  College  Register,  and 
his  name  does  not  appear  as  such  in  the  College 
Calendar.  He  was,  however,  re-elected  Lecturer 
in  Hebrew,  for  on  December  17,  1667,  we  find 
a  deputy  appointed  for  him  '  to  execute  the  said 
office  according  to  the  Statutes  '.2 

Stearne  had  one  son  and  two  daughters  who 
survived  him.  His  son  John  was  born  in  1660, 
and  was  afterwards  Dean  of  St.  Patrick's  and 
Bishop  of  Clogher.  It  is  to  the  munificence  of 
this  John  Stearne  that  Trinity  College  owes  its 
printing-house,  which  he  built  in  1726  at  a  cost  of 
£1,000,  and  for  which  ten  years  later  he  gave  £200 
to  buy  types.  Stearne's  eldest  daughter,  Bridget, 
married  John  Rotton,  of  Dublin,  while  l^'s  second 
daughter,  Mabell,  married  a  Mr.  Hall. 

Stearne's  will,  which  is  dated  November  14, 
1669,  is  witnessed  by  the  Provost,  Thomas  Seele, 
and  his  friend,  Henry  Dodwell,  and  in  it  he  says  : 
'  I  desire  (if  the  Provost  and  Senior  Fellows  shall 
think  fitt)  that  my  body  may  be  interred  in 

1  Belcher,  Memoirs,  p.  20.  *  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  in. 


48  TRINITY  HALL 

Trinity  College  Chapell,  if  not  where  my  dear  wife 
shall  otherwise  conceive  meet  without  escuteon 
and  other  unnecessary  charges.'  This  desire  was 
carried  out,  and  over  him  at  the  north  side  of  the 
great  altar l  was  erected  a  stone  bearing  a  tribute 
to  his  memory,  composed  by  his  friend  Henry 
Dodwell. 

Stearne's  wife,  Dorothy,  survived  him  till  1700, 
and  in  her  will,  which  is  dated  April  24,  1700,  and 
was  proved  on  the  27th  of  May  following,  she  says  : 
'  I  bequeath  to  Dr.  Ralph  Howard  and  Dr.  John 
Madden,  who  tended  me  in  my  sickness,  the  sum 
of  five  pounds  each  as  tokens  of  the  mind  I  have 
of  their  kind  care  of  me.' 

Few  men  have  compressed  into  a  short  life  of 
forty-five  years  so  much  learning  and  so  much 
work  as  did  John  Stearne,  and  whether  we  judge 
him  by  his  own  learning  and  his  own  work,  or 
by  the  benefit  which  that  work  has  conferred  on 
posterity,  we  must  award  him  a  high  place. 
Trinity  College  may  well  be  proud  of  her  great 
son,  and  it  is  fitting  that,  at  the  bicentenary  cele- 
bration of  the  foundation  of  the  Medical  School, 
an  honoured  place  should  be  given  to  the  memory 
of  him  who  by  his  work  made  that  foundation 
possible. 

'  Epitaphium  Marmori  insculptum  ad  latus  Boreale  magni 
Altaris  in  Sacello  Collcgii  S.S.  &  Individ.  Trinitatis  Reginae 
Elizabethae  juxta  Dublin,  ubi  Sepultus  jacet.' 

I'rcfixed  to  Stearne's  De  Obslinatione,  by  the  editor,  Henry 
Dodwell.  who  published  it  in  1672. 


CHAPTER  IV 
THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

STEARNE  being  dead,  the  Medical  Faculty  of 
the  University  was  left  without  its  Professor 
and  the  College  of  Physicians  without  its  Presi- 
dent. Almost  immediately,  November  25,  1669, 
George  Walker,  one  of  the  Fellows,  was  elected 
'  Medicus ',  a  post  which  seems  to  have  been  in 
abeyance  since  the  time  of  Thomas  Beere,  who 
was  appointed  in  1620.  In  the  College  Calendar 
Stearne  is  given  as  '  Medicus '  in  1662,  but  there 
is  no  record  of  such  appointment  in  the  College 
Register.  Walker  died  in  less  than  a  year,  and 
was  succeeded,  October  26,  1670,  by  William 
Palliser,  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Cashel,  and  on 
September  9,  1671,  George  Mercer  was  '  chosen 
in  medicum '.  Neither  Walker  nor  Palliser  was 
a  medical  man,  and  Mercer  did  not  take  a  medical 
degree  till  1681.  Thomas  Margetson  appears  to 
have  succeeded  Stearne  as  Professor  of  Medicine, 
for  though  there  is  no  direct  mention  in  the 
College  books  of  his  appointment,  we  read x  on 
April  2,  1674,  that  '  upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Tho. 
Margetson  Ralph  Howard,  Dr.  of  Physick,  was 
elected  Public  Professor  of  Physic  in  his  place 
and  President  of  the  College  of  Physicians '. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  171. 
£ 


50  CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

Howard  held  the  office  of  Professor  for  thirty-six 
years,  till  he  was  succeeded  in  1710  by  Richard 
Steevens.  Ralph  Howard  was  the  first  Fellow  of 
the  College  of  Physicians  elected  under  the  Charter 
of  Charles  II.  He  graduated  M.D.  in  the  Uni- 
versity on  October  22,  1667,  and  at  the  same 
time  became  a  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians  ; 
being  elected  President  for  the  first  time  on 
April  2,  1674,  and  again  elected  in  1686,  1695,  1701, 
and  1707.  Howard  was  born  in  Wicklow  l  in 
1638,  and  lived  afterwards  in  Great  Ship  Street, 
Dublin.  During  the  war  of  1689-91  he  left  the 
country  and  resided  in  England.  His  son  Hugh 
was  an  artist  who,  according  to  Horace  Walpole, 
practised  painting  '  at  least  with  applause  '.2  His 
other  son,  Robert,  was  a  Senior  Fellow  of  Trinity 
College,  and  afterwards  became  Bishop  of  Killala 
and  then  of  Elphin.  Sir  Thomas  Molyneux  in 
1694  married  one  of  Dr.  Howard's  daughters, 
and  Anthony  Dopping,  Bishop  of  Ossory,  the 
other. 

Thomas  Margetson  was  an  Englishman,  the  son 
of  James  Margetson  of  Yorkshire.3  He  entered 
Trinity  College  on  May  5,  1647,  but  lert  apparently 
without  taking  a  degree.  In  the  latter  end  of 
1650  he  entered  at  St.  Mary's  Hall,  Oxford,  and 
from  that  college  took  the  two  degrees  in  Arts. 
On  the  loth  March,  1656/7,  he  took  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Medicine  at  Montpelier,4  and  eight 


^DonoRhuc.  Irish  Ability,  p.  62.  »  Webb. 

Wood.  Athcnae,  vol.  ii,  p.  795. 
4  Munk's  Roll,  vol.  i,  p.  280. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY      51 

days  later  proceeded  to  that  of  Doctor  of  Medicine 
in  the  University  of  Orange.  He  was  incorporated 
at  Oxford  on  his  doctor's  degree  on  the  I4th 
January,  1657/8,  and  on  the  5th  of  April  following 
was  admitted  a  candidate  of  the  London  College 
of  Physicians. 

The  death  of  Stearne  must  have  made  a  great 
difference  in  the  affairs  of  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians. He  had  been  its  President  since  its  founda- 
tion, and,  as  we  have  seen,  had  lived  in  Trinity 
Hall.  Difficulties  no  doubt  arose  after  his  death, 
and  the  Fellows  had  no  precedent  to  guide  them 
in  their  actions.  It  was  not  till  the  25th  January, 
1671/2,  that  we  find  them  taking  any  steps  to 
elect  a  new  President.  On  that  day  '  Dr.  Marget- 
son  and  Dr.  Howard  gave  notice  to  the  Provost 
in  the  name  of  the  Corporation  of  Physicians 
that  the  Presidentshipp  of  the  said  Corporation 
is  void  by  theyer  Charter  and  desired  that 
a  new  President  might  be  elected  V  The  Pro- 
vost and  Senior-Fellows  beeing  legally  &  statut- 
ably  mett ',  nominated  and  elected  '  Abraham 
Yarner  Kt.  &  Dr.  of  Physicke  President  of  the 
said  College  of  Physicians ',  and  on  Monday  the 
I5th  February  following  a  formal  document  in 
Latin  to  this  effect  received  the  seal  of  Trinity 
College. 

Abraham  Yarner  seems  to  have  been  more  of 
a  soldier  than  a  physician.  We  first  meet  with 
him  in  1641,  when  on  the  23rd  December  he 
signed  a  receipt  for  payment  for  Army  service,2 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  153.  *  C.  S.  P.  1633-47,  p.  772. 


52     CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

and  again  in  the  following  January  he  is  paid  as 
'  lieutenant  of  the  Lord  Lieutenant's  horse  troop  '.x 
On  the  28th  October,  1643,  a  letter  was  written 
by  the  King  to  the   Lords  Justices  of   Ireland 
ordering  that   '  Capt.   Abraham   Yarner  be   ap- 
pointed Mustermaster  General  in  Ireland  if  the 
post  be  void,  and,  if  not,  that  he  have  a  reversion 
of  it '.     On  the  2gth  June,  1646,  the  post  was 
granted   to   him.      On    '  third   Friday   after   29 
September ',  1650,  we  find  among  the  admissions 
to  the  franchise  entered  in  the  Assembly  Rolls 
of  the  Dublin  Corporation  the  entry  z  '  by  Special 
Grace  and  on  fines  of  a  pair  of  gloves  to  the 
Maior,    Abraham    Yarner    Doctor    of    Physick '. 
With  the  advent  of  the  Commonwealth,  he  seems 
to  have  forsaken  the  battle-field  for  the  study  of 
physic.     On  the  return  of  the  King  in  1660  we 
find  him  restored  to  his  former  appointment  as 
Mustermaster-General  and  Clerk  of  the  Check  of 
the  Armies  and  Garrison  ;  while  at  the  same  time 
he    was    promoted   to   the   rank   of    lieutenant- 
colonel.     In  the  following  year  his  son  Abraham 
was  associated  with  him  in  this  office,  in  which 
he  says 8  he  hopes  to  '  be  able  to  save  the  King 
some  thousands  a  year  and  keep  the  Army  con- 
stantly ready  for  service'.      On  August  4,  1663, 
his  daughter  Jane  was  married  to  Sir  John  Temple 
in  St.  Michan's  Church  by  Bishop  Parker,  as  is 
shown    by    the    following    entry    in    the    Parish 
Register  :  * 

P-.  '633-47,  p.  778.  «  C.A.R.,  vol.  iii,  p.  509. 

1  C.  S.  P.,  1660-2.  p.  391.  «  St.  Michan's  Reg.,  p.  81. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY      53 

'  1663.  Aug.  4.  Married,  Sir  John  Temple  to  Madam 
Jane  Yarner  daughter  of  Dr.  Abraham  Yarner,  by 
Bishop  Parker,  Lord  Bishop  of  Elphine,  in  this  parish 
Church  of  St.  Michan's  by  licence.' 

This  John  Temple,  then  Solicitor-General,  was  the 
son  of  Sir  John  Temple,  Master  of  the  Rolls,  who 
had  been  chosen  first  '  Medicus  '  of  the  University 
in  1618. 

We  have  no  record  where  Yarner  took  his 
medical  degrees,  though  we  find  his  two  sons, 
Abraham  and  John,  graduating  in  Oxford  from 
Queen's  College,  and  afterwards  entered  as  stu- 
dents in  Lincoln's  Inn.1  Yarner  was  dubbed 
knight  at  Dublin  in  1670  2  and  died  on  the  28th 
July,  1677,  and  was  buried  next  day  in  St.  Michan's 
Church,  '  close  by  the  vestry  door.' 3  In  his  will, 
in  which  he  is  described  as  M.D.  and  Muster- 
master-General  of  all  his  Majesty's  forces  in  Ire- 
land, he  leaves  an  annuity  to  his  son-in-law,  Sir 
John  Temple,  '  His  Majesty's  Solicitor  General,' 
out  of  his  lands  in  the  County  Wicklow  which 
were  '  given,  granted,  assigned,  and  allotted  unto 
me  by  the  Comrs.  of  the  Court  of  Claymes  in 
satisfaction  of  my  services  in  the  wars  of  this 
Kingdom  '.  He  also  speaks  of  his  home  in  Oxman- 
town  where  he  '  now  dwells ',  and  he  leaves  his 
'  Horses  and  Coaches '  to  his  dear  wife,  Lady 
Catherine,  who  was  buried,  as  we  read  in  the 
Parish  Register,4  '  in  the  first  vault  on  the  left 

1  Foster,  Alumni  Ox.,  vol.  iv,  p.  1699. 

*  Knights,  vol.  ii,  p.  245.  *  St.  Michan's  Reg.,  p.  217. 

4  Ibid.,  p.  396. 

E3 


54     CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

hand  in  the  Chancell'   of  St.   Michan's  on  the 
20th  January,  1691. 

It  seems  probable  from  the  minutes  of  the 
Board  of  the  2nd  April,  1674,  already  quoted, 
that  Margetson  was  President  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  up  to  his  death,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Howard,  but  of  this  there  is  no  definite  proof. 
Charles  Willoughby  signs  D'Olin's  Book  in  the 
College  of  Physicians,  as  President,  on  the  24th 
September,  1676,  and  on  the  22nd  October,  1677, 
the  Board  of  Trinity  College  elected  Dr.  Robert 
Waller.  Both  these  men  had  been  educated 
abroad,  the  former  in  Padua  and  the  latter  at 
Ley  den.  Willoughby,  the  son  of  Sir  Francis 
Willoughby,  was  a  native  of  Cork,  and  had  studied 
at  Merton  College,  Oxford,  where  he  became  a 
Fellow.1  He  graduated  in  medicine  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Padua,  and  his  diploma  for  that  degree 
is  preserved  in  the  library  of  Trinity  College.  In 
1663  he  presented  to  the  library  of  Merton  College 
his  '  herbarium  vivum  '  or  '  hortus  siccus  ',  a  col- 
lection of  dried  plants  which  he  had  gathered  at 
Padua,  and  on  the  3ist  March  of  the  following 
year  he  was  incorporated  at  Oxford  in  his  doctor's 
degree.1 

Willoughby  was  an  active  member  of  the  Dublin 
Philosophical  Society,  being  appointed  the  first 
Director  on  its  establishment  in  1683/4,  and  with 
Narcissus  Marsh,  Sir  William  Petty,  and  William 
Molyneux  he  was  specially  appointed  to  draw  up 

1  Brodrick.  Merton,  p.  291. 
Wood,  Athenae,  vol.  ii,  p.  334. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY      55 

the  rules  for  the  conduct  of  the  affairs  of  the 
Society.  To  the  proceedings  of  the  Society  he 
contributed  the  following  papers  : 1 

1.  On  the  Mirage  seen  at  Rhegiumm  in  Italy. 

2.  On  Winds. 

3.  On  the  lines  of  Longitude  and  Latitude. 

4.  On  Hermaphrodism. 

In  1857  Sir  William  Wilde  printed  a  paper  by 
Willoughby,2  the  manuscript  of  which  he  had  just 
acquired,  with  the  following  title  :  '  Observations 
on  the  Bills  of  Mortality  and  the  increase  of  people 
in  Dublin  :  the  Distempers  Air  and  Climate  of 
this  Kingdom  ;  also  of  Medicine  Physic  Surgeons 
and  Apothecary's,  by  Dr.  Willoughby  An  eminent 
Physician  in  1690.'  Willoughby's  death  was  an- 
nounced to  the  College  of  Physicians  at  the 
meeting  on  the  i8th  September,  1694. 

Robert  Waller  was  born  about  1620,  and  on 
the  i7th  July,  1650,  '  was  entered  in  the  Physic 
line  at  Leyden.' 3  He  graduated  Doctor  of  Medi- 
cine at  Leyden,  and  on  that  degree  was  incor- 
porated at  Cambridge  in  1652.  He  was  admitted 
Fellow  of  the  London  College  of  Physicians  on 
the  22nd  December,  1662.  In  the  summer  of 
1664  he  was  incorporated  M.D.  in  Trinity  College 
from  Cambridge. 

That  the  College  of  Physicians  was  at  this  time 
actively  engaged  is  evident  from  a  book  of  old 
accounts  which  has  been  preserved.  Belcher  be- 
lieved it  to  be  in  the  handwriting  of  Dr.  Crosby, 

1  Gilbert,  Hist.,  vol.  ii,  p.  iv. 

1  Proceedings  R.I. A.,  vol.  vi.         *  Munk's  Roll,  vol.  i,  p.  308. 


56     CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

and  it  is  dated  1676.    Among  the  items  of  expendi- 
ture we  find  the  following  : 
'  It.  payd  for  the  College  dinn'  the  summe      £    s. 
of  three  pounds  two  shill:  3  :  2 

It.  to  ye  joyner  for  ye  dissecting  table  the 

1 5th  of  March  6'  -  6s  - 

It.  to  ye  Cuttler  for  cleaning  ye  instrum*8 :  s.    d. 

belonging  to  ye  College  5"  -  5d  5  -  5 

It.  for  a  warrant  for  ye  body  yt  was  dis-    £    s. 
sected  *  •  3 

It.  to  ye  souldiers  who  kept  ye  body  4-6 

It.  for  ye  Coffin  for  ye  sd  body  4-6. 

It.  to  ye  souldiers  who  watched  9-0. 

for  the  said  souldiers  in  drinke  3  - 10. 

The  whole  sum  spent  on  ye  same  body  being 
£2-4-10.  I  delivered  upon  ye  presi- 
dents note  unto  his  man.' 

It  was  possibly  this  subject  to  which  Dunton 
refers1  when  he  tells  us  that  he  saw  about  the 
year  1700 : 

'  the  skin  of  one  Ridley,  a  notorious  Tory,  which  had  been 
long  ago  executed  ;  he  had  been  begged  for  an  Anatomy 
and,  being  flayed,  his  skin  was  tanned  and  stuffed  with 
straw.  In  this  passive  state  he  was  assaulted  by  some 
mice  and  rats,  not  sneakingly  behind  his  back,  but  boldly 
before  his  face,  which  they  so  much  further  mortified, 
even  after  death  as  to  eat  it  up  ;  which  loss  has  since 
been  supplied  by  tanning  the  face  of  one  Geoghegan, 
a  Popish  Priest,  executed  about  six  years  ago  for  stealing  ; 
which  said  face  is  put  in  the  place  of  Ridley's.' 

It  is  recorded  in  the  Register  of  Trinity  College 
that  on  the  7th  July,  1674,* 

'  the  special  grace  of  the  house  for  the  degree  of  Batchelor 
of  Physick  was  given  to  John  Madden  and  Henry 
Nicholson.' 

1  Dunton.  vol.  ii,  p.  624.  *  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  173. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY   57 

This  is  the  first  record  we  have  of  the  Bachelor's 
degree  in  Medicine  being  granted  by  the  College, 
the  next  being  those  for  Allen  Mullin  on  the  27th 
February,  1678/9,  and  for  John  Foley  on  the 
igth  February,  1679/80. 

Both  Foley  and  Mullin  had  been  students  of 
Trinity  College.  Foley,1  the  son  of  Samuel  Foley 
of  Clonmel,  entered  as  a  Fellow-Commoner  on  the 
6th  August,  1673,  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  His 
tutor  was  George  Mercer,  who  had  a  grace  for  his 
M.D.  degree  on  the  nth  July,  1681,  and  was 
elected  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians  the 
following  year. 

Allen  Mullin,2  the  son  of  Patrick  Mullin  of 
Ballicoulter,  entered  as  a  Sizar  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  on  the  27th  February,  1671/2.  He 
graduated  B.A.  in  the  summer  of  1676,  and  M.D. 
in  1684,  when  he  was  also  elected  a  Fellow  of  the 
College  of  Physicians.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
energetic  members  of  the  Dublin  Philosophical 
Society,  to  the  transactions  of  which  he  made 
many  contributions.3  On  the  iyth  July,  1681,  an 
elephant  was  burned  to  death  in  Dublin,  and  Sir 
William  Petty  secured  the  dissection  of  it  for 
Mullin,  who  published  in  London  in  1682  an 
account  of  this  dissection,  together  with  some  new 
anatomical  observations  on  the  eyes  of  animals.4 
This  account  of  the  anatomy  of  the  elephant  is 
still  found  to  be  accurate  and  is  referred  to  by 

1  T.  C.  D.  Ent.  Bk.  »  Ibid. 

8  Gilbert,  Hist.,  vol.  ii,  p.  iv ;  vide  App. 
*  London,  1682,  4to,  pp.  72  and  two  plates. 


58     CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

later  writers.  Mullin  practised  in  Dublin  till 
1686,  when  he  went  to  London,  as  we  are  told, 
'  on  account  of  a  scandalous  love  intrigue,  of  which 
he  was  ashamed.' x  He  was  elected  a  Fellow  of 
the  Royal  Society,  in  the  transactions  of  which 
several  of  his  papers  are  published.  In  1690 
Lord  Inchiquin  '  took  him  with  him  to  his  Govern- 
ment of  Jamaica,  he  being  desirous  of  that  voyage 
having  a  mind  to  enquire  after  some  mines  which 
he  heard  were  in  those  parts :  But  putting  in  at 
Barbadoes  he  met  with  some  friends  who  made 
him  drink  hard,  which  threw  him  into  a  calenture 
of  which  he  died  '. 
Speaking  of  his  work,  Sprengel 2  says  : 

'  The  quantity  of  the  blood  which  circulated  in  the  body 
had  been  arbitarilly  valued  by  Harvey  and  by  his  followers. 
A  Doctor  of  Trim  in  Ireland,  Allen  Mullen,  undertook  for 
the  first  time  in  1687  to  submit  these  results  to  exact 
calculation  :  but  the  results  which  he  obtained  depended 
on  suppositions  the  truth  of  which  may  be  doubted.  He 
allowed  the  blood  to  flow  from  the  vessels  till  the  animal 
died  and  thought  that  he  had  thus  obtained  the  total 
quantity  of  that  which  circulated  in  the  body.  He  found 
that  the  weight  of  this  mass  amounts  to  one-twentieth 
of  that  of  the  entire  body.  Hence  he  concluded  that 
same  proportion  exists  in  human  beings,  and  that  con- 
sequently a  person  who  weighs  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  has  not  more  than  eight  pounds  of  blood,  and  that 
if  at  each  diastole  the  heart  receives  four  ounces  the  total 
quantity  in  the  body  must  pass  through  the  organ  one 
hundred  and  forty  times  an  hour.  Mullen  did  not  con- 
sider that  almost  always  there  remains  over  a  certain 
amount  of  blood  and  that  the  proportion  taken  as  the 
base  of  his  calculation  varies  greatly  in  different  animals.' 

1  Ware.  vol.  ii,  p.  206.  '  Sprengel,  torn,  iv,  p.  140. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY      59 

Mullin's  work  and  discoveries  in  the  anatomy 
of  the  eye  have  received  the  approbation  of 
Albert  von  Haller.1 

In  the  year  1680  the  College  of  Physicians 
surrendered  Trinity  Hall  to  Trinity  College,  and 
new  articles  of  agreement  were  entered  into 
between  the  Colleges  on  bonds  of  £300  apiece. 
No  trace  of  this  agreement  can  now  be  found,  but 
from  a  minute  in  the  Register  of  Trinity  College 
some  years  later  we  find  it  stated  that 2  '  Upon 
the  restoring  of  Trinity  Hall  in  the  year  1680, 
there  were  articles  drawn  up  which  required  that 
"the  Register  of  the  College  of  Physitians  should 
be  one  of  those  that  should  signify  the  election  (of 
the  President)  to  the  Provost  and  Sen.  Fellows  "/ 
Another  was,  '  That  Trinity  College  did  oblige 
themselves  to  confirm  the  election  of  the  College 
of  Physitians  provided  the  person  elected  were 
a  Protestant  of  the  Church  of  Ireland.' 

For  a  time  this  agreement  seems  to  have  worked 
well,  and  on  the  24th  June,  i68i,3  '  Dr.  Patrick 
Dun  was  chosen  President  of  the  College  of 
Physitians.'  During  the  next  few  years  several 
persons  were  admitted  to  the  medical  degrees  of 
the  University,  and  on  the  25th  June,  1687,  the 
Provost  and  Senior  Fellows  decided  that  the 
kitchen  garden  of  the  College  '  Should  be  made 
a  Physic  Garden  at  the  charge  of  the  College'.4 
On  the  26th  October,  i687,5  Dr.  Connor  and 

1  Cameron,  p.  9.  *  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  267. 

*  Ibid.,  p.  219.  *  Ibid.,  p.  264. 

'  Ibid.,  p.  267. 


6o    CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

Dr.  Dunn  came  to  the  College  to  signify  that  the 
College  of  Physitians  had  chosen  Dr.  Crosby  for 
their  President,  and  did  desire  the  Provost  and 
Sen.  Fellows  to  confirm  their  election.'  This  the 
Provost  and  Senior  Fellows  refused  to  do  on  the 
grounds  that  the  information  had  not  been  brought 
to  them  by  the  Registrar  as  required  by  the  agree- 
ment of  1680.  '  And  seeing  that  the  Person  whom 
they  had  elected  was  not  a  Protestant  of  the 
Church  of  Ireland,  the  Provost  and  Senior  Fellows 
did  not  think  it  safe  nor  proper  for  them  to  con- 
firm the  election  of  the  said  Dr.  Crosby.' 

This  Dr.  Crosby  had  been  elected  a  Fellow  of 
the  College  of  Physicians  about  the  year  1674  ; 
he  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  graduate  of 
Trinity  College,  and  we  have  no  information  as 
to  where  he  took  his  medical  degree.  He  was, 
however,  a  trusted  Fellow  of  the  College,  of  which 
he  held  the  office  of  Treasurer  as  early  as  1676, 
the  earliest  records  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
now  extant  being  in  his  handwriting.  In  view  of 
the  agreement  with  the  College  of  Physicians  the 
Provost  and  Senior  Fellows  were  undoubtedly 
justified  in  their  refusal  to  recognize  Crosby  as 
President,  but  in  explanation  of  this  refusal  one 
must  bear  in  mind  the  trend  of  contemporary 
events.  King  James  was  at  this  time  engaged  in 
attacking  the  ancient  Universities  and  endeavour- 
ing by  mandamus  to  foist  on  them  persons  who 
were  ineligible  according  to  the  Statutes  for  the 
positions  sought.  The  attacks  of  this  nature  on 
Magdalen  College,  Oxford,  and  on  the  University  of 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY      61 

Cambridge,  are  well  known.  On  the  4th  October, 
1686,  Arthur  Green,  one  of  '  the  King's  con- 
verts ',  who  had  graduated  Bachelor  of  Physic  in 
1684,  presented  to  the  Provost  and  Senior  Fel- 
lows a  King's  Letter  demanding  that  they  should 
immediately  elect  him  to  the  place  and  pay  of  the 
Lecturer  in  Irish.  To  this  demand  the  following 
minute  was  made  : 1 

'  That  whereas  the  groundwork,  or  supposition,  whereon 
the  King's  grant  was  founded,  was  altogether  fictitious, 
and  untrue,  no  such  foundation  of  any  Irish  Lecturership 
appearing  in  any  of  our  Registeryes,  nor  any  other  way 
whatsoever  .  .  .  and  that  letters  be  sent  to  England  .  .  . 
containing  a  humble  representation  of  this  whole  matter 
&  reasons  why  we  cannot  in  this  case  do  what  the  King 
requires  wch  might  be  showed  to  his  Majesty  if  anyone 
offer 'd  to  accuse  us  of  disobedience.' 

It  was  probably  in  view  of  this  attempt  on  the 
part  of  the  king  that  the  Board  did  not  '  think 
it  safe  nor  proper  to  confirm  the  election  of  the 
said  Dr.  Crosby '.  This  caution  was  justified  by 
subsequent  events,  for  on  the  I3th  February 
following,  a  mandamus  from  the  king  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Board  demanding  the  election  as 
Fellow  of  the  '  trusty  and  well-beloved  Bernard 
Doyle '.  This  request  was  refused  on  the  ground 
that  Doyle  refused  to  take  the  necessary  oath  as 
Fellow,  and  the  character  of  the  '  trusty  and  well- 
beloved  '  Doyle  is  given  in  a  subsequent  minute.2 

'  His  Excellency  having  sent  an  order  to  the  Mayor  of 
Drogheda,  to  take  examinations  of  Mr.  Doyle's  behaviour 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  252.  *  T.  C.  D.  Case  and  Conduct,  p.  20. 


62      CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

while  he  was  usher  of  that  school,  and  lived  in  the  town, 
Mr.  Downes  went  to  Drogheda  upon  the  8th  of  March  ; 
and  upon  the  Qth,  loth,  I2th  of  the  same  month,  deposi- 
tions of  several  witnesses  on  oath  were  taken,  by  which 
it  was  proved  that  the  said  Doyle  had  been  guilty  of 
fornication  (having  got  two  bastards)  of  thefts,  drunken- 
ness, and  other  crimes.' 

In  view  of  such  a  state  of  things  it  is  quite 
obvious  that  the  Provost  and  Fellows  would  be 
unwilling  to  make  any  appointment  which  was 
not  strictly  in  accordance  with  both  the  letter 
and  the  spirit  of  their  legal  obligations,  or  which 
might  be  urged  against  them  in  subsequent  pro- 
ceedings. 

To  whatever  cause  we  may  attribute  the  decision 
of  Trinity  College  in  this  election,  there  is  no  doubt 
about  its  effect.  In  November  1687  the  College 
of  Physicians  proposed  to  the  Board  that  the 
agreement  made  between  the  two  Colleges  in  1680 
should  be  cancelled,  and  the  Provost  and  Senior 
Fellows  agreed  to  this  course  provided  that  '  the 
College  of  Physicians  will  deliver  up  all  the  writings 
that  relate  to  Trinity  Hall  which  are  in  their 
custody,  and  also  give  a  release  of  all  former 
grants,  and  deeds  made  by  Trinity  College  to  the 
College  of  Physicians  concerning  the  said  Hall '. 
Trinity  College  also  proposed,  '  to  set  a  lease  of 
Trinity  Hall  for  fifty  years  to  the  College  of 
Physitians  on  such  terms  as  shall  be  agreed  on.'  l 

On  the  igth  May,  1688,  the  College  of  Physicians 
again  asked  why  Trinity  College  '  refused  to  con- 
firm their  President,  Dr.  Crosby  ',  and  '  the  same 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  268. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY      63 

answer  was  returned  that  was  formerly  given '. 
Matters  then  remained  in  this  state  between  the 
two  Colleges  for  the  next  few  years. 

On  the  8th  June,  1687,  '  a  letter  from  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Dublin  was  presented  to  the  Provost 
and  Senior  Fellows  whereby  it  appeared  that 
Dr.  Mercer  was  married  &  so  his  fellowship  was 
declared  void.'  Dr.  Mercer  had  been  appointed 
Medicus  in  1671,  and  Vice-Provost  on  the  I7th 
November,  1686.  It  was  his  daughter  who  in 
1734  bequeathed  the  money  to  found  Mercer's 
Hospital.  On  the  i8th  June,  1687,  Mr.  Lloyd  was 
chosen  Medicus  and  was  succeeded  in  the  same 
year  by  Jeremy  Allen.  Allen  resigned  the  post 
on  the  i8th  September,  1687,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Arthur  Blennerhasset,  who  held  office  till  1693. 
These  were  times  of  stress,  when  it  was  difficult 
to  get  the  bare  necessaries  of  life,  and  we  find  on 
the  24th  of  January,  1688/9,  ^  became  necessary 
to  reduce  the  dietary  of  those  living  in  the  College. 
In  September  the  College  was  seized  for  a  garrison 
by  the  king's  order,  and  was  made  a  prison  for 
the  Protestant  inhabitants  of  the  city.1 

'  The  Chapel  was  sprinkled,  new  consecrated,  and  Mass 
said  in  it :  but  afterwards  being  converted  into  a  store- 
house for  powder,  it  escaped  all  further  damage.  The 
Library  and  Gardens,  and  ye  Provost's  lodgings,  were 
committed  to  the  care  of  one  M'Carthy,  a  priest,  and 
Chaplain  to  the  King,  who  preserved  them  from  the 
violence  of  the  souldiers  ;  but  the  chambers  and  all  other 
things  belonging  to  the  College  were  miserably  defaced 
and  ruined.' 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  280. 


64     CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

At  this  time  many  of  the  Fellows  left  the 
country,  and  of  the  four  who  remained  Richard 
Acton,  Vice-Provost,  and  Jeremy  Allen,  the  late 
Medicus,  both  died  of  fever  in  December.  George 
Thewles  and  John  Hall  also  braved  the  storm  and 
remained  at  their  posts.  Hall  afterwards  became 
Vice-Provost,  but  the  tragic  fate  of  Thewles  is 
recorded  in  the  following  minute  of  the  Board  : 

'  June  14  1690.  King  William  landed  at  Carrickfergus 
and  the  same  day  Mr  Thewles  died  of  a  fever.' l 

With  the  establishment  of  the  government  of 
William  III  things  began  to  improve,  and  on  the 
I5th  July,  1690,  the  Fellows  and  Scholars  returned 
to  the  College.  On  the  i8th  of  October  following 
'  an  instrument  was  sealed  and  signed  by  the 
Register  to  constitute  Dr.  Dun  President  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  for  the  year  ensuing  J.2  The 
physicians  then  petitioned  the  Lord  Deputy,  pray- 
ing that  a  new  charter  might  be  granted  to  them 
similar  to  that  of  the  London  College,  giving 
them  more  ample  powers  to  check  the  practice  of 
quackery  in  the  country,  and  that  some  forfeited 
houses  and  lands  in  the  city  might  be  granted  for 
a  College  Hall  and  Physic  Garden.  This  petition 
was  referred  to  Sir  John  Temple,  then  Attorney- 
General,  who  reported  favourably  on  it,  and  on 
the  1 4th  December,  1692,  the  old  Charter  was 
surrendered  by  Dr.  Cumyng  to  the  Lord  Chan- 
cellor. The  new  Charter  bearing  the  date  of 
December  15,  1692,  constituted  the  King  and 

1  T.  C.  D.  Case  and  Conduct,  p.  41. 
1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  283. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY     65 

Queen's  College  of  Physicians  with  Sir  Patrick 
Dun  as  President. 

There  is  little  known  of  the  history  of  Trinity 
Hall  subsequent  to  the  death  of  Stearne.  It  is 
probable  that  Mrs.  Stearne  continued  to  reside 
there  as  a  tenant  of  the  College  for  some  time 
after  Stearne's  death,  for  in  the  account-book  of 
the  College  of  Physicians,  dated  1676,  there  is  the 
entry : 

'  De  Vidua  Sterne  pro  reditu  semi  annuo  domus  hujusce 
£03-01-03.' 

From  the  minute  in  the  Register *  of  the  Board 
of  Trinity  College,  dated  October  26,  1687,  we 
learn  accidentally  that  Trinity  Hall  was  restored 
to  Trinity  College  in  the  year  1680,  though  we 
find  no  further  record  of  its  use  by  that  body  till 
1694.  On  the  gth  July  in  that  year  the  Register 
records  that  '  Sr  Smyth  was  chosen  master  of 
the  school  in  Trinity  Hall,  and  on  the  28th  of 
November  following  it  was  "  Ordered  that  a  lease 
of  Trinity  Hall  and  the  land  adjacent,  reserving  a 
place  for  a  school  be  sett  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Shaw 
for  one  and  fourty  years"/ 

On  the  24th  June,  1710,  the  Board  perfected 
two  leases  of  parts  of  the  ground  and  part  of 
Trinity  Hall  to  the  Rev.  John  Barton,  Dean  of 
Ardagh,  in  connexion  with  which  there  is  the 
following  minute  : 2 

'  It  is  agreed  between  ye  within  parties  before  ye  per- 
fection of  ye  within  lease,  that  ye  door  for  ye  school 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  267.  *  Ibid.,  p.  431. 


66     CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

of  Trinity  Hall  into  ye  yard  shall  be  shutt  up  &  y*  ye 
within  John  Barton  shall  hold  that  part  of  ye  building 
and  yard  not  hereby  demised  (ye  school  excepted)  with 
yl  part  hereby  demised  for  so  long  as  ye  within  Provost 
and  Fellows  and  Scholars  shall  think  fitt.' 

Gilbert x  states,  in  his  History  of  Dublin,  that  the 
original  building  disappeared  in  the  early  part  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  but  Henry  Dabzac,  a 
Senior  Fellow,  in  his  evidence  before  a  Committee 
of  the  House  of  Commons  in  1783,  stated  that 
'  Trinity  Hall  reverted  to  Senior  Fellows  and  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  ye  University  '.2 

The  first  meeting  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
under  the  new  charter  took  place  in  the  house  of 
the  President  in  the  Inns  Quay,  and  this  sub- 
sequently became  for  many  years  the  home  of 
the  College. 

Thus  were  the  two  Colleges  formally  separated, 
but  separated  only  to  become  more  closely  united 
in  their  work  and  aims.  On  the  23rd  June,  1693, 
there  is  the  following  minute  in  the  Register  of 
the  Board :  * 

'  The  College  of  Physicians,  Dublin,  having  obtained 
of  their  Majesties  a  new  Charter  wth  greater  privileges 
than  were  before  granted  to  ym.  To  preserve  the  right 
of  this  University  and  Colledge  it  is  therein  specified, 
That  Trin.  Coll.  Dubl.  are  only  to  give  notice  to  ye 
Professor  of  Physick,  when  any  Acts  are  to  be  performed 
for  any  degree  in  that  Faculty,  to  ye  intent  only,  y*  ye 
said  Acts  may  be  performed  with  greater  solemnity.  For 
it  is  likewise  provided  in  their  new  Charter  or  Grant  yt 

1  Gilbert.  Hist.,  vol.  iii,  p.  17. 

'  Bekher,  Memoir  Sir  P.  Dun,  p.  37.          »  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  303. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY      67 

those  who  are  admitted  by  our  University  to  a  Drs. 
degree  in  Physick  are  of  course  to  be  allowed  to  practice 
in  ye  same  without  any  further  examination  of  ye 
Colledge  of  Physicians  ;  they  paying  ye  ordinary  fees  for 
ye  same.' 

On  the  i2th  May,  1693,  '  Mr.  William  Carr  was 
elected  Physick  Fellow,' l  and  on  the  20th  Novem- 
ber, 1694,  '  had  leave  to  perform  Acts  for  the 
degree  of  Batchelour  of  Physick.' 2  On  the  $rd 
July,  1695,  the  minutes  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
record  that 

'  he  informed  ye  President  yt  he  was  to  performe  Acts  in 
order  to  take  his  Bachelor  of  Physique's  degree  this  next 
Commencement  according  to  ye  agreement  between  ye 
Colledge  of  Physitians  &  ye  Colledge  of  Dublin  &  yt  like- 
wise he  gave  him  a  copie  of  ye  subject  of  his  lectures  & 
ye  questions  he  was  to  dispute  uppon/ 

On  the  6th  July  he  was  given  the  grace  for  his 
degree.  On  the  i6th  January,  1696/7,  it  was 
reported  to  the  College  of  Physicians  that 

'  Dr.  Howard  &  Dr.  Pratt  being  present  at  his  performing 
his  Acts,  &  they  &  several  others  of  the  Colledge  being 
well  satisfyed  of  his  sufficiency  therefore  ;  he  performing 
all  other  requisites  by  the  College  required  for  a  Candidate 
be  admitted  as  such  from  the  date  hereof.' 

On  the  ist  February,  1695/6,  Carr  resigned  his 
Greek  Lectures  and  presented  a  King's  Letter 
granting  him  a  Royal  dispensation  3  '  to  remain 
abroad  during  ye  space  of  three  years  for  his 
improvement  in  ye  art  of  Physick ',  without  for- 
feiting his  Fellowship.  On  the  6th  March  he  was 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  300.         *  Ibid.,  p.  318.         *  Ibid.,  p.  335. 


68   CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

co-opted  a  Senior  Fellow,  and  on  the  2ist  January, 
1698/9,  the  '  Physick  Fellowship '  was  declared 
vacant  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Carr  and  '  Mr.  Dennis 
was  elected  into  it '. 

The  agreement  between  the  Colleges  mentioned 
above  is  further  stated  in  the  minutes  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  under  the  date  2nd  October, 
1695,  when 

'  it  was  ordered  yt  whoever  is  to  be  a  Fellow  of  this 
Society  is  first  to  be  admitted  Dr.  of  Physick  in  ye 
University  of  Dublin  on  account  yt  there  is  enterd  in  ye 
Registry  of  ye  said  University  an  order  yt  whoever  likes  a 
degree  in  ye  Faculty  of  Physick  do  give  timely  notice  to 
ye  President  and  Fellows  of  ye  King  &  Queen's  Colledge 
of  Physitiens  yt  they  may  be  present  at  ye  performance 
of  their  Exercises  or  Acts  to  make  judgement  accordingly 
whether  they  be  duly  qualified  for  such  degrees.' 

On  the  2ist  July,  1697,  the  President  and 
Fellows  of  the  College  of  Physicians  adopted  the 
following  resolution  : 

'  Ordered  yt  att  all  Candidate  Drs.  Acts  of  Disputation 
in  Trinity  Colledge  ye  Censrs  for  ye  time  being  be  ex- 
officio  present  as  Opponents  without  being  desir'd  by  ye 
Candidate  soe  yt  they  may  be  able  to  make  a  report  to 
ye  Colledge  thereof  under  such  penaltyes  as  the  Colledge 
shall  think  fit.' 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  September  n,  1697, 
this  penalty  was  fixed  at  a  fine  of  ten  shillings 
for  each  such  omission,  and  it  was  decided  that 
the  Censor  was  to  lose  his  power  of  voting  in  the 
College  and  was  not  to  be  met  in  consultation  by 
any  other  Fellow  of  the  College  till  the  fine  was 
paid.  On  the  3rd  July,  1699,  a  grace  was  given 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY    69 

to  Mr.  Samuel  Massy  for  his  degree  of  Doctor  in 
Physic.  In  the  minutes  of  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians for  the  nth  May,  1698,  we  read  : 

'  Mr.  Massy  shall  choose  two  of  the  following  questions 
to  dispute  on  for  his  Batchelour's  degree  in  Physick, 
and  acquaint  ye  Presidt.  &  Censors  how  he  will  hold 
them : 

1.  An  Nervi  aliquid  deferunt  praeter  spiritus  animales. 

2.  An  Pulmones  inflantur  quia  Dilatantur. 

3.  An  Secretio  Bilis  sit  in  hepate  tantum. 

4.  An  Sanguis  nutriat. 

5.  An  dantur  Particularia  Vasa  deferentia  Urinam  ad 

Vesicam  praeter  Ureteres. 

6.  An  Omne  Animal  generatur  ex  ovo.' 

This  is  the  first  example  of  a  medical  examination 
paper  that  has  come  down  to  us,  but  there  is  no 
record  which  of  the  questions  Mr.  Massy  selected. 
The  regulations  for  the  examination  of  candi- 
date for  the  degrees  of  the  University,  in  spite  of 
the  resolutions  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  do 
not  appear  to  have  been  on  a  very  satisfactory 
footing,  and  several  degrees  were  granted  without 
there  being  any  record  of  the  presence  of  the 
Censors  of  the  College.  At  the  meeting  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  on  the  23rd  January,  1698/9, 
Dr.  Howard  and  Dr.  Molyneux  were  ordered  '  to 
wait  on  ye  Provost  of  Trinity  Colledge,  Dubl., 
&  enquire  what  agreement  relating  to  performing 
of  acts  for  Doctors  in  Physick  is  concluded  between 
ye  sd  Colledge  &  ye  Colledge  of  Physitians  in 
Ireland'.  On  the  i5th  February  following  Dr. 
Howard  reported  that  the  Provost  said  he  '  would 
look  for  ye  agreement  made  between  ye  said 

F3 


TO    CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

Colledge  and  ye  Colledge  of  Physicians  in  relation 
to  ye  candidates  in  Physick '.  This  matter  was 
continually  before  the  College  until  the  meeting 
on  the  23rd  July,  1701,  on  which  date  the  matter 
was  brought  to  a  satisfactory  conclusion,  and  on 
August  24,  1701,  the  following  resolution  was 
entered  in  the  Register  of  Trinity  College  : * 

'  At  a  meeting  of  ye  President  &  Fellows  of  ye  King 
&  Queens  College  of  Physicians  in  Ireland  8ber  2d  1695 
Ordered,  that  whoever  is  to  be  a  Fellow  of  this  Society 
is  first  to  be  admitted  Dr.  of  Physick  in  the  University 
of  Dublin,  on  account  that  there  is  enter'd  in  ye  Registry 
of  ye  said  University  an  order  that  who  ever  takes  a 
degree  in  ye  Faculty  of  Physick  doe  give  timely  notice 
to  ye  President  &  Fellows  of  ye  King  &  Queens  College 
of  Physicians  that  they  may  be  present  at  ye  performance 
of  their  Exercises  or  Acts  to  make  a  judgement  accordingly 
whether  they  be  duely  qualified  for  such  degrees. 

Richard  Steevens  Register.' 

'  8***  18,  1697.  Ordered  that  ye  four  Censors  after 
notice  being  given  to  them  doe  ex  officio  attend,  and  be 
ready  to  oppose  at  ye  disputations  of  each  candidate 
Doctor  of  Physick  in  ye  University  of  Dublin  and  that 
each  Censor  who  doth  absent  himself  or  is  not  ready 
to  oppose  ye  said  candidates  shall  for  each  omission  pay 
ten  shillings  fine  to  ye  use  of  ye  College  &  whilst  this  fine 
is  unpaid  he  shall  loose  his  power  of  voting  in  ye  meetings 
of  ye  said  College,  and  that  after  ye  aforesaid  omission 
has  been  taken  notice  of  at  ye  meetings  of  ye  said  College 
none  of  ye  Fellows  shall  consult  with  him  before  he  pay 
ye  said  fine  and  that  whosoever  consulteth  with  him  before 
ye  fine  be  pay'd  ye  same  Fellow  shall  be  liable  to  ye  same 
fine  and  shall  also  loose  his  power  of  voting  untill  he  pay 
ye  said  fine. 

Richard  Steevens  Regr.' 
1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  379. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY    71 

'  The  President  and  Fellows  of  ye  King  &  Queens 
College  of  Physicians  in  Ireland  having  admitted  a  clause 
in  their  Charter  that  every  Doctor  of  Physick  of  our 
University  of  due  standing  and  performing  full  acts  shall 
be  admitted  into  their  Society  without  Examination  on 
paying  ye  usual  fees. 

'  The  said  President  and  Fellows  having  also  made 
an  order  Octr.  ye  2d,  1695,  that  noe  Dr.  of  Physick  of 
any  foreigne  University  shall  be  admitted  a  Fellow  of 
their  Society  unlesse  he  be  first  admitted  ad  eundem 
with  us. 

'  The  aforesaid  President  and  Fellows  having  alsoe 
made  another  order,  Sept.  22d  1697.  and  January  24 
1697(78)  that  ye  Censors  of  ye  said  College  of  Physicians 
for  ye  time  being  shall  ex  officio  be  present  at  ye  Acts 
of  each  Candidate  Doctor  in  Physick  and  oppose  at  ye 
disputations  of  each  such  Candidate  (timely  notice  being 
first  given  to  ye  said  Censors)  and  that  under  a  severe 
penalty.  We  ye  Provost  and  Fellows  of  Trinity  College 
Dublin  in  consideration  of  ye  foregoing  articles  doe 
order  and  appoint  that  henceforth  each  Candidate 
Doctor  in  Physick  on  obtaining  our  leave  to  perform  his 
acts  for  ye  said  degree  be  obliged  to  give  ye  President  and 
Censors  of  ye  College  of  Physicians  due  notice  of  ye  time 
and  subject  of  his  Acts  and  that  he  be  obliged  to  furnish 
ye  same  in  such  time  before  ye  commencement  that  ye 
said  President,  Censors  &  Fellows  aforesaid  may  have 
a  competent  time  to  report  unto  us  ye  sufficiency  or 
insufficiency  of  each  said  candidate ;  we  hereby  promising 
not  to  give  ye  grace  of  ye  house  to  any  candidate  Dr.  in 
Physick  whom  ye  President  Censors  &  Fellows  of  ye 
College  of  Physitians  shall  solemnly  report  &  declare  under 
their  hands  to  be  not  duly  qualified  for  ye  said  degree 
of  Dr.  in  Physick  but  that  ye  said  candidate  shall  be 
deterred  &  stopt  from  ye  said  degree  in  that  commence- 
ment only  on  account  of  ye  certificate  and  report  afore- 
said but  that  for  any  comencement  following  ye  same 
person  may  have  his  degree  at  ye  discretion  of  ye  house.' 


72    CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

We  have  given  these  agreements  in  full  as  they 
form  an  important  landmark  in  the  history  of  the 
colleges,  and  under  the  regulations  thereby  made 
the  examinations  for  the  degrees  in  medicine  were 
conducted  for  the  next  fifty  years. 

As  we  have  seen,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Carr, 
2Qth  January,  1698/9,  John  Dennis  was  appointed 
Physic  Fellow  or  Medicus.  Dennis  had  been 
elected  Junior  Fellow  'upon  Dr.  Richardson's 
foundation '  pursuant  to  a  letter  of  the  King.1  He 
was  elected  Scholar  in  1693,  graduated  Bachelor 
in  Arts  in  the  spring  of  1696,  and  Master  in  the 
summer  of  i697.2  He  resigned  his  Fellowship  in 
June  1700,  and  became  head  master  of  the  Portora 
Royal  School,  Enniskillen.  In  the  spring  of  1709 
he  proceeded  to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  in  Divinity 
and  to  that  of  Doctor  in  the  summer  of  1711. 
He  was  appointed  Rector  of  Clunish  in  1721,  and 
died  in  1745 .8 

On  the  8th  June,  1700,  '  Mr.  Raymond  was 
chosen  Physic  Fellow.' 4  He  had  been  a  Scholar 
in  1693,  Bachelor  in  Arts  in  1696,  Fellow  and 
Master  in  Arts  in  1699,  and  in  1702  was  appointed 
Vicar  of  Trim.  He  took  his  Bachelor  and  Doctor's 
degrees  in  Divinity  in  the  summer  of  1719.  On 
the  resignation  of  Mr.  Raymond  in  1702  William 
Lloyd  appears  to  have  been  appointed  Medicus. 
He  had  graduated  in  Arts  in  1700,  was  elected 
Fellow  in  1701,  and  Master  in  Arts  in  1712, 
Bachelor  in  Divinity  in  1712,  and  Doctor  in  1714. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  348.  »  Todd's  Roll. 

1  T.  C.  D.  Col.,  p.  494.  «  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  367. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY    73 

He  was  co-opted  Senior  Fellow  on  the  igth 
November,  1711,  and  died  on  the  I2th  November, 
1719.  There  is  no  record  of  Lloyd's  appointment 
to  the  Physic  Fellowship,  but  in  the  College 
Register  for  the  28th  January,  1706/7,  is  the 
minute  that  '  upon  Mr.  Lloyd's  resignation  of  ye 
Physic-fellow  Mr.  Helsham  was  chosen  into  it  '.* 

The  chief  moving  spirit  in  medical  education 
in  Ireland  at  this  time  was  undoubtedly  Patrick 
Dun,  and  though  his  connexion  with  the  College 
of  Physicians  was  closer  than  with  the  University, 
yet  since  his  death  his  name  has  been  intimately 
linked  with  the  medical  school  of  both  bodies. 
The  chief  facts  of  his  life  have  been  related  by 
the  late  Dr.  Belcher  in  an  admirable  memoir  pub- 
lished in  1866,  and  it  is  from  this  memoir  that 
our  facts  are  chiefly  derived. 

Patrick  Dun,  the  son  of  Charles  Dun,  litser,  or 
dyer,  and  his  wife  Katherine  Burnett,  was  born 
in  Aberdeen  in  January  1642,  and  was  the  grand- 
nephew  of  Dr.  Charles  Dun,  Principal  of  Marischal 
College,  who  died  in  1631.  It  is  probable  that 
Patrick  was  educated  first  at  the  Aberdeen  Gram- 
mar School  and  then  at  Marischal  College,  though 
no  record  in  either  of  these  places  has  been  preserved 
to  confirm  the  supposition.  It  is  recorded  that  the 
wife  of  Dun's  great-great-grandfather  was  burned 
as  a  witch  at  Aberdeen  on  the  gth  March,  1597. 

Dun  graduated  in  Medicine  at  Aberdeen  and 
then,  as  was  the  custom  at  the  time,  probably 
went  abroad  for  study. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  410. 


74    CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY 

In  1677/8  James,  Duke  of  Ormonde,  being 
Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Oxford,  it  is 
recorded1  that  on 

'  Feb.  igth  Patrick  Dun  Physitian  in  ord.  to  James  Duke 
of  Ormonde,  L.  Lieut,  of  Ireland,  Doct.  of  Phys.  of 
Aberdeen  in  Scotland,  Valentia  in  Dauphiny  and  of 
Dublin  in  Ireland  was  declared  (he  being  then  absent) 
incorporated  Doctor  of  the  said  faculty  of  this  Univ. 
of  Oxon,'  and  on  the  23d  of  March  following,  '  a  Diploma 
of  his  incorporation  was  sealed  and  sent  to  him.' 

We  also  hear  of  him  in  a  letter  written  from 
Dublin  Castle  by  Sir  John  Hill  to  John  Forbes, 
of  Culloden,  in  1676,  in  which  he  says  : 

'  here  is  one  Dr.  Dun  an  Aberdeen  man,  who  is  Phisitian 
to  the  State,  &  to  my  Lord  Lieut.,  desires  to  have  his 
service  remembered  to  your  son,  Duncan,  with  whom  he 
had  an  acquaintance  in  Paris.' 

About  this  time  Dun  was  elected  a  Fellow  of 
the  College  of  Physicians,  and  on  June  24,  1681, 
he  was  for  the  first  time  chosen  President  of  the 
College,  and  re-elected  on  St.  Luke's  Day,  1690. 
Dun  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Dublin  Philo- 
sophical Society  in  1682,  and  contributed  a  paper 
'  on  the  Analysis  of  Mineral  Waters '  to  the  pro- 
ceedings of  that  body.  In  the  course  of  1688  Dun 
was  Physician  to  the  Army  in  Ireland,  and  in  that 
capacity  saw  active  service  in  various  parts  of  the 
country.  In  1692  he  entered  the  Irish  Parliament 
as  member  for  the  borough  of  Killileagh,  County 
Down,  and  was  subsequently,  in  1695  and  1703, 
elected  member  for  Mullingar.  On  the  nth 

1  Wood,  Alhenae,  vol.  ii,  p.  879. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY    75 

December,  1694,  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Colonel  John  Jephson,  and  their  only  son,  Boyle, 
was  baptised  at  St.  Michan's  on  the  24th  Novem- 
ber, 1697,  and  buried  there  on  the  7th  October, 
1700,  '  in  Mr.  Becket's  valt.' l  On  the  29th 
January,  1696,  Dun  was  knighted  by  the  Lords 
Justices,  and  in  the  year  1704  he  represented  that 
there  was  an  hospital  in  Dublin  for  the  sick  and 
infirm  of  the  army,  and  that  no  physician  had 
been  appointed  to  attend  there  since  the  queen's 
succession  to  the  crown.  In  consequence  of  this 
representation  the  queen  appointed  him  from  Lady 
Day,  1705,  Physician-General  of  the  Army  in 
Ireland  with  the  usual  salary  of  ten  shillings  a  day.2 

In  1711  Dun  made  his  will  and  executed  his 
celebrated  deed  concerning  the  Professor  of  Physic. 
On  May  24,  1713,  he  died,  and  on  the  27th  was 
buried  in  St.  Michan's. 

Dun's  interest  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
medical  education  never  flagged  in  spite  of  his 
numerous  engagements,  social,  political,  and  pro- 
fessional. He  was  a  constant  attendant  at  the 
College  meetings  as  late  as  April  20,  1713,  and 
took  a  prominent  part  in  all  the  important  trans- 
actions of  that  body.  Both  his  will  and  the 
scheme  which  he  drew  up  for  the  foundation  of 
a  Professorship  in  Physic  show  the  broad  view 
which  he  took  of  medical  education.  Much  of 
the  subsequent  credit  and  distinction  of  the  Irish 
School  of  Medicine  is  due  to  his  wise  forethought 
and  generosity. 

1  St.  Michan's  Reg.  *  Liber  Mun.,  vol.  i,  part  ii,  p.  101. 


CHAPTER  V 
THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

ON  the  I4th  of  June,  1710,  the  Provost  and 
Senior  Fellows  '  Ordered  that  ground  be  laid  out 
at  the  South-East  corner  of  ye  Physic  Garden 
sufficient  for  erecting  a  Laboratory  and  an  Ana- 
tomical Theatre  thereupon.'  The  same  day  it  was 
'  Ordered  that  the  hundred  pounds  given  by  ye 
Widow  Parsons  for  the  maintenance  of  a  poor 
scholar  in  ye  College  be  applied  to  ye  building  of 
ye  said  Laboratory  and  Anatomical  Theatre,  and 
that  the  two  Lecturers  in  Anatomy  and  Chymistry 
be  charged  with  ye  payment  of  six  pounds  for  ye 
maintenance  of  ye  said  poor  scholar  during  ye 
pleasure  of  ye  house.' 1 

Such  is  the  scanty  account  we  have  in  the 
College  Register  of  the  foundation  in  Trinity  College 
of  the  School  of  Medicine — a  school  which  was 
destined  to  become  the  largest  within  her  walls. 
The  situation  of  the  physic  garden,  which  had 
originally  been  the  kitchen  garden  of  the  College, 
has  not  been  accurately  denned.  It  was  some- 
where in  the  region  of  the  present  Library,  extend- 
ing probably  for  some  distance  into  the  present 
Fellows'  Garden.  Stubbs 2  states  that  the  physic 
garden  occupied  the  site  of  the  present  Library, 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  431.  «  Stubbs,  Hist.,  p.  182. 


w 

B 
H 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL        77 

but  this  can  hardly  be  exact,  since  the  Anatomy 
House,  situated  in  the  south-east  corner  of  the 
garden,  was  some  distance  from  the  south-east 
corner  of  the  Library.  The  present  Library  was 
built  between  1712  and  1733,  and  in  the  plan  of 
the  College  as  it  was  in  1750,  given  in  Rocque's 
map  of  Dublin,  both  buildings  are  shown.  The 
Anatomy  House  occupied  a  position  as  nearly  as 
possible  corresponding  to  the  present  tool-house 
at  the  west  end  of  the  College  park,  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  adjacent  end  of  the  Library  by 
a  wall.  The  house  now  known  as  '  No.  22  '  was 
at  first  a  double  house,  and  extended  across  the 
pathway  which  at  present  separates  it  from  the 
Library.  In  an  old  engraving  of  the  College,  pub- 
lished in  1753,  one  gets  a  view  of  the  Anatomy 
House  as  it  then  stood.  It  was  two  stories  high, 
and  appears  to  have  been  built  of  brick,  without 
any  attempt  at  architectural  beauty,  as  indeed  one 
would  expect  when  one  considers  the  funds  avail- 
able for  its  erection. 

The  Board  had  not  yet  embarked  on  those  ex- 
tensive architectural  undertakings  which,  during 
the  next  fifty  years,  were  to  absorb  so  much  money 
and  to  give  to  the  College  some  of  the  finest  of  its 
present  buildings. 

Of  the  details  of  the  internal  arrangements  of 
the  Anatomy  House  we  have  little  information. 
We  know  that  it  contained  rooms  for  a  chemical 
laboratory,  for  a  lecture-room,  and,  probably  a 
dissecting-room,  as  well  as  an  upstairs  apartment, 
which  was  used  as  a  museum.  The  rooms  were 


78        THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

small,  and  in  the  dissecting-room  in  1814  there 
was  only  accommodation  for  five  tables,  and  there 
was  no  water-supply  nor  drainage.1 

The  building  operations  did  not  take  long,  and 
on  the  I5th  August,  1711,  the  Board  ordered  that 
the  sum  of  '  five  guineas  be  given  to  Sr.  Thompson 
in  consideration  of  his  labour  in  composing  a  poem 
agst.  ye  opening  of  ye  laboratory.'  On  the  follow- 
ing day,  the  i6th  August,  1711, 

'  the  laboratory  was  opened  ye  Provost  &  fellows  and 
many  others  being  present,  and  several  publick  exercises 
were  performed  by  ye  several  persons  following  : 2 

Sr.  Thompson  spoke  a  copy  of  verses. 

Dr.  Helsham  lectured  in  Natural  Philosophy. 

Dr.  Hoyle  lectured  in  Anatomy. 

Dr.  Nicholson  lectured  in  Botany. 

Dr.  Molyneux,  Professor  of  Physick,  lectured  in 
Physicks. 

Dr.  Griffith  lectured  in  Chymistry.' 

This  is  the  only  record  of  the  opening  ceremony 
that  has  come  down  to  us,  and  unfortunately  no 
copy  of  the  verses  spoken  by  '  Sr.  Thompson '  is 
known  to  exist.  This  '  Sr.  Thompson ',  or  William 
Thompson,  was  elected  a  Scholar  in  1707,  and 
graduated  B.A.  in  the  spring  of  1709.  In  1713  he 
was  elected  Fellow,  and  he  graduated  B.D.  and 
proceeded  to  the  D.D.  degree  in  the  summer  of 
1727.  He  was  co-opted  Senior  Fellow  on  the 
I4th  June,  1723,  and  being  elected  Rector  of 
Aghalurcher  on  the  i8th  December,  1729,  he  re- 
signed his  Fellowship  on  the  24th  January  follow- 
ing. He  died  on  the  8th  January,  1754.  William 

1  Macalister.  pp.  103  and  106.  *  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  438. 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL        79 

Thompson  was  one  of  the  three  Fellows  of  Trinity 
College  who  in  1725  volunteered  to  accompany 
Bishop  Berkeley  to  the  Bermudas  to  assist  in  the 
foundation  of  a  College  there  '  for  converting  the 
savage  Americans  to  Christianity  V 

Of  the  other  lecturers  on  this  occasion,  Helsham 
and  Molyneux  were  perhaps  the  most  distinguished. 
Richard  Helsham,  the  son  of  John  Helsham,  was 
born  and  educated  at  Kilkenny,  and  entered 
Trinity  College  as  a  Pensioner  at  the  age  of  15,  on 
June  18,  i6g8.2  He  was  elected  Scholar  in  1700, 
and  graduated  in  Arts  in  the  spring  of  1702.  Two 
years  later  he  was  elected  Fellow,  and  took  the 
Master's  degree  in  Arts  in  1705.  In  January, 
1706/7,  he  was  elected  Medicus  on  the  resignation 
of  Lloyd,  and  in  February,  1709/10,  proceeded  to 
the  degrees  of  Bachelor  and  Doctor  of  Medicine. 
On  the  i8th  October,  1710,  he  was  admitted  a 
candidate  and  Fellow  of  the  King  and  Queen's 
College  of  Physicians.  On  the  26th  January, 
1722/3,  he  was  chosen  '  Mathematic  Lecturer '  in 
place  of  Dr.  Claud  Gilbert,  on  the  foundation  of 
Lord  Donegall,  and  on  the  2ist  April,  1724,  he 
was  chosen  the  first  Professor  of  Natural  and 
Experimental  Philosophy,  a  Chair  then  founded 
in  accordance  with  the  will  of  Erasmus  Smith, 
though  he  had  lectured  on  the  subject  since  the 
opening  of  the  School  in  1711. 

The  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  recognized  the  work  of  Helsham  in 
this  Chair  by  resolving,  on  April  13,  1724,  'that 

1  Berkeley's  Life,  vol.  i,  p.  xi.        *  Entrance  Book,  T.  C.  D. 


Dr.  Helshamhas  deserved  a  gratuity  from  ye  College 
of  Physitians  for  his  course  of  experimental  philo- 
sophy.' l  On  October  the  30th  the  '  Treasurer 
was  ordered  to  pay  Mr.  Cope,  the  goldsmith,  the 
sum  of  twenty  three  pounds  for  ye  piece  of  plate 
given  by  the  College  to  Dr.  Helsham.' 

Helsham  was  co-opted  a  Senior  Fellow  of  Trinity 
College  on  the  6th  November,  1714,  and  he  resigned 
on  the  i6th  January,  1729/30,  being  elected  Pro- 
fessor of  Physic  in  the  room  of  Sir  Thomas  Moly- 
neux  on  the  loth  November,  1733.  In  the  College 
of  Physicians  he  was  elected  President  in  1716 
and  again  in  1725,  being  made  Honorary  Fellow 
on  St.  Luke's  Day,  1735.  Besides  being  a  learned 
physician,  Helsham  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  city,  and  on  August  29,  1737,  in  the 
Assembly  Rolls  of  the  Corporation  2  we  read  of 
a  petition  from  '  certain  of  the  Commons  setting 
forth  that  Dr.  Richard  Helsham  has  on  all  occa- 
sions shown  his  readiness  to  assist  this  citty  with 
respect  to  the  being  better  supplied  with  pipe- 
water,  &  therefore  prayed  to  have  him  presented 
with  his  freedom  in  a  silver  box.  Whereupon  it 
was  ordered  that  Dr.  Richard  Helsham  be  pre- 
sented with  the  freedom  of  this  citty  in  a  silver 
box  the  value  thereof  not  to  exceed  five  pounds/ 

Helsham  was  a  member  of  that  group  of  friends 
who  used  to  meet  at  Dr.  Delany's  house  at  Delville, 
which  included  Swift,  Stella,  Dr.  Sheridan,  and 
Mrs.  Pendarvis,  afterwards  Dr.  Delany's  wife. 
Indeed  Delville  seems  to  have  belonged  in  part  to 

1  Col.  P.  Minutes.  •  C.A.R.,  vol.  iii,  p.  182. 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL        81 

Helsham,  and  it  was  for  a  long  time  known  as 
Hel-Del-Ville,  the  name  being  derived  from  the 
initial  syllables  of  the  names  of  the  joint  owners.1 
After  Swift  returned  to  Dublin  as  Dean  of  St. 
Patrick's,  Helsham  seems  to  have  acted  as  his 
physician,  and  in  a  letter  to  the  Dean  dated  London, 
December  n,  1718,  Arbuthnot  says  :  '  Glad  at  my 
heart  should  I  be  if  Dr.  Helsham  or  I  could  do  you 
any  good.  My  service  to  Dr.  Helsham ;  he  does 
not  want  my  advice  in  the  case.' 2 

In  a  letter  to  Pope  dated  'Dublin,  Feb.  13, 
1728/9',  Swift  gives  the  following  description  of 
Dr.  Helsham: 

'  Here  is  an  ingenious  good-humoured  Physician,  a  fine 
gentleman,  an  excellent  scholar,  easy  in  his  fortunes,  kind 
to  every  Body,  hath  abundance  of  Friends,  entertains 
them  often  and  liberally,  they  pass  the  evening  with  him 
at  cards,  with  plenty  of  good  meat  and  wine,  eight  or 
a  dozen  together  ;  he  loves  them  all,  and  they  him  ;  he 
hath  twenty  of  them  at  command,  if  one  of  them  dies,  it 
is  no  more  than  poor  Tom  I  he  getteth  another,  or  taketh 
up  with  the  rest,  and  is  no  more  moved  than  at  the  loss 
of  his  cat ;  he  offendeth  no  Body,  is  easy  with  every  Body, 
— is  not  this  the  true  happy  man  ?  ' 3 

In  a  further  letter  Swift  describes  him  as  '  the 
most  eminent  Physician  of  this  city  and  Kingdom  '.4 

Mrs.  Delany,  when  Mrs.  Pendarvis,  in  a  letter  to 
her  sister,  written  from  Dublin,  January  24, 1732/3, 
says  she  met  Helsham  at  Delville  and  describes 
him  as  'a  very  ingenious  entertaining  man'.5 

1  Craik,  vol.  ii,  p.  180.  8  Swift's  Letters,  vol.  ii,  p.  192. 

3  Pope's  Works,  vol.  ix,  p.  94.  4  July  12,  1735. 

5  Autobiography,  vol.  i,  p.  396. 

G 


82        THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

On  December  16,  1730,  about  the  time  Helsham 
resigned  his  Fellowship,  he  married  Jane,  widow 
of  Thomas  Putland,  who  survived  him.  In  the 
Gentleman's  Magazine1  for  1738  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing notice  of  Helsham's  death  under  the  date 
of  August  of  that  year  : 

'  It  was  imagin'd  that  his  disorder  proceeded  from 
a  twisting  of  the  guts,  and  he  took  quicksilver,  which 
proved  ineffectual.  He  desired  that  his  body  might  be 
opened  for  the  benefit  of  mankind,  which  being  done 
there  was  found  in  one  of  his  guts  an  excresence  of  three 
pieces  of  Flesh,  the  smallest  as  large  as  a  hen's  egg,  and 
resembling  the  Flesh  of  the  liver.' 

In  his  will,  the  codicil  of  which  is  dated  the 
i6th  of  August,  1738,  Helsham  says  : 

'  As  to  my  funeral  it  is  my  will  (and  I  do  adjure  my 
executor  not  to  fail  in  the  execution  of  it)  that  before 
my  coffin  be  nailed  up  my  head  be  severed  from  my  body 
and  that  my  corps  be  carried  to  the  place  of  burial  by 
the  light  of  one  taper  only  at  the  dead  of  night  without 
Herse  or  Pomp  attended  by  my  Domesticks  only.' 

Helsham's  lectures  in  natural  philosophy  were 
published  in  1739  by  his  friend  and  pupil  Bryan 
Robinson,  being  the  first  scientific  work  printed  at 
the  University  Press.2  Many  subsequent  editions 
of  this  book  were  issued,  and  it  continued  to  be 
used  as  a  text-book  in  the  University  for  nearly 
a  hundred  years.  As  late  as  the  year  1822  select 
parts  of  this  work  were  issued  by  the  University 
Press  for  the  use  of  students  in  the  College. 

Thomas  Molyneux,  son  of  Samuel  Molyneux, 
who  had  served  with  distinction  in  the  wars  of 

1  Vol.  viii,  p.  491.  »  Stubbs,  Hist.,  p.  340. 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL        83 

1641,  and  had  been  appointed  Master  Gunner  for 
Ireland,  was  born  in  Dublin  on  the  I4th  April, 
1661.  The  family  had  been  connected  with  Ire- 
land1 from  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  when  one  Sir 
Thomas  Molyneux,  Kt.,  held  the  office  of  Chan- 
cellor of  the  Exchequer,  and  in  his  will,  dated  1592, 
he  left  £40  towards  the  building  of  Trinity  College. 
His  second  son,  Daniel,  M.P.  for  Strabane  (1613- 
32),  was  appointed  Ulster  King-of-Arms  in  1597, 
and  held  the  post  till  his  death  in  1632. 

Samuel  Molyneux,  the  Master  Gunner,  was  the 
third  son  of  this  Daniel,  and  is  remarkable  for 
having  written  a  book  on  gunnery  after  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  70.  Samuel  Molyneux  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Margret  Dowdall,  and  had  five  sons 
and  four  daughters.  Of  these  sons,  William  and 
Thomas  occupy  prominent  positions  in  Irish  his- 
tory. William  Molyneux,  born  on  the  I7th  April, 
1656,  was  a  distinguished  mathematician  and  scien- 
tist, being  the  first  person  to  demonstrate  by  the 
aid  of  the  microscope  the  circulation  of  the  blood  in 
reptiles.2  He  is,  however,  better  known  as  the  author 
of  The  Case  of  Ireland  being  bound  by  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment made  in  England  stated,  which  was  published 
in  Dublin  in  1698,  and  was  ordered  by  the  English 
Parliament  to  be  burned  by  the  common  hangman.3 
He  represented  the  University  of  Dublin  in  the 
Irish  Parliament  of  1692,  and  died  at  the  early  age 
of  42  on  the  nth  November,  1698,  having  suffered 
for  many  years  from  a  stone  in  his  kidney.4 

1  Irish  Builder,  April  i,  1887.          *  Sprengel,  tome  iv,  p.  140. 
*  Webb,  p.  343.  *  Ware's  Writers,  p.  259. 


84        THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

Thomas  Molyneux,  the  younger  brother  of 
William,  entered  Trinity  College  as  a  Fellow  Com- 
moner on  the  5th  September,  1675,  at  the  age  of 
15,  and  graduated  B.A.  in  the  spring  of  1680. 

In  1683  he  left  Dublin  for  travel  and  study  on 
the  continent  of  Europe.  He  visited  London, 
Cambridge,  Oxford,  and  Amsterdam,  and  then 
settled  down  to  study  in  the  University  of  Ley  den. 
In  a  series  of  letters  written  to  his  brother  during 
this  period,  which  were  published  in  the  Dublin 
University  Magazine  for  1841,  Molyneux  gives  a 
most  interesting  account  of  his  work  and  of  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the  various  Universities 
he  visited. 

At  the  end  of  April,  1687,  Molyneux  returned  to 
Dublin,  having  visited  Paris  and  spent  almost 
a  year  in  London  before  his  return.  On  July  9, 
1687,  '  the  Grace  of  the  House '  was  given  by  the 
Board  of  Trinity  College  for  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Physic  to  Thomas  Molyneux,  and  in  the  same 
year  he  was  elected  Fellow  of  the  College  of 
Physicians.  On  the  3ist  January,  1689/90,  both 
William  and  Thomas  Molyneux  left  Ireland  at  the 
desire  of  their  parents,  on  account  of  the  political 
troubles  which  had  then  reached  an  acute  stage  in 
Ireland.  For  two  years  they  lived  together  near 
Chester,  and  there  Thomas  occupied  himself  with 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  Immediately  after 
the  battle  of  the  Boyne  they  returned  to  Dublin, 
and  Thomas  took  up  his  residence  and  began 
practice  in  his  father's  house  in  Thomas  Court. 
About  a  year  after  his  father's  death,  which 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL        85 

occurred  in  January,  1692,  Thomas  married 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Ralph  Howard,  who  was 
then  Professor  of  Physic  in  the  University.  At 
this  time  he  appears  to  have  been  in  a  large 
practice,  for  we  find  that  before  the  close  of  the 
year  1693  he  was  able  to  purchase  an  estate  worth 
£100  per  annum. 

Among  his  patients  was  the  celebrated  John 
Locke,  whom  he  had  met  abroad,  and  from  whom 
he  received  several  letters.  During  this  period  he 
contributed  many  papers  to  the  Philosophical 
Transactions,  dealing  with  natural  history  and 
medical  subjects,  and  he  represented  Ratoath  in 
the  Irish  Parliament  from  1695  to  1699. 

On  the  1 6th  October,  1701,  Molyneux  was  elected 
President  of  the  King  and  Queen's  College  of 
Physicians,  having  previously  held  the  offices  of 
Censor,  Registrar,  and  Treasurer.  He  was  re- 
elected  President  in  the  next  year,  and  again  in 
1709,  1713,  and  1720,  and  was  made  an  Hono- 
rary Fellow  on  the  28th  October,  1728.  In  the 
year  1711  he  built  for  himself,  at  an  expense  of 
£2,310  45.  5j^.,  a  house  in  Peter  Street,  which 
still  remains,  the  furnishing  of  which,  he  tells  us, 
came  to  £2,341  55.  yd. 

On  the  22nd  February,  1711,  Molyneux  was 
chosen  Professor  of  Physic  in  the  University  in  '  the 
room  of  Dr.  Richard  Steevens  lately  deceased'.1 
In  July,  1715,  he  was  named  Physician  to  the  State 
in  Ireland,  and  on  the  i6th  July,  1718,  was,  by 
Letters  Patent,2  appointed  Physician-General  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  435.  *  Liber  Mun. 

G3 


86        THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

the  Army.  By  a  Patent,1  dated  Dublin,  July  4, 
1730,  he  was  created  the  first  medical  baronet  in 
Ireland.  He  died  on  the  igth  October,  1733. 
Molyneux  was  one  of  that  large  group  of  Irish 
graduates  who  by  their  work  have  shown  them- 
selves to  be  masters  in  many  branches  of  learning. 
Not  only  was  he  the  leading  physician  of  his 
time  in  Ireland,  but  he  was  also  remarkable  as 
a  zoologist,  a  botanist,  and  an  antiquarian,  a 
fine  classical  scholar,  a  political  economist,  and 
a  statesman  of  no  mean  ability. 

Of  the  other  professors  who  took  part  in  the 
opening  of  the  school  there  is  little  to  record. 
Richard  Hoyle  had  entered  Trinity  College  as  a 
Pensioner  at  the  age  of  15  on  the  I3th  November, 
1696?  and  graduated  B.A.  and  M.B.  in  the  spring 
of  1705,  and  M.D.  in  the  summer  of  1710,  when  he 
was  also  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  King  and  Queen's 
College  of  Physicians.  He  was  President  of 
the  College  in  1715  and  again  in  1724.  Hoyle 
continued  Professor  of  Anatomy  till  1716,  and 
was  again  appointed  on  the  I7th  June,  1717,  and 
continued  in  office  till  his  death  in  August,  1730. 

Robert  Griffith,  who  lectured  in  chemistry,  was 
the  son  of  George  Griffith  of  Chester,  and  had 
entered  Trinity  College  as  a  Sizar  at  the  age  of  21 
on  July  12,  1684.  He  proceeded  to  the  degree  of 
M.A.  in  the  spring  of  1693,  and  of  M.D.  in  the  spring 
of  1699,  being  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  King  and 
Queen's  College  of  Physicians  on  the  I4th  June  of 
the  following  year.  He  held  the  office  of  President 

1  G.  E.  C.,  vol.  v,  p.  349.  »  Entrance  Book,  T.  C.  D. 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL    87 

of  the  College  in  the  years  1706  and  1711,  and  in 
1717  was  elected  the  first  King's  Professor  of  the 
Practice  of  Medicine  under  the  will  of  Sir  Patrick 
Dun.  He  died  two  years  subsequently. 

Henry  Nicholson,  also  a  Sizar,  entered  Trinity 
College  at  the  age  of  17  on  December  3,  1667,  and 
proceeded  to  the  degree  of  M.B.  on  July  7,  1674, 
being,  as  we  stated,  one  of  the  first  who  is  recorded 
as  having  taken  this  degree.  On  January  29, 
1711/12,  he  had  leave  to  perform  acts  for  the 
degree  of  M.D.,  and  on  the  5th  of  July  following 
was  admitted  a  candidate  of  the  King  and  Queen's 
College  of  Physicians,  but  was  never  elected  a 
Fellow.  He  is  said l  to  have  published  in  1712 
a  work  entitled  Methodus  Plantarum  in  Hort. 
Dublin.,  but  of  it  we  have  never  seen  a  copy.  He 
continued  as  Lecturer  in  Botany  till  1732. 

Such  was  the  teaching  staff  of  the  School  of 
Medicine  when  its  doors  were  first  opened  to 
students  on  the  i6th  August,  1711.  Let  us  hope 
that  to  this  building  was  transferred  the  stuffed 
skin  of  the  '  Notorious  Tory ',  Ridley,  which 
Dunton  had  seen  in  the  library,  and  also  the  new 
skeleton  which  he  describes  as  hanging  at  the  west 
end  of  the  chapel,  near  Dr.  Chaloner's  picture.2 
This  skeleton  had  been  made  up  and  given  to  the 
College  by  Dr.  Gwither,  and  was  probably  that  of 
the  '  malefactor '  who  was  executed  on  February  18, 
1692/3,  and  '  demanded  of  the  Sheriff  of  the  Citty 
of  Dublin  by  ane  order  of  the  president  and  five 
of  the  fellowes  according  to  a  priviledge  granted 

1  T.  C.  D.  Cal.,  vol.  iii,  p.  346.  *  Dunton,  vol.  ii,  p.  625. 


88        THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

to  the  College  of  physicians.' 1  It  was  to  this 
Dr.  Gwither  that  Swift  facetiously  refers  in  the 
Taller 2  when  he  says  : 

'  It  was  then  that  an  ingenious  Physician,  to  the  honour 
as  well  as  Improvement  of  his  Native  Country,  performed 
what  the  English  had  been  so  long  attempting  in  vain. 
This  learned  Man,  with  the  Hazard  of  his  Life,  made 
a  Voyage  to  Liverpool,  when  he  filled  several  Barrels 
with  the  choicest  Spawn  of  Frogs  that  could  be  found 
in  those  parts.  This  Cargo  he  brought  over  very  carefully 
and  afterwards  disposed  of  it  in  several  warm  Beds  that 
he  thought  most  capable  of  bringing  it  to  Life.  The 
Doctor  was  a  very  ingenious  Physician,  and  a  very  good 
Protestant ;  for  which  Reason,  to  show  his  Zeal  against 
Popery,  he  placed  some  of  the  most  promising  Spawn 
in  the  very  Fountain  that  is  dedicated  to  the  Saint,  and 
known  by  the  Name  of  St.  Patrick's  Well,  where  these 
Animals  had  the  Impudence  to  make  their  first  Appear- 
ance. They  have  since  that  time  very  much  increased  and 
multiplied  in  all  the  neighbourhood  of  this  City.' 

On  August  24,  1711,  the  President  and  Fellows 
of  the  King  and  Queen's  College  of  Physicians 
appointed  a  committee  consisting  of  Drs.  Molyneux, 
Griffith,  and  Mitchell  '  to  meet  on  Monday  next  at 
7  in  the  evening  at  Derby's  Coffee  House  to  con- 
sider of  a  method  for  examining  Candidate  Drs. 
&  Batchellors  of  Physick '.  The  report  of  this  com- 
mittee was  communicated  to  the  Provost  and 
Senior  Fellows  of  Trinity  College,  who  on  February 
5th  following  resolved  that 

'  At  the  request  of  ye  College  of  Physicians  for  ye  pro- 
moting ye  study  of  Physick,  ordered  by  ye  Provost  and 
Senior  Fellows  that  besides  the  usual  Acts,  every  Can- 

1  Col.  P.  Minutes,  February  18,  1692/3.       *  Taller,  No.  236. 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL   89 

didate  Batchellor  of  Physick  be  examined  in  all  ye  parts 
of  Anatomy  relating  to  ye  (Economia  Animalis,  and  in  all 
ye  parts  of  Botany,  Chymistry  and  Pharmacy.  Every 
Candidate  Doctor  be  examined  as  to  ye  aforesaid  subjects 
and  likewise  in  ye  explication  of  Hippocrates's  Aphorisms, 
&  ye  Theory  &  Cure  of  external  &  internal  diseases,  & 
ye  President  &  Fellows  of  ye  College  of  Physicians  to 
examine.' 


» i 


Sir  Patrick  Dun  died,  as  we  have  seen,  on  the 
24th  of  May,  1713,  and  the  President  and  Fellows 
of  the  College  at  once  decided  to 

'  persue  such  measures  as  should  make  the  good  intentions 
and  designs  of  the  late  Sir  Patrick  Dun,  express'd  hi  his 
Will  and  several  other  papers  for  constituting  a  Professor 
of  Physick  in  the  City  of  Dublin,  thoroughly  effectual  & 
usefuU  to  the  Publick.'  2 

In  pursuance  of  this  resolution  the  College  of 
Physicians  obtained  a  Royal  Charter  from  George  I 
on  the  I5th  October,  1715,  appointing  a  '  King's 
Professor  of  Physick  in  the  City  of  Dublin'.  By 
this  charter  it  was  appointed  that  whenever  the 
post  of  King's  Professor  was  vacant  the  Provost 
(President)  and  two  Senior  Censors  of  the  College 
should  appoint  a  day  for  the  examination  of  the 
candidates  for  the  office,  and  should  give  at  least 
a  month's  notice  of  such  examination  in  the 
London  and  Dublin  Gazettes,  indicating  that  any 
Doctor  of  Physic  of  any  University  might  be  a 
candidate  for  the  professorship.  It  was  further 
ordered  that 

'  every  such  Candidate  shall  give  in  his  name  in  writing 
to  the  Provost  of  Trinity  College,  near  our  said  City  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  440.        *  Col.  P.  Minutes,  September  24, 1713. 


9o        THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

Dublin,  or  in  his  absence  to  the  Vice-Provost  thereof, 
for  the  time  being,  eight  days  at  least  before  the  appointed 
time  for  such  election  by  the  publick  notices  aforesaid ; 
and  shall  present  himself  there  certain  days  to  be 
appointed  by  the  said  Provost,  for  the  time  being,  of 
Trinity  College,  the  Professor  of  Physick  in  the  same,  the 
President  for  the  time  being  of  the  King  &  Queens  College 
of  Physicians  in  Ireland,  and  the  two  eldest  Censors  for 
the  time  being  in  the  said  College  of  Physicians,  or  any 
three  of  these  so  assembling  and  submit  himself  to  such 
examination  in,  touching  and  concerning  the  several 
parts  of  Physick,  as  they  or  the  major  part  of  them  so 
assembling  shall  think  fit,  such  election  to  continue  for 
the  space  of  two  hours  in  each  of  the  three  days  at 
such  time  &  place  as  shall  be  to  that  purpose  directed  and 
appointed  by  the  said  Examinators  or  any  three  of  them 
so  assembling.' 

It  was  further  enjoined  that  each  of  the  examina- 
tors  should  take  a  solemn  oath 

'  that  they  and  every  of  them  shall  without  favour, 
affection,  hatred,  or  prejudice  to  any  person  or  candidate 
impartially,  diligently  and  faithfully  proceed  in  such 
their  examination  of  each  &  every  of  the  said  candidates 
and  make  true,  just,  and  impartial  report  according  to 
the  best  of  their  respective  judgements  and  understandings 
of  the  skill,  learning,  knowledge  &  ability  of  each  and 
every  of  the  said  candidates  in  the  several  parts  of 
Physick,  &  of  his  and  their  respective  fitness  &  qualifica- 
tions to  be  the  King's  Professor  of  Physic.' 

These  examinators  were  to  report  the  result  of 
their  judgement  to  the  guardians,  who  included 
the  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  Viscount  Skeffington, 
or  his  heirs  male,  Patrick  Dun  of  Taerty,  or  his 
heirs  male,  as  also  the  heirs  male  of  the  three 
sisters  of  Sir  Patrick,  Catherin  Mitchell,  Rachel 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL    91 

More,  and  Elizabeth  Anderson,  and  of  John  Jeph- 
son,  nephew  of  Lady  Dun,  the  Rev.  William 
Joseph  Jephson,  brother  of  Lady  Dun,  and  her 
brother-in-law,  the  Rev.  Enoch  Reader.  Notice 
was  to  be  given  to  these  guardians  by  the  examina- 
tors  causing 

'  a  notice  in  writing  under  their  hands  of  such  an  examina- 
tion having  been  made  in  order  to  fill  up  the  said  place 
of  Professor  of  Physick  and  of  the  time  and  place  where 
they  shall  be  ready  to  declare  their  opinion  of  the  persons 
standing  Candidates  to  be  fixed  on  the  Tholsell  in  our 
said  city  of  Dublin  and  on  the  gates  of  Trinity  College 
near  Dublin  fourteen  days  at  least  before  the  time 
appointed  to  declare  their  said  opinion.' 

Preference  was  to  be  given,  other  qualifications 
being  equal,  to  the  descendants  of  these  guardians 
who  were  relations  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun,  in  the  order 
above  named,  if  any  such  happened  to  be  can- 
didates. 

The  emoluments  of  the  professorship  were  to 
consist  of  the  estates  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun  after  the 
death  or  re-marriage  of  his  widow.  The  Professor 
was  to  have  Dun's  house  on  the  Inns  Quay,  pay- 
ing the  rent  of  the  same  and  keeping  it  in  order  ; 
to  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  being  reserved  the  right  of  a  convenient 
room  or  hall  in  it  for  their  meetings.  The  Professor 
was  to  be  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  College  on  the 
first  vacancy,  and  was  to  give  a  bond  of  £2,000 
to  the  Master  of  the  Rolls  for  the  safe  keeping  of 
Dun's  library.  A  catalogue  in  parchment  was  to 
be  made  of  this  library  and  annexed  to  the  bond 


92        THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

given  to  the  Master  of  the  Rolls,  while  three  copies 
of  the  catalogue  were  to  be  made,  of  which  one 
was  to  be  given  to  the  Archbishop  of  Dublin, 
another  to  the  President  of  the  College,  and  the 
third  annexed  to  the  instrument  appointing  the 
Professor. 

The  Professor  was  diligently  to  apply  himself 
to  reading  public  lectures  on  '  Osteology,  bandage 
and  the  operations  of  Chirurgy  and  in  reading 
public  botanick  lectures,  and  in  the  Materia  Medica, 
and  other  parts  of  Physick,  or  dependent  there- 
upon, and  in  making  public  anatomical  dissections 
of  the  several  parts  of  human  bodies,  and  of  the 
bodies  of  other  animals,  and  shall  publickly  demon- 
strate plants  for  the  information  and  instruction 
of  students  in  Physick,  Chirurgy,  and  Pharmacy, 
which  lectures  shall  be  read  twice  every  week  in 
term  time.' 

Though  Lady  Dun  was  still  alive,  and  there 
were  consequently  no  emoluments  for  the  Pro- 
fessor, notice  was  given  in  the  Dublin  Gazette  of 
March  16,  1716/7,  of  an  election,  and  Dr.  Robert 
Griffith  was  appointed  first  King's  Professor,  the 
examinators  being  Benjamin  Pratt,  Provost ; 
Thomas  Molyneux,  Professor  of  Physic  ;  Richard 
Helsham,  President  of  the  College  of  Physicians  ; 
and  William  Smyth  and  James  Grattan,  the  Senior 
Censors.  Dr.  Griffith  died  in  1719,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded as  Professor  by  Dr.  James  Grattan,  who 
remained  in  office  till  1748. 

The  management  of  Dun's  estate  was  by  no 
means  settled  by  the  charter  of  George  I,  and 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL    93 

much  litigation  ensued,  which  was  not  settled  till 
1740,  when  a  decree  was  obtained  from  the  Court 
of  Chancery,  with  the  consent  of  all  parties. 

The  appointment  of  the  King's  Professor  does 
not  seem  to  have  made  any  difference  in  the 
medical  teaching  in  Trinity  College.  As  Lady 
Dun  says  in  a  letter  to  the  Archbishop,  dated  l 
'  May  ye  3d  1716  ',  '  As  there  is  no  present  sallary : 
So  there  is  no  present  business  required  from  such 
a  Professor.'  The  lecturers  appointed  to  teach  in 
Trinity  College  continued  their  work  in  the  School, 
and  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  continued  to  examine  the  candidates 
for  the  degrees  of  Bachelor  and  Doctor  of  Physic. 
On  September  8,  I7i6,2  '  Dr.  Robinson  and 
Surgeon  Green  were  by  the  Provost  and  Senior 
Fellows  appointed  to  officiate  in  the  Anatomy 
School  as  Lecturer  and  Anatomist,'  but  on  the 
I7th  of  June  following,  '  Dr.  Robinson  was  by  a 
majority  of  voices  turned  out  from  being  Anatomist 
&  Dr.  Hoyle  elected  to  the  same.' 3 

No  further  information  is  given  in  explanation 
of  this  curious  resolution  either  in  the  Register  of 
Trinity  College  or  the  Minutes  of  the  College  of 
Physicians.  It  has  been  suggested  that  Robinson 
was  deprived  of  his  office  in  consequence  of  a 
refusal  to  reside  in  Dublin  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  School,  a  somewhat  similar  step  having 
been  taken  by  the  authorities  of  Cambridge  Uni- 
versity in  the  case  of  one  of  their  Professors  for 
this  reason.  We  find,  however,  that  Robinson  was 

1  Belcher,  p.  61.       2  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  477.       *  Ibid.,  p.  480. 


94        THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

at  this  time  a  regular  attendant  of  the  meetings 
of  the  College  of  Physicians,  which  would  be  un- 
likely were  he  not  living  in  the  city.  There  may 
possibly  have  been  some  dispute  as  to  the  manage- 
ment of  the  School,  for  the  next  entry  in  the 
Register  :  '  Ordered  that  the  Bursar  pay  sixty 
pounds  to  Surgeon  Green  in  order  to  purchase 
preparations  for  illustrating  several  parts  of  the 
human  body.' 

That  discrimination  was  exercised  in  selecting 
those  who  were  to  get  the  degrees  of  the  University 
is  shown  by  the  case  of  David  Cockburn,  Doctor 
of  Physic  of  Edinburgh,  who  was  on  December  9, 
1721, l  given  leave  '  to  perform  Acts  for  the  degrees 
of  Batchelor  and  Doctor  in  Physick '.  On  the 
2 ist  of  May  following  at  the  meeting  of  the  College 
of  Physicians, 

'  Dr.  Molyneux,  being  Professor  of  Physick  &  Censor,  hath 
laid  before  the  College  the  Preelection  of  Mr.  Cockburn 
for  his  Batchelor  of  Physic's  Degree,  and  that  de  Liene 
was  read  through,  and  found  so  deficient  in  the  sense, 
being  unintelligible  in  several  parts,  and  in  the  Latin 
being  not  grammatical  in  many  places,  that  we  are  of 
opinion  that  the  Professor  ought  not  to  recommend  him 
to  the  College  for  his  Batchelor's  degree  in  Physick. 

'  Ordered,  that  the  President  and  Fellows  attend  the 
Provost  and  make  a  report  in  relation  to  the  Praelection 
that  Mr.  Cockburn  has  read  for  his  Batchelor's  degree  in 
Physick.' 

As  a  result  of  this  report  we  hear  no  more  of 
Mr.  David  Cockburn  in  connexion  with  Trinity 
College. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  513. 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL        95 

The  lectures  in  natural  philosophy  formed  an 
important  part  of  medical  teaching,  and  on 
October  31,  I722,1  we  find  the  Board  deciding  to 
expend  the  sum  of  £100,  '  to  buy  such  instruments 
as  are  necessary  for  the  course  of  experimental 
Philosophy  and  that  the  Professors  do  pay  the 
house  yearly  the  sum  of  six  pounds  as  interest  for 
the  same.' 

On  February  14,  I722/3,2  the  Board  formally 
1  resolved  that  no  person  be  admitted  to  take 
a  degree  in  Physick  or  Laws  unless  he  first  com- 
mence a  Batchelor  in  Arts.' 

About  this  time  there  were  many  changes  in  the 
staff  of  the  Medical  School.  Richard  Helsham, 
who  had  been  appointed  Medicus  in  January, 
1706/7,  resigned  his  Senior  Fellowship,  probably 
on  account  of  his  marriage,  on  January  16, 1729/30. 
Edward  Hudson  was  chosen  Medicus  in  his  place, 
but  resigned  a  year  later,  and  on  February  8, 
1730/1,  was  succeeded  by  Edward  Molloy.  Both 
these  Fellows  were  clergymen,  and  neither  of  them 
held  a  medical  degree.  Molloy  resigned  on  May  23, 
1733,  and  was  succeeded  by  William  Clements,  who 
continued  as  Medicus  till  his  resignation  in  1781. 

Richard  Hoyle,  who  was  the  first  Lecturer  in 
Anatomy,  and  who  had  been  re-appointed  in  place 
of  Bryan  Robinson  in  1716,  died  in  August,  1730. 
The  Board  at  their  meeting  on  the  ist  of  October 
following  appointed  Thomas  Madden  Lecturer  in 
Anatomy.  This  Thomas  Madden  was  the  son  of 
John  Madden,  M.D.,  who  had  been  elected  a 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  523.  *  Ibid.,  p.  524. 


g6  THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians  in  1684.  It  was 
a  nephew  of  this  John  Madden,  a  son  of  Samuel 
Madden,  who  in  1798  bequeathed  to  the  College  the 
money  to  found  the  Madden  Fellowship  Prize.1 

On  the  22nd  October,  1733,  Mr.  Vessy  Shaw, 
surgeon,  was  elected  '  Anatomist  to  assist  the 
Anatomy  Lecturer ',  and  on  May  2ist  following 
Francis  Foreside  was  elected  Lecturer  in  Anatomy. 

Foreside,  an  Englishman,2  had  entered  College 
as  a  Sizar  at  the  age  of  20  on  May  30,  1715, 
and  graduated  B.A.  in  1720,  taking  his  M.B.  and 
M.D.  in  the  summer  of  1727  and  1730  respectively. 
He  was  admitted  a  Candidate  and  Fellow  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  in  April,  1735.  He  resigned 
the  Lecturership  in  January,  1741/2,  and  in  the 
following  month  succeeded  Henry  Cope  as  Pro- 
fessor of  Physic.3  He  died  in  1745. 

In  1717  Dr.  William  Smyth,  senior,  had  suc- 
ceeded Dr.  Griffith  as  Lecturer  in  Chemistry. 
William  Smyth  entered  Trinity  College  on  June  10, 
1684,*  at  the  age  of  19,  and  graduated  M.B.  in 
the  spring  of  1688,  and  M.D.  in  1692.  He  was  the 
son  of  the  Rev.  William  Smyth  of  Armagh,  and 
had  been  educated  in  that  town.  In  the  Charter 
of  1692  he  was  nominated  one  of  the  Fellows  of 
the  King  and  Queen's  College  of  Physicians,  and 
held  the  office  of  President  of  the  College  in  the 
years  1704,  1708,  1719,  and  1721.  His  son  William 
Smyth,  junior,  was  also  a  distinguished  Fellow  of 

1  Stubbs,  Hist.,  p.  341  ;   Webb,  p.  322. 

*  Entrance  Book,  T.  C.  D.  »  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  19. 

*  Entrance  Book,  T.  C.  D. 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL   97 

the  College  of  Physicians.  On  February  27, 
1732/3,  '  the  Provost  and  Fellows  chose  William 
Stevens  Lecturer  in  Chymistry  in  ye  place  of 
Dr.  Smith  deceased.'  This  William  Stevens,  or 
Stephens,  as  his  name  is  more  usually  spelled, 
was  no  relative  of  Richard  Steevens,  Professor  of 
Medicine  in  1710,  who  had  bequeathed  money  to 
found  the  hospital  which  still  bears  his  name. 
William  Stephens  had  graduated  M.B.  and  M.D. 
in  the  spring  of  1724,  having  three  years  previously 
been  admitted  a  Candidate  of  the  College  of 
Physicians.  He  was  elected  Fellow  of  the  College 
on  St.  Luke's  Day,  1728,  and  filled  the  office  of 
President  in  1733  and  again  in  1742.  He  was  one 
of  the  Trustees  appointed  by  Mrs.  Mary  Mercer 
in  the  indenture  by  which  she  founded  Mercer's 
Hospital  on  the  2Oth  May,  1734.  For  many  years 
he  served  as  physician  to  that  hospital,  and  was 
nominated  as  one  of  its  medical  governors  by  the 
Act  of  Parliament  passed  for  its  incorporation  in 
1749.  He  was  also  for  many  years  physician  to 
Steevens'  Hospital.  There  is  no  mention  in  the 
College  records  of  Stephens  having  taught  botany, 
yet  in  1727  he  published  a  small  book  of  some 
fifty  pages,  entitled  Botanical  Elements  for  the 
use  of  the  Botany  School  in  the  University  of  Dublin. 
This  book  he  dedicated  to  the  '  Learned  Provost, 
Fellows  and  Scholars  of  Trinity  College  near 
Dublin ',  and  states  that  he  published  it  '  to  avoid 
the  trouble  of  dictating  yearly  so  many  pages  to 
the  students  in  Botany'.  It  is  possible  that  at 
this  time  Stephens  was  a  demonstrator  to  the 

a 


98        THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

lecturer  in  botany,  or  he  may  have  been  one  of 
those  private  teachers  or  grinders  who  later  assisted 
so  much  in  College  teaching.  The  book  has  no  great 
merit,  as  may  be  judged  from  the  following  note  on 
it  kindly  made  by  the  present  Professor  of  Botany : 

'  The  Botanical  Elements  is  merely  a  much  abridged  out- 
line of  Tournefort's  elegant  classification  of  Plants.  The 
book  exhibits  neither  originality  nor  critical  faculty.  At 
the  time  when  it  was  written  Ray's  classification  was  avail- 
able, yet  Stephens  ignores  it  and  the  recent  splendid  work 
of  Grew  and  Malpigi,  selecting  by  preference  Tournefort's 
highly  artificial  method.  In  one  respect  the  author  shows 
himself  independent  of  Tournefort's  influence,  namely  in 
admitting  the  sexual  functions  of  the  stamens  and  pistil 
which  Tournefort  denied.' 

Stephens  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
Lecturer  in  Chemistry  till  his  death  in  1760. 

It  appears  that  about  the  close  of  the  year  1732, 
Dr.  Henry  Nicholson,  the  first  Lecturer  in  Botany, 
died,  and  on  March  4,  I732/3,1  the  '  Provost  and 
Fellows  chose  Dr.  Chemys  to  be  Professor  of 
Botany '.  This  Charles  Chemys,  the  son  of  Ludo- 
vicus  Chemys  or  Kemys,  was  born  in  Dublin  in 
1700.  He  entered  Trinity  College  as  a  Pensioner 
at  the  age  of  15,  and  was  elected  Scholar  in  1717. 
In  1720  he  graduated  B.A.,  taking  his  M.B.  in  the 
spring  of  1724,  and  M.A.  in  the  summer  of  1727. 
He  was  admitted  a  Candidate  and  elected  a  Fellow 
of  the  King  and  Queen's  College  of  Physicians  on 
December  14,  1730.  Chemys  only  held  the  office 
of  Lecturer  in  Botany  for  a  few  months,  as  on 
September  13,  I733,2  '  the  Provost  and  Fellows 

1  Reg.,  voL  iii,  p.  601.  »  Ibid.,  p.  604. 


THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL   99 

chose  Mr.  Clements  Lecturer  in  Botany  in  ye  place 
of  Dr.  Chemys'.  William  Clement,  or  Clements, 
had,  as  we  have  seen,  been  elected  '  into  the  Physic 
Fellowship '  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Molloy  on  the 
26th  May  previously.  He  was  destined  for  the  next 
fifty  years  to  occupy  a  very  large  place  in  College 
life.  He  entered  College  as  a  Pensioner  on 
April  28,  1721,  at  the  age  of  14,  being  the  son  of 
Thomas  Clements,  merchant,  and  having  been 
born  at  Carrickmacross,  Co.  Monaghan.  In  1724 
he  was  elected  Scholar,  and  he  graduated  B.A.  in 
1726  and  M.A.  in  1731.  In  1733  he  was  elected 
a  Fellow,  succeeding  Mr.  Molloy  as  Physic  Fellow. 
In  May,  1743,  he  was  co-opted  a  Senior  Fellow, 
and  in  January,  1744/5,  succeeded  Dr.  Cartwright 
as  Lecturer  in  Natural  and  Experimental  Philosophy 
on  the  foundation  of  Erasmus  Smith,  which  post 
he  held  till  1759.  He  graduated  M.B.  in  1747,  and 
M.D.  in  the  following  year.  He  was  Donegall 
Lecturer  in  Mathematics  from  1750  to  1759,  and 
was  also  Auditor,  Librarian,  and  Vice-Provost  of 
the  College.  On  February  I,  1761,  he  was  elected 
Professor  of  Physic,  and  held  that  office  till 
November  15,  1781.  In  1761  he  was  also  elected 
one  of  the  representatives  of  the  University  in 
Parliament.  During  the  Provostship  of  Hely 
Hutchinson  there  were  many  disputes  among  the 
Fellows,  and  the  Provost  was  anxious  to  secure  for 
himself  the  support  of  as  many  of  the  Senior  and 
Junior  Fellows  as  he  could.  There  were  at  that 
time  three  Senior  Fellows  who  were  married, 
Dr.  Clements,  Dr.  Leland,  and  Dr.  Dabzac,  and 


ioo      THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

consequently  liable  to  be  deprived  of  their  Fellow- 
ships. Hutchinson  tried  to  persuade  Lord  Har- 
court  to  procure  a  dispensation  for  the  two  latter 
Fellows,  but  Lord  Harcourt  declined  to  do  so 
unless  the  name  of  William  Clements,  Vice-Provost, 
was  included  in  the  list.  The  Provost  strongly 
objected  to  this  course,  but  Lord  Harcourt  insisted 
on  extending  the  royal  favour  to  the  Vice-Provost.1 
Clements  resigned  the  Lectureship  of  Botany  in 
1763,  but  continued  Vice-Provost  till  his  death  on 
the  i5th  January,  1782. 

In  November,  1729,  the  President  and  Fellows 
of  the  College  of  Physicians  remodelled  the  regula- 
tions for  conducting  the  examination  for  medical 
degrees  in  the  University.  It  was  then  decided 
that  a  Candidate  Bachelor  should  be  examined  in 
(i)  Anatomy,  (2)  Materia  Medica,  Pharmacy,  and 
Botany,  (3)  Chemistry,  and  (4)  Pathology.  The 
examination  for  the  degree  of  Doctor  or  Licentiate 
in  Physic  was  to  include  these  four  subjects, 
together  with  the  therapeutic  part  or  Methodus 
Medendi  of  Pathology,  as  well  as  '  practical  cases 
in  internal  and  external  diseases  to  be  proposed 
by  the  President,  together  with  an  explanation  of 
Hippocrates's  Aphorisms '.  The  President  and  the 
four  Censors  of  the  College  were  to  conduct  this 
examination,  each  taking  a  separate  part.  After 
this  examination  a  report  on  the  fitness  of  the 
candidate  was  made  to  the  Board,  on  which 
depended  the  granting  of  a  grace  for  his  degree. 

1  Stubbs,  Hist.,  p.  235. 


CHAPTER  VI 
THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

THE  litigation  arising  out  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's 
will  dragged  on  from  trial  to  trial,  till  at  length, 
in  1740,  a  decree  was  obtained  from  the  Court  of 
Chancery,  with  the  consent  of  all  parties,  securing 
to  the  College  of  Physicians  the  reversion  of  the 
estate  on  the  death  of  Lady  Dun.  The  estate  in 
Waterford  bequeathed  to  the  College  at  the  time 
of  Dun's  death  only  produced  a  profit  rent  of 
£58  a  year,1  but  it  was  contemplated,  even  by 
Dun  himself,  that  on  the  expiration  of  the  leases, 
new  leases  of  the  lands  might  be  granted  which 
could  produce  a  rent  of  at  least  £200  a  year.  This 
expectation  was  soon  realized,  the  estates  con- 
siderably improved  in  value,  and  there  was  good 
reason  to  believe  that  the  improvement  would 
continue. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  College  decided 
to  enlarge  the  scope  of  Dun's  scheme  by  the 
appointment  of  three  Professors  instead  of  one. 
In  order  to  effect  this  an  Act  of  Parliament  was 
obtained  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  George  II  (1741), 
'  for  vacating  the  Office  of  the  King's  Professor  of 
Physick  in  Dublin  upon  the  death  or  surrender 
of  the  present  King's  Professor,  and  for  erecting 

1  Dun's  deed. 
H3 


102  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

three  Professorships  of  Physick  in  the  said  City 
instead  thereof.' 

This  Act,  though  expressly  declared  to  be  a 
'  Public  Act ',  is  not  printed  in  the  Statutes  of 
the  Realm,  and  in  subsequent  Acts  is  referred  to 
as  of  the  twenty-first  year  of  George  II.  Robert 
Perceval,  in  his  Account  of  the  Bequest  of  Sir 
Patrick  Dun,1  refers  to  this  Act  as  printed  in  1747, 
but  no  copy  of  this  date  is  now  known  to  exist. 
The  Act  was  transcribed  from  the  original  existing 
in  the  Record  Office,  and  in  1867  printed  by  Trinity 
College  at  the  University  Press.  Its  provisions 
are  of  the  greatest  importance  in  the  history  of 
the  Medical  School  of  Trinity  College.  Having 
recited  the  bequest  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun  and  detailed 
the  subsequent  enactments  concerning  it,  the  Act 
proceeded  to  state  that  since  the  estates  were  so 
much  increased  in  value,  and  likely  to  increase 
further,  it  was  considered  that  they  were  com- 
petent to  provide  for  three  Professorships  instead 
of  one  as  formerly.  Further,  since  some  of  the 
subjects,  for  the  teaching  of  which  Dun  made 
provision,  were  now  taught  in  Trinity  College  by 
Professors  appointed  subsequent  to  the  execution 
of  Dun's  deed,  it  would  be  of  great  advantage  to 
the  students  of  Medicine  if  three  Professors  were 
appointed  to  teach  in  the  following  subjects : 
(i)  Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine  ;  (2)  Surgery 
and  Midwifery ;  and  (3)  Ancient  and  Modern 
Pharmacy  and  Materia  Medica.  In  consequence 
of  these  advantages  it  seemed  good  to  Parliament, 

1  Perceval,  Account. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  103 

'  at  the  suit  of  the  President  of  the  King  and 
Queen's  College  of  Physicians  in  Ireland  and  of 
Dr.  James  Grattan,  King's  Professor  of  Physick 
in  the  City  of  Dublin,'  to  recommend  '  His  Excel- 
lent Majesty '  to  pass  this  Act.  On  the  next 
vacancy  in  the  King's  Professorship,  the  Professor- 
ship was  to  be  '  utterly  dissolved,  cease  and  to 
be  void  to  all  intents  and  purposes  ',  and  in  place 
of  it  three  Professorships  in  the  subjects  named 
above  were  to  be  constituted,  and  come  to  have 
'  perpetual  continuance  and  succession  '.  The 
electors  and  the  rules  governing  the  elections 
were  identical  with  those  laid  down  in  the  Charter 
of  George  I,  granted  in  1715,  the  candidates  being 
required  to  submit  to  examination  on  three 
separate  days  for  two  hours  on  each  day.  A 
similar  preference  to  that  given  in  the  Charter  of 
George  I  to  the  descendants  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun, 
was  extended  to  those  persons  by  this  Act.  It 
was,  however,  enacted  '  that  all  Papists  and  per- 
sons professing  the  Popish  religion,  or  who  by  any 
law  in  this  kingdom  are  deemed  Papists,  shall  be 
utterly  incapable  of  being  elected  into  any  of  the 
Professorships'. 

In  this  enactment  we  see  the  influence  of  that 
fear  of  Jacobitism  which  at  the  time  was  intro- 
ducing so  much  bitter  religious  feeling  into  the 
country,  and  was  responsible  for  the  penal  laws 
that  so  long  disgraced  the  Statute  Book.  A  very 
wise  provision  was  introduced  into  this  Act,  by 
which  no  person  was  allowed  to  hold  at  the  same 
time  more  than  one  of  the  Professorships  on 


104  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

Dun's  foundation,  nor  was  such  a  Professor  allowed 
to  hold  at  the  same  time  the  chair  of  either 
Anatomy,  Chemistry,  or  Botany,  in  Trinity  Col- 
lege. The  duty  of  the  Professors  was  to  read 
lectures  in  the  Latin  tongue  in  their  respective 
subjects  three  times  in  each  week  from  November 
to  April  during  term,  the  lectures  to  be  given  in 
Trinity  College.  The  appointment  once  made  was 
for  life,  but  any  Professor  might  be  deprived  of 
his  chair  by  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  if  it  were  proved  on  oath 
that  he  continued,  after  admonition,  guilty  of 
either  neglect  or  misbehaviour  in  the  performance 
of  his  duties.  The  whole  of  the  personal  and  real 
estate  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun  was,  on  the  death  of 
Lady  Dun,  to  be  vested  in  the  College  of  Physicians 
for  the  support  of  these  three  Professors,  each  of 
whom  was  to  receive  an  equal  share  of  the  residue 
after  the  payment  of  the  necessary  charges.  The 
only  exception  to  this  was  Dun's  library,  which 
was  to  be  vested  in  the  President  and  Fellows, 
who  were,  with  the  consent  of  the  Archbishop  and 
any  two  of  the  Professors,  to  deposit  it  '  in  some 
convenient  place  in  or  near  the  City  of  Dublin 
for  the  use  of  the  said  College  of  Physicians  and 
of  all  the  said  Professors  and  their  successors'. 

Lady  Dun  died  in  January  1748/9,  and  was 
buried  in  St.  Michan's  Church  beside  her  husband,1 
and  in  the  same  year  also  Dr.  James  Grattan,  the 
King's  Professor  of  Physic,  died,  just  as  he  had 
entered  into  the  enjoyment  of  the  emoluments  of 

1  Belcher,  Memoirs,  p.  63. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  105 

his  Professorship.  On  May  20,  1749,  Richard 
Baldwin,  Provost,  Bryan  Robinson,  Professor  of 
Physic,  Robert  Robinson,  President  of  the  College 
of  Physicians,  with  Thomas  Lloyd  and  John 
Anderson,  the  two  eldest  Censors,  met  in  the 
Provost's  house,  Trinity  College,  and  fixed  Mon- 
day, Tuesday,  and  Wednesday,  September  25,  26, 
and  27,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  for  the 
examination  of  candidates  for  the  new  Professor- 
ships.1 They  also  drafted  the  form  of  advertise- 
ment which  was  to  appear  in  the  gazettes,  in 
which,  besides  defining  the  duties  of  the  Pro- 
fessorships according  to  the  Act,  it  was  stated 
that  the  present  emolument  of  each  Chair  was 
expected  to  be  £90  a  year,  with  the  likelihood 
of  an  increase.  This  notice  was  printed  in  the 
London  Gazette  between  the  8th  and  i8th  of 
July,  and  in  the  Dublin  Gazette  between  July  4 
and  September  23. 

A  full  description  of  the  subsequent  events  con- 
nected with  this  election  has  been  preserved  in 
the  College  of  Physicians  in  a  manuscript  known 
as  the  '  Book  of  Electors'  Proceedings  '.  We  read 
that  the  Examinators  attended  at  the  Anatomy 
School  in  Trinity  College  on  Monday,  the  25th 
of  September,  1749,  about  one  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  The  following  candidates  presented 
themselves — William  Stephens,  M.D.  Dublin  ; 
Constantine  Barbor,  M.D.  Dublin ;  Anthony 
Rehlan,  M.D.  Dublin  ;  Henry  Quin,  M.D.  Padua  ; 
John  M'Michan,  M.D.  Edinburgh ;  and  Nathaniel 

1  Book  of  Electors'  Proceedings,  Col.  P. 


106  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

Barry,  M.D.  Rheims.  The  Archbishop  adminis- 
tered the  oath  to  the  Examinators,  and  on  the 
first  day  Dr.  Robert  Robinson  examined  in  Ana- 
tomy and  Animal  Oeconomy.  On  the  26th  Dr. 
Lloyd  examined  in  Surgery  and  Midwifery,  and 
Dr.  Anderson  in  Materia  Medica.  On  the  27th 
Dr.  Bryan  Robinson  examined  in  the  Theory  and 
Practice  of  Physic,  and  the  Provost  (Dr.  Baldwin) 
in  the  Aphorisms  of  Hippocrates.  On  October  2, 
the  Examinators  met  in  the  Provost's  house  and 
signed  a  report  recommending  Henry  Quin  for  the 
Professorship  of  Physic,  Dr.  Nathaniel  Barry  for 
the  Professorship  of  Chirurgery  and  Midwifery, 
and,  with  the  Provost  dissenting,  Constantine 
Barbor  for  the  Professorship  of  Materia  Medica 
and  Pharmacy.  This  report  was  published  as 
required  by  the  Act,  and  on  October  25,  the 
Examinators,  with  the  exception  of  the  Provost, 
met  at  the  Archbishop's  Palace  to  declare  the  elec- 
tion. As,  however,  none  of  the  other  Guardians 
attended,  the  Archbishop  adjourned  the  meeting 
till  November  4,  when  Archdeacon  Reader  attended 
and  the  election  was  declared. 

With  the  appointment  of  the  King's  Professors 
the  teaching  staff  of  the  School  was  constituted 
as  follows : 

UNIVERSITY  PROFESSORS 

Public  Professor  of  Physic   .         .     Bryan  Robinson 
Medicus  and  Lecturer  in  Botany   .     William  Clements 
Lecturer  in  Chemistry          .         .     William  Stephens 
Lecturer  in  Anatomy  .         .     Robert  Robinson 

Anatomist          ....     George  Whittingham 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  107 

KING'S  PROFESSORS 

Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine      .    Henry  Quin 
Chimrgery  and  Midwifery      .         .     Nathaniel  Barry 
Materia  Medica      ....     Constantine  Barbor 

The  *  Consuetudines  seu  Regulae  Universitatis 
Dubliniensis  pro  Solenniori  graduum  Collatione ' 
are  of  uncertain  date  and  origin,  but  were  prob- 
ably drawn  up  in  the  time  of  Bedell's  Provostship, 
or  at  latest  at  the  Restoration.1  MacDonnell  in 
his  edition  of  the  Statutes  in  1844  states  that  they 
were  first  printed  in  1778,  but  Bolton  gives  a 
translation  of  them  in  his  English  edition  of  the 
Statutes  in  1749.  In  these  '  Regulae '  chapter  x 
is  entitled  'De  Gradibus  in  Medicina  Capessendis  '2 
and  of  it  Bolton  gives  the  following  translation  : 3 

'  No  one  shall  be  admitted  to  the  Degree  of  Batchelor  of 
Physic,  who  has  not  first  taken  the  Degree  of  Batchelor 
in  Arts,  and  who  has  not  compleated  three  years  (reckon- 
ing from  the  day  of  his  admission  to  the  Degree  of 
Batchelor  in  Arts).  Whoever  applies  for  the  Degree 
of  Batchelor  in  Physic,  shall,  before  he  is  proposed  for 
the  Grace  of  the  College,  solemnly  in  the  publick  Hall 
perform  the  Part  once  of  Respondent  and  once  of  Oppo- 
nent in  two  Questions  of  Physic,  from  one  of  the  Clock  in 
the  Afternoon  to  three  :  He  shall  moreover  solemnly  and 
publickly  prelect  twice  on  two  several  Days.  No  one 
shall  be  admitted  to  the  Degree  of  Doctor  in  Physic, 
who  has  not  compleated  five  years  in  the  Study  of 
Physic,  from  the  time  of  his  being  admitted  Batchelor  ; 
and  who  shall  not  publickly  and  solemnly  prelect  four 
times  on  four  several  Days,  from  one  of  the  Clock  in  the 
Afternoon  till  two.  In  which  Prelections  he  shall  explain 

1  T.  C.  D.  CaL,  1833,  p.  58. 

*  Statutes  T.  C.  D.,  vol.  i,  p.  172.  '  Bolton,  p.  150. 


io8  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

some  part  of  Hippocrates  or  Galen  ;  and  shall  moreover 
in  the  public  Hall  solemnly  perform  the  Part  once  of 
Respondent  and  once  of  Opponent,  in  two  Questions  in 
Physic  from  one  of  the  Clock  in  the  Afternoon  to  three.' 

It  was  further  ordained  in  the  '  Supplicationum 
Formulae,  Alio  modo '  that  the  Degrees  of  Bachelor 
and  Doctor  in  Physic  may  be  applied  for  respec- 
tively after  '  three  several  manners  '. 

'  For  the  Degree  of  Batchelor  in  Physic  :  * 

'  ist.  Whoever  begins  the  study  of  Physic  immediately 
on  his  admission  into  the  College  by  Matriculation,  may 
apply  for  his  Degree  after  the  completion  of  twenty-four 
Terms. 

'  2dly.  If  he  begins  from  his  being  Batchelor  in  Arts, 
then  after  three  years. 

'  3dly.  If  from  the  time  of  commencing  Master,  then 
after  two  years. 

'  For  the  Degree  of  Doctor  in  Physic  : 

'  ist.  Six  years  being  compleated  from  his  Batchelor's 
Degree  in  said  Faculty,  which  was  taken  after  twenty- 
four  Terms,  or  six  Years  from  his  Matriculation. 

'  2dly.  Five  Years  being  compleated  from  his  Batche- 
lor's Degree,  which  was  taken,  having  been  before 
admitted  Batchelor  of  Arts. 

'  3dly.  Four  Years  being  compleated  from  his  Batche- 
lor's Degree,  which  was  taken,  having  been  before 
admitted  Master  of  Arts.' 

It  is  further  stated  that  '  the  Sum  Total  of 
Expences  for  each  Degree '  is  as  follows  : 

i       s.      d. 

A.B 05     :o7     :o6 

A.M 07     :i8    :o6 

M.B. .        .         .         .         .10:05:00 

M.D.          .         .         .         .18:19    :oo 

1  Bolton,  p.  154. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  109 

The  cost  of  the  LL.B.  and  LL.D.  Degrees  was  the 
same  as  the  M.B.  and  M.D.,  while  the  B.D.  cost 
£12  los.  and  the  D.D.  £23  los. 

It  is  doubtful  how  far  these  '  Regulae '  were 
observed,  or  what  evidence  of  study  was  required 
from  the  candidates  for  the  medical  degrees,  but 
during  the  second  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury quite  a  number  were  examined  by  the  Fellows 
of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  had  degrees 
granted  to  them  by  the  University.  Stubbs  in 
his  History  states  that  '  from  1724  to  1740  no 
Medical  Degrees  appear  to  have  been  conferred  V 
but  this  is  not  in  accord  with  either  the  Register 
of  the  Board  or  with  the  Roll  of  Graduates  pub- 
lished by  Todd. 

Bryan  Robinson,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the 
medical  faculty  in  the  University  as  Public  Pro- 
fessor of  Physic,  was  a  man  of  considerable  note 
in  his  day.  We  have  already  met  with  him  as 
holding  the  Chair  of  Anatomy  for  a  short  period 
from  September  8,  1716,  to  June  17,  1717,  and 
as  the  editor  of  Helsham's  Lectures  in  Natural 
Philosophy.  He  was  the  son  of  Christopher  Robin- 
son, M.D.,  whose  father  Bryan  is  believed  to  have 
belonged  to  the  family  of  Robinson  of  Newby 
Hall,  Yorkshire.2  Bryan  was  born  in  Dublin 
about  the  year  1680,  but  we  have  been  unable  to 
find  any  record  of  where  he  was  educated.  He 
is  not  mentioned  in  the  entrance  book  of  Trinity 
College,  and  we  first  meet  with  him  on  February 
3,  1708/9,  when  he  was  given  leave  '  to  perform 

1  Stubbs,  Hist.,  p.  319.  *  Irish  Builder,  February  i,  1888. 


no  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

acts  for  ye  degree  of  Batchelor  of  Physic  '.*  In 
Trinity  College  he  graduated  M.B.  in  the  spring 
of  that  year,  and  M.D.  in  the  summer  of  1711. 
In  August  1711  he  was  admitted  a  Candidate  of 
the  College  of  Physicians,  was  elected  Fellow  on 
May  5,  1712,  and  held  the  office  of  President 
in  1718,  1727,  and  1739.  In  1725  he  published  in 
Dublin  an  account  of  five  children  who  were  inocu- 
lated for  small-pox  on  August  26  of  that  year. 
Robinson  had  been  called  in  to  see  these  children 
after  the  inoculation,  and  he  describes  the  symp- 
toms of  the  illness  from  which  two  of  them  died. 
This  book  was  published  in  London  also  in  the 
same  year.  In  1732  he  published  his  celebrated 
work  on  the  Animal  (Economy,  which  went  through 
several  editions,  and  which  was  violently  attacked 
in  a  pamphlet  by  Thomas  Morgan,  to  which 
Robinson  replied  in  the  same  year.  Robinson 
seems  to  have  been  fascinated  with  the  Philosophy 
of  Newton,  and  was  anxious  to  apply  the  mathe- 
matical principles  of  that  philosopher  to  the 
elucidation  of  medical  problems.  Sprengel 2  de- 
scribes Robinson  as  '  1'un  des  plus  celebres  iatro- 
mathematiciens  de  son  temps  '.  The  fundamental 
proposition  on  which  Robinson  based  his  cele- 
brated calculation  of  the  velocity  of  the  circulation 
of  the  blood  is  stated  as  follows  : 3 

'  If  a  given  fluid  be  moved  through  a  cylindrical  Pipe, 
made  of  a  given  sort  of  matter,  by  a  Force  acting  constantly 
and  uniformly  during  the  whole  Time  of  the  Motion  ;  its 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  422.  *  Sprengel,  torn,  v,  p.  173. 

1  Animal  (Economy,  2nd  edition,  1734,  p.  2. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  in 

velocity,  setting  aside  the  resistance  of  the  Air,  will  be  in  a 
Ratio  compounded  of  the  subduplicate  Ratio  of  the  mov- 
ing Force  directly,  and  of  the  subduplicate  Ratio  of  the 
Diameter  and  Length  of  the  Pipe  taken  together  inversely. 
If  F  denote  the  moving  Force,  D  and  L  the  Diameter  and 
Length  of  the  Pipe,  and  V  the  Velocity  with  which  the 
Fluid  runs  through  the  Pipe,  then  V  will  be  proportional 
to  rj- 

V  DL.' 

The  whole  of  this  work  forms  a  most  interesting 
exposition  of  the  application  of  mathematics  to 
physiological  problems,  and  would  require  for  its 
just  appreciation  a  much  more  intimate  know- 
ledge of  mathematics  than  is  at  the  disposal  of 
the  writer. 

In  the  Act  of  Parliament  establishing  Steevens' 
Hospital,  passed  in  1729,  Robinson  is  named  a 
Governor,  and  on  the  opening  of  the  Hospital  in 
1733  he  became  one  of  the  Physicians.  On  the 
I2th  June,  1745,  he  was  elected  Public  Professor 
of  Physic  in  Trinity  College  in  succession  to  Henry 
Cope,  and  held  the  post  till  his  death  in  1754. 

Beside  the  books  already  mentioned,  Robinson 
wrote  a  Dissertation  on  the  Aether  of  Sir  Isaac 
Newton,1  a  Dissertation  on  the  Food  and  Discharge 
of  Human  Bodies,2  On  the  Operations  and  Virtues 
of  Medicines,3  and  an  essay  on  Coin  4  which  was 
published  by  his  sons  after  his  death. 

An  account  of  the  case  of  the  late  Dr.  Bryan 
Robinson  was  communicated  to  the  Medical  and 
Philosophical  Society  of  Dublin  by  Sir  Edward 

1  Dublin,  1743.  *  Ibid.,  1747. 

*  Ibid.,  1753.  *  Ibid.,  1757. 


H2  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

Barry,  and  is  preserved  in  the  memoirs  of  that 
society.1  In  this  account  Barry  says  that  Robin- 
son enjoyed  good  health  till  1748,  when  he 
became  paralytic. 

'  He  recovered  from  thence  by  reducing  the  bulk  of  his 
body  and  enjoyed  good  health  for  many  years,  but  not 
with  his  usual  clearness  and  vigour  of  mind.  For  two 
years  before  he  died  this  deficiency  in  his  memory  and 
understanding  became  remarkable.  His  pulse  frequently 
intermitted.  After  he  had  recovered  by  an  exact  regimen 
from  the  paralysis,  he  frequently  indulged  himself  in 
the  free  use  of  Wine.  He  was  naturally  of  a  passionate 
Temper  which  now  Increased,  from  even  the  slightest  and 
frequently  from  no  cause.' 

After  death,  Barry  says,  his  heart  was  found  to 
be  '  of  an  uncommon  size ',  and  he  suggests  that, 

'  This  condition  of  the  Heart  evidently  accounts  for 
the  weak  and  afterwards  intermitting  Pulse,  and  from  the 
Brain  being  liable,  during  the  imperfect  Motion  of  the 
fluids,  to  a  Plenitude.  Does  not  it  likewise  Account  for 
the  Passions  of  his  mind  after  a  repletion  of  Wine,  which 
were  chiefly  mechanical  and  put  the  nervous  System  in 
such  a  Motion  as  became  at  last  necessary.' 

Robert  Robinson,  who  was  the  Lecturer  in 
Anatomy  and  President  of  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians, was  the  second  son  of  Bryan  Robinson. 
He  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  graduate  of 
Trinity  College,  and  we  have  not  been  able  to 
discover  where  he  took  his  degrees  in  Medicine. 
He  was  admitted  a  Candidate  and  a  Fellow  of 
the  College  of  Physicians  on  the  22nd  July,  1740, 
and  '  as  being  a  son  of  a  Fellow  of  this  College, 

1  Medical  and  Philosophical  Memoirs,  vol.  ii,  p.  79. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  113 

was  excused  ye  fees  of  admission  to  a  fellowship 
and  sworn  '.*  At  the  time  of  his  election  his  father 
was  President  of  the  College.  Robert  Robinson 
was  appointed  State  Physician  by  Patent  dated 
igth  February,  I742,2  and  in  1741  he  became 
Physician  in  Steevens'  Hospital,  being  elected  a 
Governor  there  on  December  22,  1750.  Robert's 
only  child,  Elizabeth,  married  on  the  25th  May, 
1785,  Frederick  Trench  of  Woodlawn,  who  in  1800 
was  created  Baron  Ashtown.3 

Henry  Quin,  the  King's  Professor  of  Medicine, 
had  entered  Trinity  College  as  a  Pensioner  on 
July  17,  1733,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  was  the 
son  of  Thomas  Quin  a  Surgeon  or  Apothecary  in 
Dublin.  He  graduated  B.A.  in  the  spring  of  1737, 
M.B.  in  1743,  and  M.D.  in  1750.  It  is  probable 
that  he  studied  abroad  and  graduated  M.D.  in 
Padua  between  the  time  of  his  taking  his  Bache- 
lor's degree  in  Trinity  and  his  appointment  as 
Professor.  He  was  admitted  a  Candidate  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  on  October  29,  1750,  and 
elected  Fellow  on  October  28,  1754.  It  is  impor- 
tant to  notice  that  he  did  not  hold  any  position 
in  the  College  till  after  his  appointment  as  Pro- 
fessor. He  was  afterwards  chosen  President  of 
the  College  seven  times,  in  1758,  1766,  1771,  1774, 
1779  (twice),  and  in  1781.  Quin  was  a  musician 
of  considerable  ability  and  used  to  take  part  in 
the  fashionable  concerts  held  in  the  Theatre, 
Fishamble  Street,  and  he  also  had  a  private 

1  Col.  P.  Minutes.  *  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  105. 

*  Irish  Builder,  February  i,  1888. 

I 


ii4  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

theatre  in  his  house  on  the  north  side  of  Stephen's 
Green.  He  had  considerable  skill  in  imitating 
antique  sculptured  gems  in  coloured  glass,  and  in 
this  work  he  employed  as  his  assistant  James 
Tassie,  whom  he  afterwards  enabled  to  go  to 
London,  where  he  gained  great  wealth  and  reputa- 
tion by  the  practice  of  this  art.  A  medal,  with 
the  bust  of  Henry  Quin  was  engraved  by  William 
Mossop,  sen.,  in  1783,  at  the  order  of  Robert 
Watson  Wade,  First  Clerk  of  the  Treasury.  Wade 
had  been  a  patient  of  Quin's  and  under  his  care 
he  had  recovered  from  an  illness  which  had  pre- 
viously baffled  the  skill  of  many  of  the  faculty. 
As  a  token  of  gratitude  Wade  had  a  copy  of  this 
medal  struck  in  gold  and  presented  to  Quin. 
Dr.  A.  Smith  states  that  he  had  seen  an  impres- 
sion in  silver  on  the  reverse  of  which  were  engraved 
these  lines  : 

The  human  frame  is,  Quin,  thy  debtor, 
None  but  the  Maker  knows  it  better.1 

Quin  died  on  the  igth  of  February,  1791. 

Nathaniel  Barry,  the  son  of  Sir  Edward  Barry, 
M.D.,  Bart.,  was  born  in  Cork,  and  entered  Trinity 
College  as  a  Pensioner  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  on 
January  29,  1739/40.  He  proceeded  to  the  degree 
of  B.A.  in  the  spring  of  1744,  and  M.B.  in  1748, 
being  granted  his  M.D.  in  1751.  Like  Quin,  Barry 
was  not  admitted  to  the  College  of  Physicians  till 
after  his  appointment  as  King's  Professor.  He 
was  admitted  a  Candidate  on  June  15,  1752,  and 

1  Aquilla  Smith,  Cat.  Museum  Col.  P.,  p.  12. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  115 

elected  a  Fellow  on  St.  Luke's  day  1758.  He  was 
President  in  the  year  1767,  and  again  in  1775. 
He  took  the  M.D.  degree  of  the  University  of 
Rheims,  where  he  went  to  study  after  graduating 
in  Dublin,  Barry  was  appointed,  jointly  with  his 
father,  Sir  Edward,  Physician-General  to  the  Army 
in  Ireland  on  St.  Patrick's  day,  1749/50.  In  1776, 
on  the  death  of  his  father,  he  succeeded  to  the 
baronetcy  and  died  about  nine  years  later. 

Constantine  Barbor  was  elected  a  Scholar  of 
Trinity  College  in  1732,  and  graduated  B.A.  in 
the  spring  of  1734.  Although  he  is  described  in 
the  '  Book  of  Electors'  Proceedings '  as  M.D.  of 
Dublin,  we  have  not  been  able  to  trace  either  in 
the  College  Register  or  in  Todd's  Roll  any  entry 
of  such  a  degree  being  granted  to  him.  He  was 
admitted  a  Candidate  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
on  the  26th  February,  1742/3,  and  elected  a  Fellow 
on  the  4th  May,  1747.  In  1754  he  was  first  elected 
President,  and  he  held  that  office  again  in  1764 
and  1769. 

In  a  poem  descriptive  of  the  Medical  Faculty 
in  Dublin,  published  by  John  Gilborne,  M.D.,  in 
1775,  the  following  lines  are  devoted  to  the  King's 
Professors  :  * 

Peculiar  Laurels  the  next  Three  have  won, 
Professors  Royal  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun  ; 
A  good  Physician  and  a  worthy  Knight, 
To  cure  not  kill  was  always  his  delight. 
If  any  Time  he  drew  the  trenchant  Blade, 
The  Hand  that  wounded  heal'd  the  Wounds  it  made. 

1  Gilborne,  p.  17. 


u6  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

Ingenious  Quin,  with  Erudition  great, 
Averts  the  Blows  of  unrelenting  Fate  : 
He  teaches  Youth  the  Cure,  the  Remedies, 
And  various  Causes  of  all  Maladies ; 
The  speculative  theoretic  Rule, 
And  the  best  Practice,  in  the  Physic-school. 

The  God-like  Barry  high  in  Learning  soars, 
His  prudent  Skill  the  Sick  to  Health  restores  : 
He  teaches  Midwifes  how  to  trace  their  Clews 
Thro'  mazy  Labyrinths,  and  how  to  use 
Their  Instruments  he  shews  Chirurgeons  bold ; 
All  this  in  College  by  the  Sage  is  told. 

Wise  Barbor  can  prolong  the  Days  of  Youth, 
By  Maxims  founded  on  undoubted  Truth  : 
With  pharmaceutic  Art  he  plainly  shews 
How  to  prepare,  preserve,  compound,  and  chuse 
Drugs,  and  Materials  medical,  that  will 
All  Indications  curative  fulfil. 

With  "the  election  of  the  three  King's  Professors 
affairs  in  the  University  School  seemed  to  be 
settled  on  a  satisfactory  basis.  A  fairly  complete 
teaching  staff  had  been  appointed,  and  the  ex- 
amination of  candidates  for  the  degrees  was,  on 
the  Liceat  of  the  University,  conducted  by  the 
heads  of  the  College  of  Physicians.  It  was,  how- 
ever, the  custom  of  the  University  to  give  special 
Graces  for  degrees  to  certain  individuals,  appa- 
rently without  any  examination.  Thus,  on  April 
u,  1748,  '  the  Grace  of  the  house  for  a  Doc8- 
degree  in  Physick  was  given  to  Henry  Smyth, 
A.M.,  at  the  instance  of  his  Royal  Highness  the 
Chancellor.'  * 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  76. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  117 

The  College  of  Physicians  was  at  this  time  most 
jealous  as  to  its  privileges  of  licensing  practitioners 
in  both  Medicine  and  Midwifery.  The  President 
and  Fellows  had,  at  their  meeting  on  May  6, 1745, 
adopted  a  resolution  that — 

'  Whereas  it  has  been  found  that  several  persons 
licensed  to  practise  midwifery  only  have  notwithstanding 
presumed  to  practise  physick  in  general ;  we  ye  sub- 
scribing members  of  ye  College  of  Physicians  have 
unanimously  agreed  that  we  will  not  for  the  future 
consult  with  any  of  them  as  physicians,  nor  wh  any 
other  person,  who  is  not  a  graduate  or  licensed  physician 
of  this  College.' 

This  resolution  was  signed  by  the  President  and 
all  the  Fellows  of  the  College,  as  well  as  by  nine 
of  the  Candidates  and  Licentiates. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  the  Charter  of 
William  and  Mary  had  ordained  that  no  person 
was  entitled  to  practise  physic  in  Dublin,  or  within 
a  circuit  of  seven  miles  thereof,  except  he  was 
licensed  by  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College 
of  Physicians,  provided  always  that  graduates  in 
Physic  of  the  University  of  Dublin  having  performed 
their  full  acts  be  admitted  into  the  College  without 
further  examination  on  the  payment  of  the  usual 
fee.  The  College  of  Physicians  was  also  granted 
power  to  examine  and  license  all  midwives.  It 
was  in  view  of  these  provisions  of  the  Charter 
that  the  University  and  the  College  had  entered 
into  an  agreement  whereby  the  College  examined 
all  medical  candidates  of  the  University  before 
they  were  admitted  to  perform  acts  for  their 

13 


n8  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

degrees.  This  arrangement  seems  to  have  been 
a  very  fair  one,  but  it  is  obvious  that  the  admis- 
sion of  candidates  to  the  degrees  of  the  University 
by  Special  Grace  and  without  examination  by  the 
College  of  Physicians  was  likely  sooner  or  later  to 
lead  to  friction  between  the  two  bodies.  On 
February  19,  1753,  the  President  and  Fellows 
adopted  the  following  resolution  :  l 

'  yt  no  graduate  in  Physic  of  ye  University  of  Dublin 
who  hath  obtained,  or  shall  obtain,  his  degree  by  special 
grace  or  favour  shall  for  the  future  be  admitted  into  ye 
College  of  Physicians,  or  licensed  by  ye  College  to  Practise 
Physick.' 

At  the  same  meeting  at  which  the  above  resolu- 
tion was  adopted  the  President  and  Fellows  further 

'  Ordered  yt  the  College  of  Physicians  shall  not  for  the 
future  examine  any  person  who  hath  or  does  practise 
midwifery,  for  any  degree  in  Physick,  or  a  License  in 
Physick.' 

Though  the  former  resolution  was  one  that 
would  commend  itself  to  many  as  just  and  fair, 
the  same  cannot  be  said  of  the  latter,  and  it  was 
this  which  ultimately  led  to  trouble. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trinity  College 
on  February  15,  1753  : 

'  A  Batchelors  degree  in  Arts  was  granted  Speciali 
Gratia  to  Fielding  Ould  for  the  reasons  in  the  underneath 
petition.  Fielding  Ould  supplicates  the  Provost  & 
Senior  Fellows  to  grant  him  ye  Degree  of  B.A.  as  a 
Qualifn.  preparatory  to  his  applying  for  Leave  to  perform 
his  Degrees  in  Physic  humbly  hoping  that  ye  folowg. 
Circumces.  may  in  some  measure  recommend  him. 

1  Col.  P.  Minutes. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  119 

'  He  has  been  25  years  in  ye  study  &  practice  of 
Physick,  five  of  wh.  were  almost  intirely  employed  in 
disecting  for  the  Any.  Lecture  of  ye  Colge.  during  wh. 
time  he  constly.  attended  ye  N.  Phily.  Chymy.  &  Botany 
Lectures,  was  two  years  abroad  for  his  furthr.  improvemt., 
on  his  return  was  examd.  by  ye  College  of  Physicians  who 
certified  for  him  yt  He  was  singularly  well  qualified  for 
ye  Profession  of  Midwifery  wh.  he  hath  practised  these 
15  years  past  &  has  published  a  treatise  on  yt  subject 
with  an  approbation  of  ye  Colge  of  Physicians  thereto 
annexed.' 

On  January  17,  1757,  the  College  of  Physicians 
passed  a  resolution  : 

'  that  every  person  who  is  admitted  a  Fellow  Candidate 
or  Licentiate  since  May  6th,  1745,  do  sign  the  Resolution 
of  that  date  relating  to  the  Licentiates  in  Midwifery  and 
that  for  the  future  every  person  that  shall  apply  to  be 
a  Fellow  or  Licentiate  shall  before  his  admission  sign  the 
said  resolution.' 

Still  there  was  no  rupture  between  the  Colleges 
and  the  degree  examinations  were  conducted  under 
the  former  regulations. 

Nothing  more  was  heard  of  any  cause  of  dispute 
for  a  time.  On  September  30,  1758,  Provost 
Baldwin  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-two,  and  in  the 
following  month  Francis  Andrews  was  admitted 
Provost.  On  June  2,  1759,  the  Board  granted 
a  Liceat  to  Fielding  Ould  for  his  Bachelor's  degree 
in  Physic,  and  on  October  29,  1759,  it  was  resolved 
at  a  meeting  of  the  College  of  Physicians,1  that : 

'  Mr.  Fielding  Ould  Licentiate  in  Midwifery  having 
presented  a  Liceat  from  the  University  of  Dublin  to  be 

1  Col.  P.  Minutes. 


120  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

examined  for  a  Batchelours  Degree  in  Physic  the  College 
is  unanimous  in  not  admitting  him  to  an  Examination, 
as  such  an  admission  is  contrary  to  their  Laws.' 

On  February  2,  1760,  the  Board  of  Trinity 
College  made  the  following  minute  : 

'  This  day  a  Memorial  of  Fielding  Ould  was  read  setting 
forth  that  he  had  presented  the  Liceat  granted  by  this 
Board  for  his  Batchelor's  degree  in  Physic  to  the  President 
of  the  College  of  Physicians,  and  offered  himself  ready 
and  willing  to  undergo  their  examination  and  praying 
that  as  they  had  declined  examining  him  he  might 
obtain  leave  to  perform  the  usual  Acts  for  his  Batchelor's 
Degree  in  Physic,  Ordered  by  the  Board  that  Fielding 
Ould  A.B.  have  leave  to  perform  the  usual  Acts  for  a 
Batchelor's  degree  in  Physic  and  that  he  acquaint  the 
professor  of  Physic  therewith  and  that  he  give  the  usual 
notice  of  the  time  and  subject  of  his  Acts.' 

Although  this  degree  is  not  recorded  in  Todd's 
Roll,  it  was  evidently  granted,  for  on  April  2,  1761, 
'  Leave  was  given  to  Sr  Fielding  Ould  M.B.  to 
perform  for  a  Doctor's  Degree  in  Medicine/  *  and 
on  June  29  the  Grace  was  passed  for  this  degree, 
which  was  conferred  at  the  Summer  Commence- 
ments. 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the  College  of 
Physicians  would  submit  to  this  treatment  with- 
out protest,  for,  whatever  opinion  we  may  now 
form  of  the  refusal  to  examine  Ould,  the  action 
had  the  unanimous  support  of  the  Fellows.  Ac- 
cordingly, at  their  meeting  on  February  5,  1761, 
they  unanimously  adopted  the  following  resolu- 
tion : 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  1 66. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  121 

'  That  the  College  of  Dublin  in  conferring  a  degree  in 
Physic  on  Sr-  Fielding  Ould  Licentiate  in  Midwifery  only, 
has  treated  this  college  with  very  great  and  undeserved 
disrespect. 

'  That  the  connexion  subsisting  between  this  Body  and 
the  College  of  Dublin  by  virtue  of  the  agreement  dated 
July  25  1701  be  dissolved. 

'  That  the  following  letter  be  sent  to  the  Provost : 

'  Sr*  The  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  of  Phy- 
sicians from  their  affection  for  the  Society  in  which  they 
were  educated  have  for  threescore  years  past  submitted  to 
considerable  inconvenience  solely  to  give  credit  and  value 
to  the  degrees  in  Physic  conferred  by  the  University,  at 
the  head  of  which  you  have  the  honour  to  be  placed. 

'  They  lament  that  of  late  their  endeavours  have  been 
ineffectual  to  this  purpose,  and  are  justly  apprehensive 
that  they  are  likely  to  continue  so,  as  your  College  has 
thought  proper  to  grant  a  degree  in  our  Faculty  to 
a  person,  who  had  no  Academic  Education,  and  whom 
you  know  to  be  disqualified  by  his  occupation  for  a  License 
to  practise  in  our  Profession. 

'  We  therefore  from  the  attention  which  we  owe  to  the 
welfare  of  the  publick  &  to  ye  reputation  and  ye  dignity 
of  our  own  Body,  find  ourselves  under  the  necessity  of 
breaking  off  that  connexion  which  has  hitherto  subsisted 
between  your  Board  and  ours  by  agreement  of  January 
ye  25th,  1701,  and  we  do  hereby  declare  that  for  the 
future  we  will  not  examine  your  candidates  nor  officiate 
at  the  performance  of  their  public  acts  ;  and  that  we  will 
receive  into  our  College  the  graduates  of  other  Univer- 
sities if  sufficiently  recommended  by  their  learning  and 
morals  tho'  not  admitted  ad  eundem  in  yours.' 

In  consequence  of  this  letter  the  Board  at  their 
meeting  on  May  16  unanimously  resolved  :  '  That 
a  Previous  examination  of  the  Candidates  for 
degrees  in  Medicine  is  absolutely  necessary.'  And 


122  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

the  following  letter  was  written  to  the  University 
Lecturers,  June  9,  1761  : 

'  Sir,  I  am  directed  by  the  Provost  and  Senior  Fellows 
to  acquaint  you  that  they  have  resolved  to  commit  the 
examination  of  candidates  for  Degrees  in  Medicine  for  ye 
future  to  their  Praelectors  in  Chymistry  &  Anatomy, 
together  with  ye  Professor  of  Medicine  ;  and  that  it  is 
their  intention  that  their  Praelectors  shall  attend  the 
Professor  in  all  performances  of  Acts  for  Medical  Degrees. 
It  is  also  expected  that  the  Praelectors  will  co-operate 
with  the  Professor  in  settling  a  scheme  for  the  conduct  of 
these  Examinations  &  Performances  in  order  to  give 
them  their  due  weight  and  credit ;  which  scheme  is  to 
be  laid  before  the  Board  for  their  approbation.  I  am 
therefore  directed  to  request  that  you  would  signify  your 
sentiments  to  me  with  all  convenient  speed  ;  as  the 
Provost  and  Senior  Fellows  mean  to  proceed  to  the  final 
settlement  of  the  manner  and  order  of  these  Examinations 
and  Performances  ;  and  judge  if  necessary  to  carry  their 
intentions  into  effectual  execution  without  delay.' 

On  June  29  the  Board  decided  that : 

'  Whereas  the  Board  have  unanimously  resolved  that  for 
the  future  no  candidate  in  Physic  should  be  admitted 
to  perform  acts  till  he  had  been  previously  examined 
&  returned  duly  qualified  by  the  Professor  of  Physic, 
the  Chymistry  and  Anatomy  Lecturer  and  whereas  Dr. 
Robert  Robinson  refuses  to  co-operate  therein  with  the 
above  gentlemen  it  is  hereby  ordered  that  another 
Anatomy  Lecturer  shall  be  chosen,  and  that  the  Board 
shall  proceed  to  the  election  of  a  proper  person  to  fill  the 
said  office  on  Tuesday  the  I4th  of  July  next.' 

Thus  in  1761  Robert  Robinson  was  dismissed 
from  the  Chair  of  Anatomy  just  as  his  father 
Bryan  had  in  1717  been  turned  out  '  by  the 
majority  of  voices '. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  123 

Of  the  other  Professors,  Dr.  Edward  Barry  had 
resigned  the  Professorship  of  Physic  on  February 
12,  1761,  and  on  the  2ist  Dr.  Clements,  Lecturer 
in  Botany,  and  a  Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  had 
been  appointed  in  his  stead.  William  Stephens, 
who  had  been  Lecturer  in  Chemistry  since  1732, 
had  died  in  1760,  and  on  July  12  of  that  year 
Francis  Hutcheson  had  been  chosen  in  his  place. 
Hutcheson,  though  a  Licentiate,  was  not,  at  this 
time,  a  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 

Fielding  Ould,  who  was  the  apparently  inno- 
cent cause  of  this  rupture  between  the  Colleges, 
was  a  most  distinguished  man  in  his  profession. 
Colonel  Ould,  the  grandfather  of  Fielding,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  army  of  King  William,  and  com- 
manded the  Royal  Regiment  of  Welsh  Fusileers 
in  the  Battle  of  the  Boyne.  His  son,  Captain 
Ould,  also  belonged  to  this  regiment,  and  when 
quartered  with  it  in  Galway  after  the  war,  he 
married  there  a  Miss  Shawe.  Two  sons  resulted 
from  this  marriage,  Fielding,  and  Abraham,  who 
afterwards  became  a  Barrister. 

Fielding  Ould  was  born  about  1710,  and  on  the 
death  of  his  father,  who  was  murdered  in  London 
shortly  after  his  marriage,  Quid's  mother  returned 
to  her  father's  house  in  Galway,  and  there  her 
two  sons  were  educated.  Ould,  as  he  tells  in  his 
petition  to  the  Board,  acted  for  some  time  as 
prosector  to  the  Lecturer  in  Anatomy  and  attended 
lectures  in  the  School  of  Trinity  College,  though 
he  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  Matriculated 
Student  of  the  University.  While  abroad  he 


124  THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS 

studied  for  some  time  in  Paris,  as  he  tells  us  in 
the  preface  of  his  book,  and  eventually  settled  in 
Dublin  about  1736  or  1737.  On  August"  16,  1738, 
he  was  admitted  a  Licentiate  of  Midwifery  of  the 
College  of  Physicians,  having,  on  examination, 
been  '  found  singularly  well  qualified '. 

In  1742  he  published  in  Dublin  *  A  Treatise  of 
Midwifery  in  Three  Parts ',  which  is  dedicated  to 
the  '  President,  Censors,  &  Fellows  of  the  College 
of  Physicians ',  and  bears  the  imprimatur  of  the 
College.  This  is  the  first  of  a  long  list  of  writings 
on  obstetrics  by  Dublin  men,  writings  which  have 
added,  and  are  still  adding,  no  little  lustre  to  the 
reputation  of  the  Dublin  School.  M'Clintock,1 
writing  of  Quid's  book,  says  : 

'  If  we  except  the  writings  of  Chapman  and  Sir  Richard 
Manningham,  it  was  in  fact  the  first  obstetric  treatise 
having  any  pretentions  to  merit  and  originality  which 
appeared  in  the  English  language.  But,  independently 
of  this,  the  work  possessed  intrinsic  merits  of  a  superior 
kind,  and  contained  many  new  observations  of  great 
importance  :  so  much  so  that  we  would  leave  it  to  any 
impartial  and  competent  reader  to  say  whether  it  is  not 
superior  to  any  English  obstetric  treatise  published 
before  that  of  Smellie  in  1752.' 

On  the  death  in  1759  of  Bartholomew  Mosse, 
the  founder  and  first  Master  of  the  Rotunda,  Ould 
was  appointed  second  Master  of  the  Hospital, 
which  post  he  filled  for  seven  years,  during  which 
time  3,800  women  were  confined  in  the  Hospital, 
with  48  deaths.  In  May  1760  he  was  knighted 
by  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of 

1  M'Clintock,  Dub.  School  of  Midwifery,  p.  7. 


THE  KING'S  PROFESSORS  125 

Ireland,  which  honour  gave  rise  to  the  following 
epigram : 

Sir  Fielding  Ould  is  made  a  Knight, 
He  should  have  been  a  lord  by  right ; 
For  then  each  Lady's  prayer  would  be, 
O  Lord,  Good  Lord,  deliver  me  ! 

Ould  lived  for  many  years  in  21  Frederick 
Street,  and  died  there  on  November  29,  1789. 

It  is  not  very  easy  to  give  a  satisfactory  explana- 
tion of  the  refusal  of  the  College  of  Physicians  to 
examine  Fielding  Ould.  It  is  possible  that  it  was 
as  much  the  result  of  personal  jealousy  as  a  matter 
of  principle.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  cause 
the  College  did  not  bear  any  permanent  ill-feeling 
to  Ould,  as  he  was  admitted  a  Licentiate  on 
October  3,  1785. 


CHAPTER  VII 
THE  PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

IN  pursuance  of  the  resolutions  quoted  in  the 
last  chapter  the  Board  proceeded  to  the  election 
of  a  new  Lecturer  in  Anatomy,  and  on  July  14, 
1761,  George  Cleghorn,  the  anatomist,  was  ap- 
pointed. The  position  of  '  Anatomist ',  or  '  Uni- 
versity Anatomist '  as  it  is  now  called,  is  first 
mentioned  in  1716,  when,  on  September  8,  Surgeon 
Green  was  appointed  by  the  Board  to  officiate  in 
that  capacity.  Of  this  William  Green,  '  of  the 
City  of  Dublin  Chirurgeon,'  little  is  known,  except 
that  he  continued  as  anatomist  till  his  death  in 
1733.  In  his  will,  which  was  signed  on  April  the 
I2th  of  that  year,  and  proved  in  June,  he  left  one- 
third  of  his  property  to  his  '  dear  wife  Anne  Green  ', 
and  the  other  two-thirds  to  be  divided  between 
his  son  and  two  daughters.  Green  was  in  office 
when  Bryan  Robinson  was  '  turned  out  from  being 
Anatomist ',  and  on  the  same  day  the  Board 
'  ordered  that  the  Bursar  pay  sixty  pounds  to 
Surgeon  Green  in  order  to  purchase  preparations 
for  illustrating  several  parts  of  the  human  body '. 
Unfortunately  no  record  remains  of  how  this 
money  was  spent,  or  what  sort  of  '  preparations  ' 
were  purchased.1  On  the  death  of  Green  the 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  480. 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    127 

Board,  on  October  22,  1733,  elected  Mr.  Vessy 
Shaw,  surgeon,  'to  assist  the  Anatomy  Lecturer1.1 
Shaw  resigned  his  office  on  the  I4th  of  June,  1743, 
and  died  three  years  later,  his  will  being  proved 
on  the  4th  of  January,  1747/8.  On  Shaw's  resig- 
nation, Mr.  George  Whittingham  '  was  chosen 
into  his  place  ',  which  he  resigned  on  the  loth 
September,  1753.  Whittingham,  who  lived  in 
Grafton  Street,  was  for  many  years  one  of  the 
surgeons  to  Mercer's  Hospital,  and  was  nominated 
one  of  the  Governors  in  the  Act  of  Parliament 
incorporating  that  institution,  which  was  passed 
in  1749.  He  died  in  July,  1773,  and  in  his  will, 
which  was  dated  on  the  I5th  of  that  month,  and 
proved  on  the  6th  of  August,  he  left  a  bond  of 
£600  to  Mercer's  Hospital,  provided  his  '  Appren- 
tice John  Bell  shall  be  allowed  to  attend  the  said 
Hospital  as  usual  during  the  remainder  of  his 
apprenticeship  '. 

Between  1730  and  1760  there  were  added  to  the 
Anatomical  Museum  of  the  College  several  interest- 
ing specimens  which  long  attracted  attention.  Of 
these  the  most  remarkable  was  the  skeleton  of 
William  Clark,  an  excellent  example  of  the  con- 
dition known  as  Myositis  ossificans.  This  man  was 
born  in  Newmarket,  Co.  Cork,  in  1677,  and  died 
in  1738,  when  his  skeleton  was  procured  by 
Sir  Edward  Barry,  who  afterwards  presented  it  to 
the  College.  Smith  in  his  history  of  Co.  Cork, 
published  in  I75O,2  gives  an  account  of  this  man, 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  604. 

1  Smith,  Cork,  vol.  ii,  p.  426. 


128    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

and  states  that  Barry  had  '  composed  a  learned 
and  accurate  tract  on  the  subject ',  but  this  we 
believe  was  never  published. 
Smith  tells  us  that 

'  his  under  jaws  being  fixed,  he  could  never  open  his 
mouth,  but  his  teeth,  being  broken  by  some  accident, 
he  sucked  in  spoon  meat  which  was  his  chief est  food. 
He  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  time  preparing  his  diet ; 
when  he  took  any  solid  food  he  laid  it  on  a  large  flat  knife, 
and  pressed  it  with  a  stick  made  for  the  purpose,  and  so 
forced  it  within  his  teeth.  Though  he  was  often  in- 
toxicated with  liquor,  he  never  vomited  but  once,  and 
was  then  very  near  being  suffocated.  When  he  walked, 
he  was  always  obliged  to  step  first  with  the  right  foot, 
which  he  did  with  much  difficulty,  he  then  dragged  the 
left  foot  to  the  right  heel.  When  he  fell  by  accident,  he 
was  never  able  to  rise  without  assistance.  When  he  lay 
down,  he  had  cavities  made  in  his  bed,  in  which  he 
placed  his  hips,  heels  and  elbows.  In  his  youth  he  made 
a  shift  to  creep  with  difficulty  through  the  village  of 
Newmarket ;  but  as  he  advanced  in  years,  he  grew  more 
inactive,  so  that  at  last  he  could  scarce  go  the  length 
of  Mr.  Aldworth's  kitchen,  where  he  spent  most  of  his 
time.  That  gentleman  maintained  him  in  charity  while 
he  lived ;  the  only  use  he  was  capable  of  being  put  to 
was  that  of  watching  the  workmen,  for  when  he  was  once 
fixed  in  his  station,  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  desert  it. 
He  generally  stood  in  a  kind  of  sentry-box  with  a  board 
placed  in  a  groove  as  high  as  his  breast  for  him  to  lean 
upon.  He  had  always  a  bony  excrescence  issuing  out  of 
his  left  heel,  which  sometimes  grew  to  the  length  of  about 
two  inches,  and  when  it  shed,  as  a  deer  does  its  horns,  it 
still  continued  to  sprout  as  before.' 

Another  specimen  in  the  School  was  the  skeleton 
of  Cornelius  Magrath,  the  Irish  giant,  who  had 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    129 

suffered  during  life  from  acromegaly.  He  had 
exhibited  himself  as  a  giant  in  various  cities  in 
Ireland,  England,  and  on  the  Continent,  and  died 
in  College  Green  in  May,  1760,  at  the  age  of  24. 
He  was  stated  to  be  7  feet  8  inches  high,  and  his 
hands  '  were  as  large  as  a  middling  shoulder  of 
mutton  '.  Magrath,  like  Clark,  came  from  Cork, 
though  born  in  Tipperary,  and  he  had  been  for 
some  time  cared  for  by  the  charitable  Bishop 
Berkeley.  It  was  afterwards  stated  that  his 
abnormal  stature  was  the  result  of  experiments 
made  on  him  by  the  good  bishop.  In  the  Philo- 
sophic Survey  of  the  South  of  Ireland  *  the  story  is 
given  as  follows  : 

'  The  Bishop  had  a  strange  fancy  to  know  whether  it 
was  not  in  the  power  of  art  to  increase  the  human  stature. 
And  this  unhappy  Orphan  appeared  to  him  a  fit  subject 
for  trial.  He  made  his  essay  according  to  his  precon- 
ceived theory,  whatever  it  might  be,  and  the  consequence 
was  that  he  became  seven  feet  high  in  his  seventeenth 
year.' 

Macalister  says  that  Doctor  Beatty  used  to  tell 
the  story  of  how  Magrath 's  body  was  obtained  for 
the  College.2  Beatty 's  father  was  at  the  time  of 
Magrath's  death  a  student  in  the  College,  and  he 
used  to  say  that  when  Robinson  heard  of  the 
giant's  death,  he  addressed  his  class  as  follows  : 
'  Gentlemen,  I  have  been  told  that  some  of  you  in 
your  zeal  have  contemplated  the  carrying  off  of 
the  body.  I  most  earnestly  beg  of  you  not  to 
think  of  such  a  thing  :  but  if  you  should  be  so 

1  p.  187.  *  Macalister,  Macartney,  p.  16. 

K 


130    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

carried  away  with  your  desire  for  knowledge  that 
thus  against  my  expressed  wish  you  persist  in 
doing  so,  I  would  have  you  remember  that  if  you 
take  only  the  body,  there  is  no  law  whereby  you 
can  be  touched,  but  if  you  take  so  much  as  a  rag 
or  a  stocking  with  it  it  is  a  hanging  matter.'  The 
students  took  the  hint,  and  attended  the  '  wake ' 
of  the  giant,  and  as  the  evening  progressed,  drugged 
the  whisky  used  in  the  celebrations.  The  friends 
gradually  dropped  to  sleep,  and  then  a  number  of 
the  students  carried  off  the  body  unmolested  to 
the  College.  When  the  robbery  was  discovered  on 
the  next  morning,  the  friends  came  with  indignant 
protests  to  the  Provost,  and  demanded  the  return 
of  the  corpse.  The  Provost  sent  for  Robinson,  but 
the  Professor  assured  him  that  so  great  was  the 
diligence  of  the  College  students  that  the  body 
was  already  dissected.  Beatty  said  he  had  met 
Robinson  on  his  way  from  the  Provost's  house, 
and  that  he  stopped  at  intervals  chuckling  to 
himself,  '  Divil  a  knife  's  in  him  yet  !  '  The  Provost 
is  said  to  have  compounded  handsomely  with  the 
angry  friends,  but  the  fact  that  an  account  of  the 
giant's  death  and  of  the  public  lecture  read  on 
the  dissection  of  the  body  was  published  in  a  Dublin 
newspaper  rather  throws  discredit  on  the  story. 

A  full  account  of  this  skeleton  has  been  published 
in  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  by 
the  late  Professor  Cunningham.1 

Other  specimens  which  attracted  much  attention 
were  the  celebrated  '  wax- works '.  These  were  life- 

1  Cunningham,  Magrath. 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    131 

size  models  of  the  human  body  in  various  stages 
of  dissection.  They  had  been  modelled  in  wax 
on  human  skeletons,  admirably  articulated,  by 
M.  Denou6,  Professor  of  Anatomy  in  the  Academy 
of  Sciences  in  Paris.  It  is  said  that  the  work  occu- 
pied the  Professor  for  nearly  forty  years.  Macalister1 
tells  us  that  these  wax  models  were  brought  to 
London  by  a  sculptor  named  Rackstow,  who,  on 
the  advice  of  a  certain  Dr.  Scott,  brought  them  to 
Dublin,  where  they  were  purchased  by  the  Earl  of 
Shelbourne,  and  given  to  the  University  in  1739. 
The  tradition  in  the  College  was  that  Dean  Swift 
had  instigated  the  noble  lord  to  this  purchase,  but 
of  this  we  have  no  documentary  evidence.  Mac- 
alister gives  as  the  authority  for  his  statements 
an  old  catalogue,  compiled  in  1811,  by  a  head 
porter  of  the  College.  Most  of  the  guide-books  to 
Dublin,  describing  these  models,  give  the  date  of 
their  presentation  as  about  1752.  These  wax 
models  received  rather  bad  usage  at  the  time  the 
old  Anatomy  house  was  replaced  by  the  new 
Medical  School  in  the  beginning  of  the  last  century, 
but  the  fragmentary  remains  of  them  are  still 
preserved  in  Trinity  College. 

On  the  day  of  Whittingham's  resignation  of  the 
'  place  of  Anatomist ',  Mr.  George  Cleghorn  was 
chosen  in  his  stead,  and  continued  in  office  till  he 
was  promoted  lecturer.  The  post  of  University 
Anatomist  then  appears  to  have  been  allowed  to 
fall  into  abeyance  for  nearly  a  hundred  years. 
There  were  at  various  times  persons  appointed  to 

1  Macalister,  Hist.  Anal.,  p.  12. 


132    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

assist  the  Professor,  but  they  were  no  longer  called 
1  the  Anatomist '. 

Lying  along  the  southern  shore  of  the  Frith  of 
Forth,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Edinburgh,  is 
situated  the  parish  of  Cramond,  and  '  the  farm 
of  Granton  in  this  parish  was  for  a  long  series  of 
years  occupied  by  a  worthy  race  of  farmers  of  the 
name  of  Cleghorn  '.l  Of  this  stock  and  in  this 
place  George  Cleghorn  was  born  on  the  i8th  of 
December,  1716,  and  three  years  later  his  father 
died,  leaving  a  widow  and  five  children.  George, 
who  was  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  educated 
in  the  parish  school  at  Cramond,  and  at  twelve 
years  of  age  was  sent  to  Edinburgh  for  further 
instruction  in  the  classics  and  modern  languages. 
After  three  years  spent  in  this  way  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine,  being  placed  under  the  tuition 
of  Alexander  Monro,  and  allowed  to  reside  in  his 
house.  While  a  student  in  the  University  of 
Edinburgh,  Cleghorn  formed  a  close  friendship 
with  Fothergill,  and  was  one  of  the  five  students 
who  founded  in  Edinburgh  the  society  afterwards 
known  as  the  Royal  Medical  Society.  In  a  letter 
of  Dr.  Cuming  to  Dr.  Lettsom  we  read  of  the  origin 
of  this  society,  and  are  told  that  the  paper  which 
formed  the  agenda  for  the  third  meeting  was  read 
by  Cleghorn,  the  subject  being  '  Epilepsy  '.* 

Cleghorn  appears  to  have  been  a  most  indus- 
trious student.  He  so  gained  the  goodwill  of  his 
teachers  that  in  1736  he  was,  on  the  recommenda- 

1  Wood's  Cramond,  p.  121. 

*  Pettigrew's  Lettsom,  vol.  iii,  p.  288. 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    133 

tion  of  Dr.  St.  Clair,  appointed  surgeon  to  the 
22nd  Regiment  of  Foot,  then  stationed  at  Minorca, 
under  the  command  of  General  St.  Clair.  He 
remained  for  thirteen  years  on  the  island,  and 
devoted  his  time  to  the  study  of  his  profession  and 
the  collection  of  materials  for  his  work  on  the 
diseases  of  the  island.  It  was  during  his  stay  at 
Minorca  that  his  friend,  Dr.  Cuming,  writing  on 
August  14,  1742,  says  of  him  : 

'  Thou  wilt  no  doubt  admire  the  industry  of  our  friend 
Cleghorn  who,  situate  in  a  corner  of  the  world,  has  made 
greater  progress  than  any  of  us  who  do  not  even  want  the 
proper  aids  of  study.  Let  us  therefore  stimulate  one 
another  that  we  may  follow  his  footsteps  and  become  the 
worthy  friends  of  so  great  a  man.' * 

Cleghorn  was  at  this  time  in  constant  corre- 
spondence with  Fothergill,  who  kept  him  supplied 
from  London  with  the  books  that  he  required  for 
study.  On  leaving  Minorca  in  1749,  Cleghorn 
came  to  Ireland  with  his  regiment,  but  left  shortly 
afterwards  for  London  to  superintend  the  publica- 
tion of  his  book  on  the  Epidemic  Diseases  in 
Minorca  from  the  year  1744  to  1749-  This  work 
was  first  published  in  London  in  1751,  and  eventu- 
ally went  through  five  English  editions,  the  last 
being  published  in  London  in  1815. 2  In  1776  it 
was  translated  into  German  by  T.  C.  G.  Acker- 
mann,  and  published  in  Gotha.  While  in  London 
Cleghorn  attended  the  anatomical  lectures  of  Dr. 
Hunter,  and  so  prepared  himself  for  his  future 
life's  work  as  Lecturer  in  Anatomy  in  Dublin. 

1  Lettsom,  Fothergill,  p.  98.  *  Irvine. 

K3 


134    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

On  the  publication  of  his  book  Cleghorn  returned 
to  Dublin,  and  was,  as  we  have  seen,  on  the  loth 
of  September,  1753,  elected  as  Anatomist  to  succeed 
Mr.  Whittingham.  In  1756  he  published  in  Dublin 
a  small  octavo  pamphlet,  entitled  Index  of  an 
Annual  Course  of  Lectures  by  George  Cleghorn, 
Anatomist  to  Trinity  College,  and  Surgeon  in  Dublin. 
This  is  really  a  syllabus  of  his  lectures,  and  is  the 
first  anatomical  work  published  in  connexion  with 
the  School. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  dispute  between  the 
Colleges  over  the  degree  of  Sir  Fielding  Ould  led 
to  the  appointment,  in  July,  1761,  of  Cleghorn  as 
Lecturer  in  Anatomy,  and  he  seems  to  have  at 
once  entered  on  a  large  and  lucrative  practice  as 
a  surgeon  in  Dublin.  In  1762  he  sent  a  paper 
to  the  Medical  Society  of  London,  in  which  he 
describes  how  he  extracted  '  the  third  or  fourth 
feather  of  a  goose's  wing '  from  the  throat  of 
a  young  lady  who  had  swallowed  it.  The  instru- 
ment he  used  was  a  flexible  whalebone  with  a 
spring  and  strings  attached  to  it.  He  tells  us  that 
Mr.Tuckey  of  Dublin  had,  some  years  before,  added 
the  strings  to  this  instrument.1 

In  1765  he  described  to  the  same  society  a  case 
of  aneurysmal  varix  in  the  arm  of  a  boy  aged  17, 
which  had  resulted  from  a  bleeding  some  years 
before.  The  patient,  he  tells  us,  was  '  shown  at 
the  College  to  the  Students  who  attend  my 
lectures  '.2 

On  September  9,   1768,   the  Board  granted  a 

1  Med.  Obs.,  vol.  Hi,  p.  7.  •  Ibid.,  p.  no. 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    135 

grace  for  a  Doctor's  degree  in  Physic  to  Cleghorn,1 
and  on  the  I3th  of  the  same  month  his  Grace  the 
Duke  of  Bedford,  Chancellor  of  the  University, 
attended  by  the  Provost,  Fellows,  and  Professors, 
habited  in  their  proper  robes,  visited  the  laboratory, 
Anatomy  School,  and  waxworks.  Under  the  in- 
fluence of  Cleghorn  the  Medical  School  increased 
considerably  as  regards  the  numbers  of  students 
attending.  We  have  not  been  able  to  get  any 
records  of  the  actual  numbers,  but  there  were 
sufficient  students  to  make  the  lecture-room  un- 
comfortably crowded.  Writing  in  1782  to  his 
friend  Dr.  Cuming,  Cleghorn  says  : z 

1  In  the  year  1772  increasing  business  and  declining 
health  obliged  me  to  commit  the  chief  care  of  my  annual 
anatomical  course  for  the  instruction  of  students  in 
Physic  and  Surgery  to  my  favorite  pupil,  Dr.  Purcell, 
who  has  not  only  kept  it  up  ever  since,  but  improved  it 
so  as  to  advance  its  reputation  and  his  own  ;  yet  still 
I  continue  to  read,  as  I  have  done  for  upwards  of  twenty 
years,  to  a  crowded  audience,  a  short  course  of  Lectures 
the  design  of  which  is  to  give  to  general  scholars  a  com- 
prehensive view  of  the  Animal  Kingdom,  and  to  point 
out  to  them  the  conduct  of  nature  in  forming  their  various 
tribes  and  fitting  their  several  organs  to  their  respective 
modes  of  life  ;  this  affords  me  an  opportunity  of  exciting 
in  my  hearers  an  eager  desire  for  Anatomical  knowledge, 
by  shewing  them  a  variety  of  elegant  preparations  and 
raising  their  minds  from  the  creature  to  the  Creator  whose 
power,  wisdom  and  goodness  is  nowhere  displayed  to 
greater  advantage  than  in  the  formation  of  Animals.' 

On  the  23rd  March,  1775,  the  Board3  'resolved 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  212.          *  Lettsom,  Fothergill,  1786,  p.  235. 
*  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  315. 


136    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

that  the  present  Anatomy  house  be  taken  down, 
and  that  another  be  built  on  the  ground  lying  on 
the  north-side  of  the  Parliament  Square ',  but 
nothing  seems  to  have  come  of  this  resolution  at 
the  time,  any  more  than  did  of  the  request  made 
to  the  Provost  on  the  2ist  January  previously, 
that  he  would  '  look  out  for  a  piece  of  ground 
proper  and  convenient  for  a  Botany  Garden  '-1 

The  Provost  at  this  time  was  the  Right  Hon. 
John  Hely  Hutchinson,  commonly  known  as  '  the 
Prancer ',  from  his  fondness  for  dancing.  He 
seems  to  have  been  more  anxious  for  the  physical 
welfare  of  the  students  than  for  their  medical 
studies,  for  on  August  4, 1774,  the  Board  had  under 
consideration  a  scheme  for  hiring  a  riding  house 
for  the  use  of  the  students.2 

About  1774  Cleghorn's  only  brother,  John,  died 
in  Scotland,  leaving  his  widow,  Barbara,  and  nine 
children,  and  this  family  Cleghorn  brought  to 
Dublin  in  order  that  he  might  superintend  their 
education.  Three  of  these,  William,  James,  and 
Thomas,  were  educated  for  the  medical  profession, 
and  studied  with  their  uncle  in  the  Trinity  College 
School,  and  subsequently  in  Edinburgh.  William 
was  born  at  Granton,  on  October  30,  1754,  and 
graduated  B.A.  in  Trinity  College  in  the  spring  of 
1777.  He  then  went  to  study  in  Edinburgh,  and 
took  his  medical  degree  there  in  1779,  reading 
a  thesis  De  Igne.  For  some  time  he  travelled  on 
the  Continent,  and  on  his  return  to  Dublin  the 
Board,  on  October  27,  1781,  at  the  request  of  his 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  299.  *  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  297. 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    137 

uncle,  '  Lecturer  in  Anatomy  and  Anatomist ', 
elected  him  into  '  those  places  to  hold  them  jointly 
with  his  said  uncle  V  Young  Cleghorn  did  not 
live  long  to  assist  his  uncle  in  the  Anatomy  School, 
for  he  died,  as  the  result  of  an  attack  of  fever,  on 
April  20,  1783. 2  Cleghorn  had  various  assistants 
in  the  anatomical  department,  who,  however,  did 
not  hold  their  appointments  from  the  Board. 
Thus  we  have  seen  that  he  was  in  1772  assisted 
by  his  favourite  pupil,  Dr.  Purcell,  and  after  the 
death  of  his  nephew,  William,  he  had  for  some 
years  the  assistance  of  Joseph  Clarke,  who  had 
married  his  niece,  Isobel.  Joseph  Clarke,  the  son 
of  James  Clarke,  a  farmer  in  the  parish  of  Desertlin, 
in  County  Londonderry,  was  born  on  April  8,  1758. 
He  was  educated  at  the  district  school,  and  then 
in  Glasgow,  after  which  he  studied  medicine  in 
Edinburgh,  and  graduated  there  in  1779,  as  he  tells 
us,  '  with  great  ease  to  myself  and  some  reputa- 
tion ',  reading  a  thesis  De  Putredine  in  Typho 
coercenda.  He  then  came  to  Dublin  to  stay  with 
his  grand-uncle,  Dr.  Machonchy,  an  obstetrician 
with  a  considerable  practice.  In  March  following 
he  left  to  travel  on  the  Continent  as  medical 
attendant  to  the  son  of  a  Mr.  Rowley,  and  was 
away  for  about  fourteen  months.  Returning  to 
Dublin,  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Dr.  Cleghorn, 
and  on  his  advice  entered  as  a  pupil  at  the  Rotunda 
Hospital,  where  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Master 
on  the  28th  March,  1783.  In  June  of  this  year 
he  again  went  abroad,  this  time  in  charge  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  479.  *  Edn.  Med.  Com.,  vol.  ix,  p.  472. 


138    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

a  Mr.  John  Jacob,  of  County  Tipperary.  This 
visit,  however,  was  a  short  one,  for  as  he  tells  us, 
his  patient  was  in  love  with  a  Miss  Gahen,  and 
therefore  contrived  to  shorten  his  intended  ab- 
sence, and  Clarke  was  back  again  at  his  duties  in 
the  Rotunda  by  September.  On  April  n,  1785, 
he  was  admitted  a  Licentiate  of  the  College  of 
Physicians,  and  on  the  7th  of  April  of  the  next 
year  he  married  Isobel  Cleghorn,  with  whom  he 
'  got  a  fortune  of  fifteen  hundred  pounds '.  On 
the  3rd  of  November  of  that  year  he  was  elected 
Master  of  the  Rotunda  Hospital.  Very  shortly 
after  he  settled  in  Dublin  he  became  an  assistant 
to  Cleghorn,  and  from  about  1784  he  seems  to 
have  been  practically  in  charge  of  the  Anatomical 
department.  In  a  letter  written  by  Cleghorn  to 
Clarke,  and  dated  '  Kilcartey  December  18  1787  ', 
he  says  :  '  I  shall  always  acknowledge  my  obliga- 
tion to  you  for  the  ready  and  willing  assistance 
you  gave  me  in  carrying  on  the  lectures  for  these 
three  years  past.'  Clarke's  last  division  of  the 
profits  of  the  Anatomical  School  was  in  July  of 
1788,  when  he  received  as  his  share  £60  75.  yd.1  Thus 
for  about  two  years  Clarke  occupied  what  seems  to 
us  the  very  anomalous  position  of  being  at  the  same 
time  the  head  of  a  great  lying-in  hospital,  and  chief 
working  officer  of  an  anatomical  department. 

Clarke's  connexion  with  the  Rotunda  is  specially 
remarkable  for  two  things,  first  for  the  reduction 
in  the  infant  mortality  consequent  on  the  adop- 
tion of  the  methods  suggested  by  him,  and  secondly 

1  Collins,  p.  17. 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    139 

that  he  was  the  first  Master  to  publish  a  full 
report  of  the  working  of  the  hospital.  From  the 
time  of  the  opening  of  the  hospital  to  Clarke's 
appointment  as  Master,  one  out  of  every  six 
children  born  alive  had  died  of  convulsions,  or 
what  were  termed  '  nine  day  fits  '.  Clarke  attri- 
buted this  mortality  to  bad  ventilation  in  the 
wards,  and  advocated  the  adoption  of  measures  l 

'  which  provided  for  a  free  and  easy  passage  of  fresh  air 
at  all  times  through  the  wards  and  which  were  executed 
in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  leave  it  in  the  power  of  nurse- 
tenders  or  patients  to  control ;  the  number  of  beds,  also, 
in  the  large  wards  was  reduced,  and  several  changes  were 
made  in  their  construction  which  rendered  them  more 
airy  and  more  easily  kept  clean '. 

In  the  six  years  which  followed  these  changes 
the  mortality  was  reduced  to  I  in  19-3,  and  in  the 
twenty-five  years,  1823-47,  the  mortality  was 
further  reduced  to  i  in  108.  In  his  report z  of 
the  hospital,  which  embraces  the  period  between 
January  i,  1787,  and  October  i,  1793,  there  were, 
he  reports,  10,387  women  confined,  of  whom  125 
died.  When  Clarke  was  seeking  the  appointment 
of  Master  of  the  Rotunda  he  asked  Cleghorn  for 
a  letter  of  recommendation,  and  received  the 
following  reply,3  which  gives  one  a  good  idea  of 
the  writer's  character  : 

'  July  1786. 
'  My  DEAR  CLARKE, 

'  I  received  your  letter,  requesting  one  from  me  to 
Dr.   Halliday.     My  stomach  revolts  against  the  usual 

1  Collins,  p.  20.  *  Trans.  Col.  P.,  vol.  i,  p.  400. 

1  Collins,  p.  23. 


140    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

mode  of  extracting  promises,  and  engaging  votes,  before 
the  Governors  can  be  sufficiently  apprized  of  the  merits 
of  the  candidates.  It  is  founded  on  a  supposition  that  all 
men  are  actuated  by  selfish  motives,  regardless  of  the 
public  good,  and  that  they  never  consider  whether  their 
friend  be  fit  for  the  place  he  wishes  for  provided  the  place 
be  fit  for  him.  If  you  gain  the  election  I  hope  it  will  be 
by  means  fair  and  honourable  ;  I  would  rather  hear  you 
had  lost  it,  than  that  any  others  had  been  employed. 
The  more  a  good  character  is  inquired  into,  it  will  be  so 
much  the  better  for  him  that  owns  it ;  you  must,  therefore, 
be  the  gainer  by  standing  the  election,  even  should  you 
fail  of  success,  provided  you  are  not  too  anxious  about  the 
matter,  and  suffer  your  mind  to  be  too  much  dejected 
by  a  disappointment  which  could  not  have  happened  had 
merit  been  regarded,  and  which,  after  all,  may  probably 
tend  more  to  your  advantage  than  success  would  have 
done.  Read  the  tenth  satire  of  Juvenal,  and  reflect  on 
the  vanity  of  human  fears  and  wishes. 

Believe  me  ever  yours  etc.,  GEORGE  CLEGHORN.' 

Clarke  died  in  Edinburgh,  where  he  had  gone  to 
attend  a  meeting  of  the  British  Association,  on 
September  n,  1834 

James  Cleghorn  having  graduated  B.A.  in 
Trinity  College  in  the  summer  of  1784,  returned 
from  travelling  on  the  Continent  and  took  his 
M.B.  degree  in  Trinity  College  in  the  summer  of 
1787,  and  the  following  year  took  charge,  for  his 
uncle,  of  the  Anatomical  School.  George  Cleg- 
horn  at  this  time  lived  almost  entirely  at  his 
country  house,  Kilcarty,  in  Co.  Meath.  He  was 
then  in  bad  health,  as  he  tells  Dr.  Lettsom  in 
a  letter  1  dated  '  Kilcartey  ',  December  29,  1786  : 

1  Pettigrew,  Lettsom,  vol.  ii,  p.  364. 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    141 

'  early  in  April  asthmatic  fits  and  swelled  legs  had  obliged 
me  to  leave  Dublin,  and  retire  to  the  country  with  a  fixed 
resolution  never  again  to  resume  the  practice  of  Physic 
in  the  metropolis,  having  learned  by  dear-bought  experi- 
ence, that  I  was  no  longer  able  to  climb  up  two  or  three 
pair  of  stairs  to  bed-chambers  and  nurseries,  supporting 
a  weighty  corporation  of  nineteen  stone  and  a  half  on 
a  pair  of  oedematous  legs,  and  panting  like  a  broken 
winded  horse,  before  I  got  half  way  up.  ...  About  the 
middle  of  October  I  was  under  the  disagreeable  necessity 
of  returning  to  Dublin,  in  order  to  begin  the  anatomical 
lectures  which  I  was  unwilling  to  give  up,  until  my 
nephew  should  be  further  advanced  in  his  studies,  and 
have  a  better  chance  for  the  Professorship,  when  it  shall 
be  declared  vacant.  I  went  through  the  public  lectures 
to  the  Gentlemen  of  the  University  as  usual ;  and  opened 
the  public  course  for  Students  of  Medicine,  with  a  few 
introductory  lectures,  and  at  the  same  time  informed 
them  that  I  meant  to  superintend  the  course.  I  could 
not  promise  constant  attendance,  and  must  trust  this 
laborious  task  to  the  care  of  my  two  nephews,  whose 
activity  directed  by  my  experience,  I  had  good  reason  to 
believe  would  enable  them  to  acquit  themselves  to  the 
satisfaction  of  their  pupils.  Accordingly  Dr.  Clarke  has 
gone  through  the  general  lectures  and  the  osteology ; 
and  we  every  day  expect  James's  return  to  carry  on  the 
dissections  pursuant  to  an  advertisement  in  the  news- 
papers, before  my  return  to  Dublin.  I  have  steadily 
declined  all  business  of  my  profession,  out  of  doors 
(except  that  of  the  theatre),  and  only  see  such  patients  as 
come  to  my  house  on  three  days  a  week.  I  was  glad  to 
take  the  opportunity,  which  the  holidays  afford,  of  paying 
a  visit  of  a  few  days  to  this  retreat,  which  I  consider  as 
my  home  and  where  I  have  every  conveniency  that  can 
contribute  to  my  health  and  my  amusement.' 

On  November  the  8th,  1784,  Cleghorn  was  elected 
an  Honorary  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians, 


142    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

having  in  1777,  on  the  foundation  of  the  Royal 
Medical  Society  of  Paris,  been  nominated  a  Fellow 
of  that  body.  He  was  one  of  the  original  members 
of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  but  did  not  contribute 
any  papers  to  its  Transactions.  He  died  at  Kilcarty 
on  Tuesday,  December  22,  1789,  and  in  the  news- 
paper x  account  he  is  described  as  '  a  gentleman 
where  ever  known  esteemed  and  beloved,  and  where 
ever  heard  of  respected.  For  a  series  of  years  sup- 
porting with  singular  honour  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished characters  in  his  profession,  he  was  the 
first  person  that  established  what  could  with  any 
degree  of  propriety  be  called  a  school  of  anatomy 
in  this  Kingdom  ;  which  long  flourished  with  still 
increasing  splendour  and  utility  under  his  auspices 
and  direction  and  remains  a  lasting  monument  of 
his  industry,  spirit,  and  genius '. 

In  his  will  he  left  to  his  nephew  George  his 
estates  in  County  Meath,  and  to  his  nephews, 
James  and  Thomas,  '  to  be  equally  divided  be- 
tween them  according  as  they  shall  agree,  or  as 
referees  to  be  chosen  by  themselves  shall  award, 
all  the  Greek  and  Latin  books  in  my  library  and 
all  other  my  books  and  manuscripts  relating  to 
the  study  of  nature,  Philosophy  and  the  different 
branches  of  Medicine  as  also  the  whole  of  my 
Anatomical  apparatus  and  Chirurgical  Instru- 
ments.' Thus  passed  from  the  School  full  of  years 
and  full  of  honour  one  who  in  his  thirty-six  years' 
service  had  spread  its  fame  through  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  land,  and  who  had  attracted 

1  Flyn's  Hibernian  Chronicle,  Cork,  December  28,  1789. 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    143 

to  his  teaching  students  from  beyond  the  seas. 
His  name  is  rightly  enrolled  among  those  who 
have  done  the  highest  honour  to  the  University, 
not  only  by  the  excellence  of  their  own  work,  but 
by  the  high  standard  which  their  example  has  set 
to  their  successors. 

Of  the  other  departments  of  the  School  there  is 
little  to  record.  The  three  King's  Professors  were 
supposed  to  lecture  in  the  Theory  of  Medicine,  the 
Institutes  of  Medicine,  and  in  Materia  Medica  and 
Pharmacy,  but  in  view  of  the  evidence  given 
before  the  Parliamentary  Committees  of  1756  and 
1783,  it  is  doubtful  if  they  ever  did. 

Francis  Hutcheson  had  on  July  12,  1760,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  Lectureship  in  Chemistry  left  vacant 
by  the  death  of  William  Stephens.  It  is  note- 
worthy that  at  this  election  the  Board  made  an 
appointment  tenable  for  seven  years,  a  period 
which  was  subsequently  adopted  by  Act  of  Par- 
liament, and  still  limits  the  tenure  of  most  of 
the  chairs  in  the  Medical  School.  This  Francis 
Hutcheson  was  the  son  of  the  Francis  Hutcheson 
who  had  been  appointed  Professor  of  Moral  Philo- 
sophy in  the  University  of  Glasgow  on  December  19, 
1729.  The  future  chemist  was  educated  in  Glas- 
gow University,  and  graduated  M.A.  there  in  1744, 
and  M.D.  in  1759. 1  We  know  little  of  Hutcheson 
from  the  time  he  took  his  M.A.  in  Glasgow 
till  he  was  admitted  Licentiate  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  in  January  1754,  and  was  appointed 
Physician  to  the  Meath  Hospital.  In  1755  he 

1  Scott's  Hutcheson,  p.  143. 


144    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

published  in  Glasgow  two  volumes  of  his  father's 
work  on  Moral  Philosophy.  On  his  appointment 
to  the  Chair  of  Chemistry,  Hutcheson  seems  to 
have  devoted  considerable  energy  to  the  discharge 
of  his  duties,  and  on  November  22,  1761,  the 
Board  granted  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Physic. 
In  the  Public  Gazetteer,  published  in  Dublin  by 
W.  Sleater  on  Monday,  October  13,  1761,  there 
appears  the  following  advertisement  : 

'  Trinity    College.      General    Lectures    in    Chemistry, 
Shewing  its  Connection  with  Natural  Philosophy  and 
Arts,  will  begin  at  the  Laboratory  on  Monday  the  i6th 
of  November,  at  one  o'Clock  and  be  continued  every  day 
Saturday  and  Sunday  excepted.    The  Doors  will  be  open 
to  all  Gentlemen  who  choose  to  attend.    After  these  are 
finished  which  will  be  before  Monday  the  yth  of  December, 
at  the  same  Place  will  begin  a  Private  Course  of  Experi- 
mental Chemistry,  consisting  of  about  Sixty  Lectures,  in 
which  its  Principles  and  Operations  will  be  practically 
applied  to  Arts,  Manufactures,  Agriculture,  and  especially 
to  Pharmacy  and  Medicine.     Price  Three  Guineas. 
'  By  Francis  Hutcheson  M.D.  Prelector  of  Chemistry 
in  the  University.    Gentlemen  who  propose  to  attend 
the  Private  Course  are  expected  to  give  in  their  names 
before  the  Public  Lectures  begin.' 

On  November  3,  1767,  Hutcheson  resigned  his 
post  in  Trinity  College,  having  just  completed 
his  seven  years'  service  in  the  Chair,  and  having  on 
the  day  before  been  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  College 
of  Physicians.  In  1777,  and  again  in  1780,  he 
was  elected  President  of  the  College.  He  lived 
for  many  years  in  32  Stafford  Street.  He  married 
a  Miss  Sarah  Card,  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
Francis,  and  three  daughters.  His  connexion  with 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    145 

the  Meath  Hospital  as  Physician  only  lasted  about 
a  year,  but  he  was  for  some  time  Physician 
to  the  Lock  Hospital.  He  died  in  August  1784. 
Hutcheson  has  frequently  been  confused  with  a 
Francis  Hutchinson,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Hutchinson,  of  Co.  Down,  who  graduated  B.A. 
in  Trinity  College  in  1745  and  M.A.  in  I748.1 

On  the  resignation  of  Hutcheson,  James  Span 
was  elected  to  the  Chair  of  Chemistry.  He  had 
on  the  1 2th  of  February,  1763,  been  granted  his 
degrees  of  Bachelor  and  Doctor  of  Physic  and 
elected  Lecturer  in  Botany  as  successor  to  William 
Clements.  Span  affords  the  only  example  of  an 
individual  holding  at  the  same  time  two  of  the 
teaching  chairs  in  the  Medical  School,  a  condition 
of  things  which  was  strictly  forbidden  by  sub- 
sequent Acts  of  Parliament.  Span  had  been 
elected  a  scholar  in  1752,  and  had  taken  his  B.A. 
degree  in  the  spring  of  1754.  He  was  admitted  a 
Licentiate  of  the  College  of  Physicians  in  September 
1768,  and  elected  Fellow  in  the  following  May.  He 
appears  to  have  been  popular  with  his  colleagues  in 
the  profession,  if  one  may  judge  by  the  following 
lines,  published  shortly  after  his  death  by  Gilborne  :2 

James  Span  shakes  off  the  mortuary  Gloom, 
His  bright  endowments  still  retain  their  Bloom ; 
On  Earth  lamented,  and  admir'd  above, 
His  lovely  Virtues  made  him  dear  to  Jove  : 
Daisies  and  Roses  spring  where'er  He  treads, 
Tulips  and  Lillies  rear  their  drooping  heads  ; 
Nor  do  Plants  sensitive  his  Touch  avoid, 
Who  for  Man's  good  had  all  his  Thoughts  employ'd. 

1  Orrasby,  p.  90.  *  Gilborne,  Med.  Rev.,  Hue  51. 

L 


146    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

Span  died  in  1773,  and  his  chairs  were  filled  by 
the  appointment  on  September  25,  1773,  of  James 
Thornton  as  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  of  Edward 
Hill  as  Professor  of  Botany. 

James  Thornton  had  entered  Trinity  College  as 
early  as  1735,  and  graduated  B.A.  in  1739,  taking 
his  M.B.  in  1748,  and  his  M.D.  in  1773.  On 
January  17,  1774,  he  was  admitted  a  Licentiate  of 
the  College  of  Physicians,  and  the  same  day  was 
elected  a  Fellow.  He  resigned  his  Fellowship  on 
September  20,  1781,  and  died  two  years  later  in 
1783.  In  connexion  with  the  appointment  of 
Thornton,  Edward  Hill,  writing  of  Perceval  in 
1805,  makes  the  following  statement :  * 

'  The  Lecturership  of  Chemistry  in  Trinity  College 
having  become  vacant  on  the  decease  of  Dr.  James  Span 
in  the  year  1773,  Doctor  James  Thornton,  educated,  no 
man  knew  where,  and  coming,  no  man  knew  from  whence, 
presented  himself  as  a  candidate  for  that  place  ;  Although 
he  was  neither  a  man  of  learning,  nor  a  Chymist,  his 
deficiency  in  those  points  constituted  no  impediment  to 
his  solicitation,  and  he  was  elected.  He  performed  the 
duties  of  his  appointment  to  the  utmost  of  his  abilities, 
and  in  undisturbed  tranquillity,  till  the  time  of  this 
Gentleman's  return  from  his  studies  abroad,  when  he 
immediately  commenced  his  artful  practices  upon  the 
Members  of  the  Board,  who,  on  the  ^oth  of  November  in  the 
year  1782,  granted  to  Doctor  Perceval  the  use  of  the  Chemical 
Elaboratory,  with  the  privilege  of  giving  Lectures  there. 
This  Act  of  unprecedented  supersession  so  shook  the  mind 
of  the  weak,  irascible  hypochondriac,  that,  on  the  iyth 
of  the  following  May,  he  made  his  quietus,  not  with  a 
bodkin,  but  with  a  copious  dose  of  Opium.' 

1  Hill's  Address  (2),  p.  38. 


PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN    147 

He  further  suggests  that  '  Humanity  created 
a  powerful  motive  '  to  Thornton's  election,  '  for 
the  Salary  of  that  Lecturership  supplied  the  chief 
support  of  his  life,  as  he  drew  no  emolument  for 
the  exercise  of  his  medical  Profession.' 

Barrett  refers  to  this  unfortunate  incident  as 
follows  : l 

'  I  perfectly  remember  the  report  of  the  College  in  1783 
of  quarrelling  between  Dr  Thornton  and  Dr  Perceval 
(whose  friend  Mr  Hall  had  probably  engaged  in  his 
favour  some  members  of  the  Board)  and  I  have  learned 
from  Dr  Hill  that  it  is  perfectly  well  understood  in  the 
College  of  Physicians  that  Dr  Thornton  upon  Dr  Perceval 
informing  him  he  should  be  displaced  (and  note  Dr  Thorn- 
ton was  a  man  of  no  business,  but  depended  chiefly  for 
support  on  his  place  in  College)  went  and  purchased  an 
ounce  of  the  tincture  of  opium  which  he  drank  in  whey 
and  was  found  dead  in  his  bed  next  morning.  He  told 
his  servant  not  to  be  in  a  hurry  to  waken  him  next 
morning,  for  that  he  would  sleep  long  enough.' 

We  must  remember,  however,  that  at  this  time 
Hill  was  carrying  on  a  bitter  personal  controversy 
with  Perceval.  For  some  time  before  his  death 
Thornton  seems  to  have  been  unable  to  attend  to 
his  lectures,  and  the  resolution  of  the  Board 
referred  to  by  Hill  was  probably  in  consequence 
of  this  fact.  The  resolution  of  the  Board  was  2 

'  That  Mr.  Robert  Perceval,  Physician,  shall  on  the  first 
opportunity  be  elected  Lecturer  in  Chymistry  and  that  in 
the  mean  time  he  shall  have  permission  to  read  lectures 
in  that  Science  in  the  College,  and  to  make  use  of  the 
Laboratory.' 

1  Barrett,  Book,  p.  92.  *  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  480. 


148    PROFESSORSHIP  OF  GEORGE  CLEGHORN 

In  accordance  with  this  resolution,  on  May  17 
following,  Robert  Perceval  was  elected  Lecturer 
in  Chemistry,  and  directed  to  '  furnish  the  Labora- 
tory with  such  requisites  as  he  shall  find  necessary 
for  the  conduct  of  his  lectures  for  this  year,  at  the 
expence  of  the  College  V 

In  the  following  November  the  Bursar  was 
directed  to  provide  cases  for  the  chemical  appara- 
tus, the  ores  and  other  minerals  which  had  been 
presented  to  the  College  by  Perceval.  The  Bursar 
was  also  to  inform  Dr.  Perceval  '  that  the  Board 
will  agreeably  to  his  desire  as  the  circumstances 
of  the  College  may  permit,  add  from  time  to  time 
to  that  collection,  and  give  such  other  further  aid 
to  his  very  laudable  endeavours  to  place  that 
Lecture  on  a  respectable  footing  '.2 

Like  Perceval,  Hill  too  was  an  energetic  Lec- 
turer, and  on  I2th  March,  1774,  the  Board  granted 
him  the  use  of  the  Printing-house  for  five  years. 
We  are  not  told  for  what  purpose  this  was  given, 
but  doubtless  it  was  to  relieve  the  overcrowding  in 
the  old  Anatomy  house.  It  was  probably  at  Hill's 
instigation  that  the  Provost  was  requested  '  to 
look  out  for  a  piece  of  ground  proper  and  con- 
venient for  a  Botany  Garden '.  The  establishment 
of  such  a  garden  was,  as  we  shall  see  later, 
a  project  very  near  the  heart  of  Dr.  Hill. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  492.  Ibid.,  p.  505. 


CHAPTER  VIII 
THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

Ax  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trinity  College, 
on  May  6,  1783,  the  following  letter  from  the 
College  of  Physicians  was  read  : * 

'  The  College  of  Physicians  desirous  of  concerting  with 
the  members  of  the  University  a  plan  conducive  to  the 
advancement  of  Science  and  the  mutual  Benefit  of  both 
Bodies  have  appointed  their  President  Dr.  Hill  and 
Dr.  Hutcheson  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  on  that 
Subject  with  such  members  of  the  Board  as  they  shall 
appoint,  and  request  that  the  Board  may  appoint  such 
Time  and  Place  for  the  said  Conference  as  to  them  shall 
seem  expedient.' 

In  reply  to  this  letter  the  Board  appointed 
Dr.  Wilson  and  Dr.  Ussher  to  meet  the  College 
of  Physicians.  Thomas  Wilson  had  been  elected 
a  Fellow  in  1753,  and  co-opted  a  Senior  Fellow 
fourteen  years  later.  He  was  a  Doctor  of  Divinity, 
and  had  been  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  from 
1769.  Henry  Ussher  had  been  a  Fellow  since  1764, 
and  had  just  been  elected  Professor  of  Astronomy 
on  the  foundation  of  Provost  Andrews. 

Various  circumstances  were  at  this  time  urging 
the  Colleges  to  set  their  school  in  order.  Dr.  Bar- 
bor,  the  King's  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and 
Pharmacy,  had  died  on  the  I3th  of  March  of  this 

J  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  490. 


150      THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

year,  and  therefore,  if  change  in  the  regulations 
of  the  School  were  admissible,  the  time  was 
opportune.  The  rents  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  estate 
had  increased  to  over  £900  a  year,  and  it  was 
felt  that  the  trust  was  capable  of  supporting 
further  Professorships,  and  thus  of  increasing  the 
efficiency  of  the  School.  The  Surgeons  of  Dublin, 
too,  had  on  the  3rd  May,  1781,  petitioned  for  a 
Charter  and  for  the  constitution  of  a  College.  This 
petition  was  not  granted  until  early  in  1784,  when 
the  College  of  Surgeons  was  founded.  Although 
there  does  not  appear  at  first  to  have  been  any 
conflict  of  interests  between  the  old  and  the 
new  Colleges,  yet  it  behoved  the  old  to  be  in  as 
efficient  a  state  as  possible  to  meet  the  new. 

We  have  no  record  of  any  direct  report  from 
the  Committee  of  Conference,  but  on  November  4, 
1783,  the  College  of  Physicians  adopted  the  form  of 
a  petition  to  be  presented  to  Parliament  '  relative 
to  a  Change  in  the  establishment  of  Sir  Patrick 
Dun's  Professorship  '.  This  petition  set  forth  the 
necessity  of  establishing  a  Complete  School  of 
Physic  in  this  kingdom,  and  urged  the  importance 
of  adding  clinical  lectures  to  those  already  given 
in  the  School.  The  petition  was  presented  to  the 
Irish  House  of  Commons  on  November  20,  1783, 
and  referred  to  '  a  Committee  appointed  to  inquire 
what  may  be  the  most  effectual  means  for  estab- 
lishing a  Complete  School  of  Physic  in  this  king- 
dom '.*  This  Committee,  of  which  the  Right  Hon. 
John  Hely  Hutchinson,  Provost  of  Trinity  College 

1  House  of  Commons  Journals,  vol.  xxi,  p.  329. 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT      151 

and  Secretary  of  State,  was  Chairman,  met  on 
Monday,  December  I,  and  ordered  the  proper 
officers  forthwith  to  lay  before  them  the  Will  of 
the  late  Sir  Patrick  Dun,  and  also  the  original 
deed  of  1704,  in  which  he  proposed  'to  establish 
two  professorships  of  Physic  in  Dublin.  And  also 
that  the  proper  officer  do  forthwith  lay  before 
them  the  Will  of  the  late  Doctor  Steevens  '.* 

The  Committee  adjourned,  and  at  a  meeting 
the  following  week  Sir  Patrick's  will  and  deed  were 
read.  Dr.  Cleghorn  was  examined,  and  stated 
that  he  had  not  heard  of  the  King's  Professors 
'  being  useful  except  that  some  Gen8,  exerted  their 
Industry  and  Ability  in  order  to  answer  at  the 
examinations  '.  He  was  of  opinion  that  the  plan 
was  not  complete  enough,  as  it  did  not  found 
degrees.  The  only  College  of  Physicians  which 
he  knew  of  that  gave  degrees  without  personal 
examination  and  the  presence  of  the  candidates 
was  St.  Andrews,  and  there  it  was  only  done  to 
prevent  students  going  abroad.  In  his  opinion, 
the  only  way  to  keep  students  at  home  was  to 
give  them  their  degrees  '  upon  as  easy  terms,  and 
in  as  short  a  time '  as  they  could  get  them  else- 
where. Access  to  a  good  library  was  very  neces- 
sary to  students  of  Physic,  and  this  advantage 
the  students  of  Trinity  College  had.  He  was  of 
opinion  that  in  Trinity  College  there  were  better 
facilities  for  the  study  and  teaching  of  Medicine 
than  anywhere  else  in  Dublin,  and  it  was  to  the 
honour  of  the  University  to  have  a  good  medical 

1  Committee  Books,  House  oj  Commons. 


152      THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

school.  It  was  impossible  to  have  a  really  good 
school,  unconnected  with  a  university,  in  that  it 
would  be  impossible  for  such  a  school  to  confer 
degrees.  On  the  whole  he  was  of  opinion  that  if 
the  existing  Professors  '  exert  themselves  and  you 
set  about  it  in  earnest  you  will  soon  have  a  good 
school '.  Provided  proper  persons  were  elected  to 
the  Chairs  and  those  persons  did  their  duty,  and 
there  was  proper  control  to  see  that  they  did  so, 
medical  teaching  in  the  University  would  prosper. 
At  this  meeting  Dr.  Ussher  laid  before  the  Com- 
mittee a  plan  for  a  school  of  physic,  which,  how- 
ever, is  not  given  in  the  report.  From  this  plan 
it  appeared  that  the  University  was  prepared  to 
support  as  hitherto  their  own  Professors  at  an 
annual  cost  of  £280,  and  the  suggestion  was  made 
that  the  election  to  the  chairs  should  be  for  ten 
years  ;  this  Cleghorn  approved,  with  the  proviso 
that,  at  the  end  of  their  term  of  office,  the  Pro- 
fessors might  be  re-elected. 

At  the  next  meeting,  on  the  I2th  December, 
Dr.  Cullen  presented  on  behalf  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  some  observations  on  the  plan  sug- 
gested by  Dr.  Ussher.  He  stated  that  from  his 
experience  in  Edinburgh  the  proportion  of  students 
who  desired  degrees  to  those  who  did  not  was 
about  24  to  300.  He  would  like  to  see  some  such 
union  between  the  University  and  the  College  as 
existed  in  Edinburgh  between  the  University  and 
the  Faculty.  In  Edinburgh  the  Faculty  of  Medi- 
cine was  part  of  the  University,  and  the  Faculty 
could  only  confer  degrees  through  the  University. 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT      153 

The  College  of  Physicians  of  Edinburgh  did  not 
make  part  of  the  University,  '  but  as  the  faculty 
of  medicine  they  did.'  Further,  in  Edinburgh 
they  did  not  insist  on  the  Arts  degree  as  essential 
to  a  medical  degree,  but  the  medical  students 
had  to  be  matriculated  in  the  University.  He 
described  the  mode  of  election  of  the  Professors  in 
Edinburgh,  which  he  appeared  to  think  better  than 
the  Dublin  plan  of  examination.  He  then  went 
on  to  speak  of  the  clinical  lectures  which  had 
formerly  been  given  in  the  Royal  Infirmary,  but 
latterly  were  given  by  the  Professors  twice  a  week 
in  their  own  apartments.  The  Professors,  how- 
ever, visited  the  wards  every  day.  Clinical  lectures 
in  Surgery  were  not  given  in  Edinburgh,  though 
he  thought  they  would  be  useful.  In  Edinburgh 
'  Clinical  lectures  are  considered  the  most  valuable 
part  of  the  institution  '.  The  Hospital  for  Incur- 
ables, or  Mercer's  Hospital,  would,  in  his  opinion, 
be  suitable  for  clinical  teaching.  He  insisted  on 
the  meaning  of  the  word  '  clinical ',  which  indi- 
cated that  the  lectures  were  originally  given  at 
the  bedside.  Dr.  Harvey  was  examined,  and 
recommended  Steevens'  Hospital  for  clinical  teach- 
ing, provided  the  distance  were  not  too  great. 
He,  as  a  medical  officer  of  that  institution,  would 
not  have  any  objection  to  such  a  plan,  and  did 
not  think  it  would  be  attended  with  any  great 
expense.  Dr.  Hill,  who  was  also  examined,  in- 
sisted on  the  necessity  of  a  '  Botany  Garden  ', 
which,  to  '  do  honour  to  the  institution ',  should 
be  of  at  least  five  acres  in  extent. 


154      THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

On  the  i6th  of  December  the  Committee  again 
met  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kearney  submitted  the 
reply  of  the  Board  of  Trinity  College  to  the  objec- 
tions raised  against  their  scheme  by  the  College 
of  Physicians.  It  was  the  opinion  of  the  Board 
that  the  idea  of  the  College  of  Physicians  could 
not  be  carried  out  without  infringing  the  rights  of 
the  University  under  her  Charters.  Dr.  Hutche- 
son,  described  in  the  report  as  '  Doc  Hutch ',  also 
gave  evidence,  and  stated  that  in  his  opinion  the 
expense  of  clinical  lectures  would  not  be  great  if 
they  were  given  in  an  existing  hospital.  The 
utilization  of  the  Hospital  for  Incurables,  how- 
ever, would  involve  considerable  expense,  '  there 
being  nothing  there  except  the  bare  walls.'  Dr. 
Dabzac  was  examined,  and  produced  the  Registers 
of  the  University  to  show  the  history  of  medical 
teaching  there.  Such  teaching  appeared  to  him 
to  date  from  about  1661. 

This  seems  to  have  been  all  the  evidence  that  the 
Committee  heard,  and  on  Wednesday,  March  3, 
1784,  there  is  the  note  '  ordered  to  report '.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  report  the  Act  of  1785,  *  drafted 
by  Hely  Hutchinson,2  was  passed  by  the  Irish 
Parliament. 

This  Act  set  out  that  the  President  and  Fellows 
of  the  College  of  Physicians,  with  the  consent  of 
Sir  Nathaniel  Barry  and  Henry  Quin,  Esq.,  the 
two  living  King's  Professors,  had  petitioned  the 
House  of  Commons  in  connexion  with  the  Act  of 
Parliament  passed  in  1741.  The  petitioners  stated 

1  25  George  III,  cap.  xlii.  *  Perceval's  Account. 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT      155 

that  difficulties  had  arisen  in  carrying  out  the 
provisions  of  that  Act  owing  to  the  way  it  was 
framed.  They  were  anxious,  therefore,  that  the 
Act  should  be  amended,  and  in  order  to  establish 
a  Complete  School  of  Physic  in  Ireland  it  had 
seemed  wise  to  appoint  Professors  to  teach  in  the 
following  subjects  :  Anatomy,  Surgery,  Institutes 
and  Practice  of  Medicine,  together  with  clinical 
lectures,  Chemistry,  Materia  Medica,  Botany, 
Natural  History,  and  Pharmacy.  Further,  it 
seemed  wise  to  alter  the  former  mode  of  election 
of  the  Professors  and  also  the  times  and  manner 
of  lecturing.  In  view  of  the  necessity  for  these 
changes,  and  in  order  that  the  matter  might  be 
laid  before  Parliament,  the  examinators  had  not 
proceeded  to  an  election  to  fill  the  place  rendered 
vacant  by  the  death  on  March  13,  1783,  of 
Constantine  Barbor,  who  had  held  the  King's 
Professorship  of  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy. 
The  Act  proceeded  to  state  that  furthermore  Sir 
Nathaniel  Barry,  late  King's  Professor  of  Surgery 
and  Midwifery,  was  now  dead,  and  the  estate  of 
Sir  Patrick  Dun  had  amounted  to  an  annual  sum 
of  £926.  This  income  from  the  Dun  Estate  was 
sufficient  to  pay  the  salaries  of  a  larger  number 
of  Professors  than  formerly.  In  view  of  all  these 
circumstances  Parliament  decided  to  enact  the 
following  regulations  in  place  of  those  contained 
in  the  Act  of  1741  : 

That  Professors,  to  be  called  King's  Professors 
of  the  City  of  Dublin  on  the  foundation  of  Sir 
Patrick  Dun,  be  appointed  in  the  following  sub- 


156      THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

jects  :  Institutes  of  Medicine,  Practice  of  Medicine, 
Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy,  and  Natural  His- 
tory. Further,  if  at  any  time  it  seemed  to 
the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  that  the 
estate  could  support  another  Professorship,  they 
might  then  add  to  these  Professorships  one  of 
Midwifery.  The  President  and  Fellows  might  at 
any  time  direct  that  more  than  one  of  these  sub- 
jects be  taught  by  the  same  Professor,  but  if  this 
were  done  the  Professor  who  was  directed  to  do 
so  must  not  receive  any  greater  salary  than  the 
yearly  sum  of  £100.  The  existing  King's  Pro- 
fessor, Henry  Quin,  was  to  continue  for  life  to 
receive  that  share  of  the  estate  which  would 
have  come  to  him  had  the  other  two  Professors 
continued  to  live  and  the  Act  not  been  passed. 
The  new  Professors  during  the  life  of  Henry  Quin 
were  to  have  as  remuneration  '  a  ratable  distribu- 
tion among  them  of  that  part  and  proportion  of 
the  Estate  of  the  late  Sir  Patrick  Dun  to  which 
the  said  Constantine  Barbor,  deceased,  late  Pro- 
fessor of  Pharmacy  and  Materia  Medica,  and  the 
said  Sir  Nathaniel  Barry,  late  Professor  of  Surgery 
and  Midwifery,  under  the  said  Act,  were  respec- 
tively during  their  lives  entitled '.  On  the  death 
of  Quin,  or  so  soon  as  the  profits  of  the  estate 
applicable  to  the  Professorship  were  sufficient  for 
the  purpose,  '  then  every  such  Professor  shall 
receive  a  proportionable  increase  of  salary,  not 
exceeding  in  the  whole  to  any  one  person,  whether 
he  shall  hold  one  or  more  professorship,  or  pro- 
fessorships, the  yearly  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds.' 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT      157 

As  soon  as  there  should  be  any  surplus  '  after 
paying  the  said  yearly  salaries ',  that  surplus  was 
to  be  applied  to  the  support  of  clinical  lectures 
and  to  the  purchase  of  medical  books  by  the 
President  and  Fellows,  with  the  approbation  of 
the  Chancellor,  or  Vice-Chancellor,  of  Trinity 
College,  the  Archbishop,  the  Provost,  and  the 
Professor  of  Physic  of  Trinity  College,  or  any  three 
of  them. 

The  University  Lecturers  in  Anatomy  and 
Surgery,  Chemistry,  and  Botany  were  to  be  called 
Professors  and  to  be  paid  by  the  University,  the 
existing  Lecturers  being  constituted  Professors 
and  continued  in  office  under  their  existing  tenure, 
that  is  to  say,  during  good  behaviour.  The  future 
University  Professors  were  to  be  elected  in  the 
usual  manner  by  the  Provost  and  Senior  Fellows. 
As  regards  the  mode  of  election  of  the  King's 
Professors,  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  were,  on  the  day  imme- 
diately preceding  the  holding  of  an  election,  to 
elect  by  ballot  three  of  themselves,  and  these 
three  persons  so  elected,  together  with  the  Provost 
and  the  Professor  of  Physic,  were  to  elect  the 
King's  Professors  after  such  previous  examination 
as  the  electors,  or  the  majority  of  them,  should 
decide  on.  If  there  were  an  equality  of  voices 
among  the  electors,  then  the  senior  Doctor  among 
the  three  Fellows  elected  by  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians was  to  have  the  casting  voice.  The  three 
electors  chosen  by  the  College  of  Physicians  were 
to  remain  in  office  till  '  the  day  next  preceding 


158      THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

the  day  of  the  next  election  ',  and  if  any  vacancy 
occurred  during  this  time  it  was  to  be  filled  by 
the  President  and  Fellows  by  ballot.  No  elector 
was  to  be  eligible  for  election  as  a  King's  Pro- 
fessor. 

If  a  vacancy  occurred  either  among  the  King's 
Professors,  or  the  University  Professors,  unless  it 
was  thought  proper  to  continue  the  same  Pro- 
fessor, three  months'  notice  of  the  vacancy  was 
to  be  given  in  the  London  and  Dublin  Gazettes, 
such  notice  to  be  signed  by  the  Registrars  of  the 
two  Colleges.  This  notice  was  to  set  forth  the 
vacancy,  the  emoluments  of  the  chair,  the  time 
and  place  of  the  election,  and  to  desire  all  candi- 
dates to  send  in  their  names,  and  to  state  where 
they  were  educated,  in  what  university  they  had 
taken  their  medical  degrees,  and  where  they  had 
practised.  This  information  was  to  be  laid  before 
the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians by  their  Registrar,  and  before  the  Provost 
and  Senior  Fellows  of  Trinity  College  by  the 
Registrar  of  that  body,  in  order  to  enable  inquiry 
to  be  made  as  to  the  merits  of  the  candidates. 
The  Professorships  were  to  be  open  to  Protestants 
of  all  nations,  provided  they  had  taken  medical 
degrees,  or  received  a  licence  to  practise  from  the 
College  of  Physicians,  in  consequence  of  a  testi- 
monium  under  the  seal  of  Trinity  College.  The 
Act  proceeded  to  give  the  form  of  oath  to  be 
taken  by  the  electors  both  of  the  King's  Pro- 
fessors and  of  the  University  Professors,  the 
Provost  being  directed  to  administer  the  oath  to 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT      159 

the  former  electors  and  the  President  of  the  College 
of  Physicians  to  the  latter.  The  form  of  oath  to 
be  taken  by  the  elected  Professors  was  also  set 
forth.  All  the  Professorships  were  to  become 
vacant  at  the  end  of  every  seventh  year  from  the 
date  of  election,  but  a  Professor  might  be  re- 
elected. 

The  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  were  to  make  regulations  governing 
the  King's  Professors,  and  the  Provost  and  Senior 
Fellows  were  to  do  so  for  the  University  Pro- 
fessors, and  each  body  was  to  communicate  these 
regulations  to  the  other.  If  there  was  a  disagree- 
ment about  such  regulations,  either  College  could 
appeal  to  the  visitors  of  the  other  College,  who 
were  to  decide  the  matter. 

If  any  of  the  Professors  neglected  their  duties, 
they  were  to  be  admonished,  or  deprived  of  their 
office  by  the  electors,  in  the  case  of  the  University 
Professors  by  the  Provost  and  Senior  Fellows,  and 
in  the  case  of  the  King's  Professors  by  the  electors 
nominated  according  to  the  Act.  The  Professors, 
however,  had  the  right  of  appeal  to  the  visitors 
of  their  respective  Colleges.  If  either  College  were 
dissatisfied  with  the  conduct  of  the  Professors  of 
the  other  College,  and  the  matter  could  not  be 
adjusted  between  them,  the  dispute  was  to  be 
decided  by  the  visitors  of  the  College  by  which 
the  Professors  had  been  elected. 

The  lectures  of  each  Professor  were  to  begin  on 
the  first  Monday  in  November  and  to  continue 
till  the  end  of  April,  each  Professor  to  lecture  four 


160      THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

days  a  week.  In  the  case  of  Botany,  the  lectures 
were  to  begin  on  the  second  Monday  in  May  and 
to  continue  till  the  end  of  July,  on  four  days  in 
each  week,  unless  it  were  otherwise  ordered  by 
the  Provost  and  Senior  Fellows.  Unless  specially 
directed  to  the  contrary  by  their  respective  Col- 
leges, the  Professors  were  to  lecture  in  the  English 
language,  and  rooms  were  to  be  provided  by 
Trinity  College  for  the  lectures. 

The  fees  charged  for  the  lectures  were  to  be 
regulated  by  the  respective  Colleges,  and  every 
student  of  Physic  was  to  be  matriculated  in  the 
University  of  Dublin  by  having  his  name  entered 
in  a  book  kept  for  that  purpose,  for  which  entry 
he  had  to  pay  five  shillings,  but  no  student  was  to 
be  compelled  to  have  a  tutor,  or  answer  examina- 
tions, or  attend  any  of  the  academical  duties  of 
the  University. 

With  regard  to  the  Clinical  Lectures,  'which 
are  highly  necessary  for  the  success  of  a  School 
of  Physic/  they  were  to  be  given  alternately  by 
the  several  Professors  as  directed  by  their  respec- 
tive Colleges,  and  until  a  Clinical  Hospital  could 
be  provided  for  the  purpose  the  President  and 
Fellows  of  the  College  of  Physicians  were  autho- 
rized to  appoint  their  lectures  to  be  given  '  in 
such  Hospital,  or  Hospitals,  in  the  City  of  Dublin  as 
shall  be  found  most  convenient  for  that  purpose'. 

One-third  of  the  profits  of  Dun's  estate  from 
the  time  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Barbor  to  the  time 
of  the  appointing  of  the  new  Professors  was  to  be 
applied  to  the  support  of  the  clinical  lectures. 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT      161 

On  the  5th  December,  1785,  the  President  and 
Fellows  of  the  College  of  Physicians  chose  by 
ballot  from  among  themselves  Arthur  Saunders, 
Francis  Hopkins,  and  Patrick  Plunket  as  electors 
for  the  King's  Professorships  under  the  new  Act. 
The  elections  were  appointed  to  be  held  the  next 
day  and  the  following  candidates  applied  for  the 
different  Chairs  : 

Institutes  of  Medicine  :  Stephen  Dickson. 

John  William  Boyton. 
Practice  of  Medicine  :      Richard  Harris. 

Edward  Brereton. 

John  Charles  Fleury. 
Materia  Medica  :  Edmund  Cullen. 

When  the  electors  met  they  decided  that  proper 
notice,  such  as  was  required  by  the  Act,  had  not 
been  given,  and  consequently  they  adjourned  till 
the  2ist  of  March,  and  ordered  an  advertisement 
to  be  issued.  The  College  on  the  2oth  of  March 
appointed  Charles  Quin  an  elector  instead  of 
Hopkins,  and  the  next  day  the  examination  of 
the  candidates  took  place  at  the  Provost's  House. 
The  candidates  who  presented  themselves,  with 
the  exception  of  Fleury,  whose  place  was  taken 
by  Francis  Hopkins,  were  the  same  as  before,  and 
they  were  submitted  to  certain  examinations  by 
the  Provost,  the  Professor  of  Physic,  and  the  three 
College  electors.  As  the  result  of  this  examination 
the  electors  recommended  Dr.  Dickson  as  Professor 
of  the  Institutes  of  Medicine,  Dr.  Brereton  as  Pro- 
fessor of  the  Practice  of  Medicine,  and  Dr.  Cullen 
as  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy. 

M 


162      THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

The  electors  met  at  the  palace  of  the  Archbishop 
of  Dublin  on  April  5,  and  the  candidates  recom- 
mended by  the  electors  were  declared  elected. 

The  staff  of  the  School,  as  reconstituted  under 
the  Act  of  1785,  was  as  follows  : 

UNIVERSITY  PROFESSORS 

Medicus         .....  Vacant. 

Professor  of  Physic          .         .         .  Edward  Hill. 

Professor  of  Anatomy     .         .         .  George  Cleghorn. 

Assistant    .....  James  Cleghorn. 

Professor  of  Botany        .         .         .  Edward  Hill. 

Professor  of  Chemistry    .         .         .  Robert  Perceval. 

KING'S  PROFESSORS 

Institutes  of  Medicine     .         .         .     Stephen  Dickson. 
Practice  of  Medicine        .         .         .     Edward  Brereton. 
Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy         .     Edmund  Cullen. 

Of  the  King's  Professors  Stephen  Dickson  had 
graduated  M.D.  in  Edinburgh  in  September  1783, 
reading  a  thesis  De  Somno.  He  was  admitted 
a  Licentiate  and  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  College 
of  Physicians  on  June  14,  1784.  Before  going  to 
Edinburgh  he  had  graduated  B.A.  in  Trinity 
College  in  the  Summer  of  1781,  but  did  not  take 
his  M.B.  or  M.D.  there  till  1793.  He  proceeded 
to  the  degree  of  M.A.  in  1800.  On  the  death  of 
Brereton  in  1792,  Dickson  succeeded  to  the  Pro- 
fessorship of  the  Practice  of  Medicine,  having  pre- 
viously resigned  his  other  Chair  ;  on  May  27,  1799, 
he  was  deprived  of  his  Fellowship  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  for  having  '  been  absent  from  the  meet- 
ings of  the  College  for  two  years  without  leave  '. 

Edward  Brereton  had  graduated  B.A.  in  Trinity 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT      163 

College  in  1774,  and  then,  like  Dickson,  gone  to 
study  in  Edinburgh.  There  he  graduated  M.D. 
in  September  1778,  reading  a  thesis  De  Scorbuto. 
He  was  admitted  a  Licentiate  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  on  the  loth  November,  1783,  and 
elected  a  Fellow  a  fortnight  later.  Brereton  died 
five  years  after  his  appointment  as  King's  Pro- 
fessor on  the  loth  December,  1791.  *  Both  Brere- 
ton and  Dickson  were  Physicians  to  the  Dublin 
General  Dispensary,  which  was  started  about  1785 
in  the  old  Post  Office  yard,  Temple  Bar. 

Edmund  Cullen,  the  Professor  of  Materia  Medica 
and  Pharmacy,  was  elected  a  Scholar  of  Trinity 
College  in  1770,  and  graduated  B.A.  two  years 
later.  He  studied  for  some  time  in  Edinburgh, 
and  graduated  M.D.  there  in  June  1781,  reading 
a  thesis  De  acre  et  imperio  eius  in  corpore  humano. 
In  the  summer  of  1793  he  graduated  M.B.  and 
M.D.  in  Dublin,  having  been  admitted  a  Licentiate 
and  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
on  the  28th  July,  1782  ;  he  was  chosen  President 
in  the  years  1787,  1794,  and  1799.  In  February 
1786  he  was  elected  Physician  to  the  Meath 
Hospital,  but  he  resigned  some  two  years  later.2 
At  one  time  he  lived  in  Exchequer  Street,  and  after- 
wards in  South  King  Street,  and  he  died  in  1804. 
In  1786  he  published  in  Dublin  a  translation  of  the 
Physical  and  Chemical  Essays  of  Baron  Bergman.3 

The  University  Professors,  Edward  Hill  and 
Robert  Perceval,  were  both  destined  to  play  a 

1  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  325.  *  Onnsby,  p.  101. 

3  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  45. 


164      THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

very  important  part  in  the  subsequent  history  of 
the  School. 

Edward  Hill,1  the  son  of  Thomas  Hill  of  Bally- 
poreen  in  the  County  Tipperary,  was  born  on  the 
I4th  May,  1741.  His  father  died  while  Edward 
was  still  a  boy,  and  the  family  then  moved  to 
the  neighbourhood  of  Cashel,  where  for  a  time  he 
attended  school.  He  then  went  as  a  boarder  to 
the  Diocesan  School  of  Clonmel,  where  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Harwood  was  Master.  In  1760  he  entered 
Trinity  College  and  began  a  brilliant  undergraduate 
career,  being  elected  a  Scholar  in  1763,  and  gradu- 
ating B.A.  in  the  spring  of  1765.  It  is  stated  that 
Hill  might  easily  have  obtained  a  Fellowship  had 
he  wished  to  do  so.  He  was  noted  for  his  beauti- 
ful writing,  and  he  was  asked  by  the  Board  to 
write  out  the  testimonium  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford. 
For  this  on  January  7,  1766,  the  Board  voted  him 
five  guineas.  In  the  summer  of  1771  Hill  took 
his  M.B.  degree,  the  Board  excusing  him  '  his 
commencement  fees  '.  In  1773  he  graduated  M.D. 
and  was  admitted  a  Licentiate  and  elected  a  Fellow 
of  the  College  of  Physicians  on  November  6,  1775. 
In  1773  we  have  seen  that  he  was  appointed 
Lecturer  in  Botany,  and  the  following  year  he 
was  given  the  use  of  the  printing  house  for  five 
years,  presumably  in  connexion  with  his  botanical 
lectures.  Ten  years  later,  in  1784,  he  '  resigned 
the  use  of  the  Printing  House  &  delivered  up  the 
Key  ',2  the  head  porter  being  ordered  to  take 
possession  of  it.  In  1781  he  succeeded  William 

1  Wills,  Irishmen,  vol.  vi,  p.  469.  *  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  19. 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT      165 

Clements  as  Professor  of  Physic,  which  office  he 
held  till  his  death,  a  period  of  forty-nine  years. 
In  1761,  before  he  had  taken  his  degree  in  Medi- 
cine, Hill  began  the  task  of  editing  Milton's 
Paradise  Lost.  This  task  he  never  completed, 
but  the  manuscript,  which  contained  a  complete 
verbal  index  and  a  critical  examination  of  the 
French  translations,  is  still  preserved  in  the  College 
Library.1  In  1814  Hill  designed  and  made  a  model 
of  an  Ionic  temple,  which  he  submitted  to  the 
Committee  for  erecting  a  testimonial  to  the  Duke 
of  Wellington.  It  was  proposed  that  this  temple 
should  be  erected  in  Stephen's  Green,  but  the 
Committee  did  not  accept  the  design.  Hill  was 
elected  President  of  the  College  of  Physicians  in 
1782,  1789,  1795,  1801,  1808,  and  1813.  In  1800 
he  resigned  his  Professorship  of  Botany,  as  by  the 
School  of  Physic  Act,  passed  that  year,  he  was 
incapacitated  from  holding  two  Professorships, 
but  he  continued,  as  we  have  said,  Professor  of 
Physic  till  his  death  on  the  3ist  October,  1830. 

Robert  Perceval  was  the  youngest  son  of  William 
Perceval,  who  was  a  descendant  of  Sir  Philip  Per- 
ceval, and  consequently  a  connexion  of  the  Earls 
of  Egmont.2  He  was  born  in  Dublin  on  the  30th 
September,  1756,  and  entered  Trinity  College  in 
1772,  graduating  B.A.  in  the  spring  of  1777.  After 
this  he  went,  like  so  many  other  Irish  students  of 
the  time,  to  Edinburgh  to  study  medicine,  and 
graduated  M.D.  there  on  the  24th  June,  1780. 
For  the  M.D.  he  read  a  thesis  De  corde,  which 

1  Abbot,  MSS.  Cat.,  p.  104.  *  Vide  D.  N.  B.,  vol.  xv,  p.  820. 

M3 


166      THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT 

was  subsequently  published.  Having  taken  his 
degree  he  travelled  on  the  Continent,  returning 
to  Dublin  in  1782,  where  he  was,  as  we  have  seen, 
on  November  30,  granted  leave  to  lecture  in,  and 
make  use  of  the  Chemical  Laboratory  in  Trinity 
College.  In  May  following,  on  the  death  of 
Thornton,  he  was  elected  Lecturer  in  Chemistry, 
and  on  the  24th  of  November  was  admitted  a 
Licentiate  and  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  College  of 
Physicians.  In  1785  he  became  Professor  of 
Chemistry,  the  University  Lecturers  in  that  year 
being  given  the  title  of  Professors  by  Act  of 
Parliament.  He  resigned  this  professorship  in 
February  1808.  In  1785  he  was  associated  with 
Cleghorn  and  others  in  the  foundation  of  the  Royal 
Irish  Academy,  and  is  mentioned  in  the  Charter. 
For  many  years  he  acted  as  Secretary  to  the 
Academy,  and  contributed  to  its  Proceedings  some 
papers  on  subjects  connected  with  Chemistry.  He 
was  also,  at  this  time,  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Dublin  General  Dispensary  in  Temple  Bar,  where 
he  acted  as  one  of  the  Physicians.  In  the  summer 
of  1793  he  commenced  M.B.  and  M.D.  in  Trinity 
College,  and  on  December  8,  1796,  was  elected 
a  Governor  of  Steevens's  Hospital.  He  attended 
regularly  the  meetings  of  the  Board  of  this  Hospital 
till  his  resignation  in  June  1832.  It  was  mainly 
due  to  his  influence  that  the  Act  of  1785  was 
repealed  by  the  passing  of  the  School  of  Physic 
Act  of  1800,  and  his  action  in  that  matter  gained 
for  him  the  censure  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 
He  was  elected  President  of  the  College  on  the 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT      167 

4th  November,  1799,  but  had  to  resign  both  this 
and  his  Fellowship  in  consequence  of  a  clause  in 
the  School  of  Physic  Act,  of  1800,  forbidding  Pro- 
fessors to  hold  the  Fellowship.  He  was  elected 
an  Honorary  Fellow  on  St.  Luke's  Day,  1800. 

Perceval  took  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the 
Prison  Discipline  Society,  and  he  has  been  referred 
to  as  the  '  Irish  Howard  '.  In  1819  he  was  elected 
Physician-General  to  the  Forces  in  Ireland,  but 
he  resigned  the  following  year.  In  his  later  years 
he  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  Theology,  and 
in  1821  he  published  '  An  Essay  to  establish  the 
Divinity  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
on  Scripture  Grounds  exclusively  :  With  a  Review 
of  the  Doctrine  of  the  Trinity  as  it  was  held  in 
the  Earlier  Ages  of  the  Church  '.l  In  this  work 
he  seems  to  follow  the  doctrines  of  Adam  Clarke, 
and  he  maintains  that  he  has  proved  by  Scripture 
texts  that  Christ,  though  divine,  is  distinct  from 
God  who  had  delegated  to  him  his  divine  attri- 
butes. In  1786  Perceval  married  Anne,  daughter 
of  W.  Brereton  of  Rathgilbert,  and  he  died  of  a 
lingering  illness  on  the  3rd  March,  1839.  Though 
a  Physician  in  considerable  practice  for  many 
years,  Perceval  did  not,  so  far  as  we  are  aware, 
publish  any  medical  work,  and  his  papers  on 
Chemistry  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy  do  not  add  much  lustre  to  his  name. 
He  will  be  remembered  chiefly  as  being  the  prin- 
cipal mover  in  the  passing  of  the  School  of  Physic 
Act  of  1800. 

1  Dublin,  1821,  8vo.,  pp.  302. 


CHAPTER  IX 

CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE  EIGHTEENTH 
CENTURY 

THE  passing  of  the  School  of  Physic  Act,  of  1785, 
should  have  placed  the  School  on  a  satisfactory 
basis.  A  number  of  well-paid  professional  Chairs 
were  established,  and  facilities  had  been  granted 
for  the  development  of  medical  teaching  in  a  way 
never  before  possible  in  Dublin.  The  event,  how- 
ever, was  the  opposite  of  what  had  been  expected, 
and  during  the  last  decade  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury the  School  reached  almost  the  lowest  level  in 
its  history.  The  establishment  of  clinical  lectures 
proved  an  obstacle  which  the  united  wisdom  of 
the  Colleges  was  unable  to  overcome,  and  the  effort 
to  solve  this  difficulty  resulted  in  open  rupture 
among  the  Professors. 

The  College  of  Physicians  loyally  endeavoured 
to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment, and,  as  we  have  seen,  on  the  5th  of  April, 
1786,  the  three  King's  Professors  were  appointed. 
The  provision  of  a  place  and  material  for  the 
clinical  teaching  was  not,  however,  such  an  easy 
matter.  The  funds  at  the  disposal  of  the  College 
must  have  been  considerable,  for,  although  the 
accounts  of  the  estate  were  not,  before  1786,  kept 
separately  from  the  College  accounts,  and  con- 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  169 

sequently  it  is  not  possible  to  say  what  was  the 
exact  sum  in  the  hands  of  the  College,  yet  we  can 
make  a  rough  estimate  of  it.  One-third  of  the 
profits  of  the  estate  from  the  time  of  Barbor's 
death  till  the  passing  of  the  Act  should  have 
amounted  to  about  £600,  and  after  deducting 
from  the  income  the  salaries  of  the  new  King's 
Professors,  the  salary  of  Dr.  Quin,  and  the  neces- 
sary charges  on  the  estate,  there  should  have  been, 
as  well  as  this  capital  sum,  at  least  £200  a  year 
available  for  the  maintenance  of  clinical  teaching. 
This  sum,  though  considerable,  was  utterly  in- 
adequate to  warrant  the  College  embarking  in  any 
extensive  project  of  hospital  building. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  College  ap- 
proached the  Governors  of  Mercer's  Hospital  with 
a  request  that  some  of  the  beds  in  that  institution 
should  be  set  apart  for  the  purpose  of  clinical 
teaching,  and  the  proposals  were  received  by  the 
hospital  authorities  in  a  most  friendly  manner. 
Dr.  Hill  and  Dr.  Hopkins  were  then  the  Physicians 
of  Mercer's  Hospital.  Hopkins  had  been  an  un- 
successful candidate  for  the  King's  Professorship 
of  the  Practice  of  Medicine,  and  Hill  tells  us  that  * 
'  in  a  fit  of  the  spleen  he  frustrated  the  negotia- 
tions '.  In  this  difficulty  the  College,  in  November 
1787,  rented  a  small  house  in  Clarendon  Street 
and  fitted  it  up  with  seventeen  beds  which  were 
to  be  kept  open  for  patients  during  the  six  months 
of  the  medical  session.  In  this  house  the  King's 
Professors  attended,  and  '  publicly  delivered  re- 

1  Hill,  Address  (i),  p.  27. 


170  CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE 

ports  of  the  patients  cases  to  the  students,  and 
afterwards  adjourned  to  the  medical  lecture  room 
in  Trinity  College  in  order  that  they  might  more 
particularly  treat  of  the  several  disorders  of  the 
patients '.  The  King's  Professors  in  doing  so 
followed  the  example  of  the  principal  medical 
schools  elsewhere  established. 

In  November  1789  the  King's  Professors  sub- 
mitted a  memorial  to  the  College  of  Physicians 
in  which  they  stated  that  they  had  each  delivered 
a  course  of  clinical  lectures,  but  that  the  Uni- 
versity Professors  had  as  yet  given  none,  and 
asked  that  they  might  not  be  directed  to  lecture 
again  till  the  University  Professors  should  have 
done  so.  To  this  the  College  agreed  and  directed 
a  copy  of  the  memorial  to  be  sent  to  the  Board. 
This  memorial  was  submitted  to  the  Board  at 
their  meeting  on  November  14,  I78Q,1  and  they 
at  once  directed  that  a  copy  of  it  should  be  sent 
to  each  of  the  University  Professors,  with  a  request 
that  they  would  attend  the  Board  on  the  following 
Saturday  to  consider  the  matter.  The  Registrar 
was  also  directed  to  request  the  attendance  of 
the  King's  Professors.  On  the  2ist  November, 
Dr.  Hill  and  Dr.  Perceval  attended  ;  '  the  atten- 
dance of  ye  Professor  of  Anatomy  Dr.  Cleghorn 
was  not  expected,  he  being  in  the  country  and  in 
a  very  ill  state  of  health.'  The  King's  Professors 
declined  to  attend  the  meeting.  Dr.  Hill  stated 
that  the  house  in  Clarendon  Street  had  been  taken 
'  without  his  concurrence  '  and  '  he  declined  enter- 

1  Reg,,  vol.  v,  p.  79. 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  171 

ing  into  any  engagement  to  give  clinical  lectures 
on  account  of  his  state  of  health  not  permitting 
his  attendance  in  an  Hospital '.  Dr.  Perceval  said 
that  he  considered  the  Hospital  as  quite  unsuitable 
for  lectures,  but  he  would  engage  to  deliver  lectures 
'  health  permitting,  however  inconvenient  or  unfit 
for  that  purpose  the  afore  mentioned  small  house 
in  Clarendon  Street  were,  provided  the  Board 
would  agree  to  a  certain  Regulation  of  Fees 
proposed  by  him,  and  that  they  would  give 
their  countenance  and  protection  to  the  found- 
ing of  an  hospital  or  perpetual  establishment 
fit  and  convenient  for  the  purpose  of  clinical 
lectures'. 

Perceval  further  stated  that  if  the  Board  did 
not  agree  to  these  conditions,  but  made  an  order 
directing  him  to  lecture,  then  he  would  reserve 
his  right  to  give  what  answer  seemed  good  to 
him.  As  a  result  of  this  meeting  the  Board  sub- 
mitted a  case  to  Counsel  for  an  opinion  as  to 
whether  they  had  power  to  direct  the  University 
Professors  to  give  Clinical  Lectures  under  the 
existing  conditions.  On  December  19,  Counsel's 
opinion  was  read  to  the  Board  and  the  Registrar 
was  directed  to  inform  the  College  of  Physicians 
that  the  Provost  and  Senior  Fellows  were  most 
desirous  to  direct  the  University  Professors  to 
give  clinical  lectures,  but  that  they  were  advised 
by  Counsel  that  they  could  not  do  so  till  the 
College  of  Physicians  had  appointed  a  hospital  in 
the  city  of  Dublin  where  such  lectures  were  to  be 
given.  The  Registrar  was  to  state  further  that 


i;2  CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE 

lectures  given  in  a  room  in  the  College  could  not 
be  considered  as  clinical.1  To  this  letter  the 
College  of  Physicians  replied  that  they  had  ap- 
pointed the  Hospital  in  Clarendon  Street  as  a 
convenient  place  for  clinical  lectures,  and  that  the 
King's  Professors  had  lectured  there  regularly,  but 
if  the  Board  required  '  that  the  clinical  lectures 
as  well  as  the  reports  of  the  patients  cases  should 
be  given  in  an  Hospital  the  College  of  Physicians 
will  appoint  and  they  do  hereby  appoint  the  sd. 
Lectures  in  future  to  be  given  in  the  Hospital  in 
Clarendon  Street  '.2 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
on  January  14,  1790,  Dr.  Perceval  signified  his 
wish  to  give  clinical  lectures  during  that  session 
if  the  College  would  support  a  Hospital  for  the 
purpose.  The  Treasurer  was  then  asked  to  state 
what  funds  there  were  available  for  the  purpose, 
and  he  stated  that  there  were  no  funds  in  hand 
at  the  time  and  no  rents  expected  till  June.  There 
was  a  small  balance  in  the  hands  of  the  London 
agents  arising  from  the  £1,200  invested  in  English 
Funds,  but  necessary  charges  would  absorb  that 
balance  with  the  exception  of  £2  8s.  g\d.  The 
College,  however,  decided  that  if  ten  students 
would  enter  for  the  clinical  lectures  during  the 
remainder  of  the  present  winter,  they  would  lend 
out  of  the  College  private  funds,  to  be  repaid  out 
of  the  rents  in  June,  enough  money  to  support 
the  hospital  for  the  winter. 

This  resolution  the  Board  also  submitted  to 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  82  b.  *  Col.  P.  Minutes. 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  173 

Counsel,  and  by  his  advice  directed  the  following 
letter  to  be  sent  to  the  College  of  Physicians  : 

'  Sir, — I  am  directed  to  acquaint  you  that  the  resolu- 
tions of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  ye  28  Dec.  last 
having  been  by  direction  of  the  Board  laid  before  the 
College  Counsel  the  Provost  and  Senr.  Fellows  are 
advised  that  they  have  no  authority  to  direct  the  Uni- 
versity Professors  to  give  Clinical  Lectures  in  the  house 
call'd  in  the  said  Resolutions  the  Clinical  Hospital  in 
Clarendon  Street,  the  same  not  being  an  hospital  within 
the  Letter  or  Spirit  of  the  Act  of  the  25th  of  the  King 
for  establishing  a  complete  school  of  physic  in  this 
Kingdom.  However  the  Board  desirous  to  manifest  an 
earnest  wish  to  promote  the  success  of  the  School  of 
Physic  shall  recommend  to  the  University  Professors  to 
give  Clinical  Lectures  in  said  Hospital  if  they  the  said 
Professors  shall  find  it  practicable  so  to  do. 

'  Jan.  gth,  1790.  H.  Dabzac,  Reg.  T.  C.  D.' 

The  promise  contained  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
letter  was  carried  out,  and  the  Registrar  wrote  in 
the  name  of  the  Board  to  the  Professors,  earnestly 
recommending  them  to  give  lectures  in  the  house 
in  Clarendon  Street  if  they  possibly  could.  Dr. 
Perceval  agreed  to  begin  a  course  of  lectures  on 
February  i,  and  asked  the  Board  for  directions 
as  to  the  fees  to  be  charged  to  students.  The 
Board  replied  that  the  fees  were  to  be  three 
guineas  for  each  student,  the  Professor  '  making 
such  rateable  abatement  for  the  part  of  the  session 
which  has  elapsed  as  he  in  his  discretion  shall 
think  fit  V 

The  Hospital  in  Clarendon  Street  proved  to  be 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  86  b. 


174  CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE 

a  most  expensive  undertaking.  During  the  first 
year,  according  to  Hill,1  the  cost  per  head  was  at 
the  rate  of  £iS  each  for  the  winter  session,  and 
during  the  second  year  £20,  and  this  greatly  ex- 
ceeded the  expense  incurred  by  other  hospitals 
in  the  city.  The  hospital,  too,  was  admitted  on 
all  sides  to  be  unsatisfactory.  This  condition  of 
affairs  being  reported  to  the  College  of  Physicians 
on  August  14,  1790,  the  lease  of  the  house  in 
Clarendon  Street  was  forthwith  surrendered.  On 
July  9,  1791,  the  Board  agreed  to  subscribe  £150 
towards  building  a  hospital  in  which  clinical 
lectures  might  be  given,  and  until  that  could  be 
done  they  offered  to  the  College  of  Physicians,  at 
the  yearly  rent  of  £20,  the  house  occupied  by 
Mrs.  Coombs,  widow  of  the  late  head  porter.  We 
have  no  record  of  this  offer  being  accepted,  nor 
have  we  been  able  to  identify  the  house  which 
was  occupied  by  Mrs.  Coombs. 

Perceval  urged  the  College  of  Physicians  either 
to  build  or  to  buy  a  hospital  for  medical  patients, 
which  could  be  kept  open  during  the  entire  year, 
and  in  which  certain  of  the  patients  could  be  set 
apart  during  the  winter  session  for  purposes  of 
clinical  instruction.  He  stated  that  if  this  were 
done  subscriptions  would  almost  certainly  be 
received  from  the  public,  the  beds  could  be  main- 
tained at  a  cost  of  £19  a  year  and,  with  the  public 
subscriptions,  the  cost  to  Dun's  estate  would  not 
amount  to  more  than  £15  a  year  for  each  bed. 
The  College  agreed  to  this  plan,  and  the  Provost, 

1  Hill,  Address  (i),  p.  28. 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  175 

Hely  Hutchinson,  brought  into  Parliament  a  bill 
which  was  passed  into  law  in  1791,  the  thirty-first 
year  of  the  King,  to  enable  this  to  be  done. 

This  Act  set  forth  that  on  account  of  the  diffi- 
culties which  had  arisen  in  the  provision  of  a 
suitable  place  for  the  delivery  of  clinical  lectures 
in  any  of  the  city  hospitals,  the  annual  surplus 
of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  estate  applicable  to  this 
purpose,  which  amounted  to  about  £800  a  year, 
remained  unapplied.  Parliament  consequently 
decided  that  the  President  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  might,  till  a  suitable  clinical  hospital 
was  provided,  take  a  house  in  the  city  of  Dublin 
and  furnish  it  with  all  necessaries  for  the  care  of 
patients,  and  that  the  house  so  provided  was  to 
be  used  for  clinical  lectures,  and  in  it  the  Pro- 
fessors were  to  lecture  alternately  without  any 
further  allowance  than  their  salary  as  Professor 
of  £100  a  year.  The  necessary  expenses  for  this 
house  were  to  be  paid  by  the  President,  with  the 
consent  of  the  Trustees,  out  of  the  surplus  of  Dun's 
estate.  The  President,  with  such  consent,  was 
also  to  expend  a  part,  not  exceeding  £1,000,  of 
the  annual  surplus  towards  building  or  purchasing 
a  suitable  hospital  for  the  purpose  of  clinical 
lectures.  The  house  taken  by  the  President  was 
only  to  be  used  and  paid  for  till  it  was  possible 
to  provide  a  hospital  for  the  purpose,  and  all 
subscriptions  to  such  a  hospital  were  to  be  devoted 
towards  its  erection  and  annual  expenses. 

In  pursuance  of  this  Act,  Perceval  secured  a 
lease  of  a  house  on  the  Blind  Quay,  now  Lower 


176  CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE 

Exchange  Street,  for  which  a  rent  of  £40  a  year 
was  to  be  paid,  provided  £150  were  spent  on 
repairs,  and  on  July  9,  1792,  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians ordered  its  seal  to  be  affixed  to  the  lease. 
This  house  was  fitted  up  with  thirty-one  beds  at 
a  cost  of  £250,  and  the  hospital  was  opened  in 
November  of  that  year.1  This  venture,  however, 
did  not  prove  more  successful  than  the  former. 
During  the  first  year  253  persons  were  admitted, 
the  average  number  of  beds  occupied  being  thirty 
during  the  winter  half  year,  and  ten  during  the 
summer,  the  total  cost  being  £609  175.  jd*  During 
the  winter  session  of  this  year  Dr.  Perceval  gave 
clinical  instruction  in  the  hospital.  During  the 
second  year,  1793-4,  things  were  worse  ;  there 
were  fewer  patients,  an  average  of  twenty  in  the 
winter  and  ten  in  the  summer  six  months,  yet 
the  expenditure  rose  to  £722  for  the  year.  During 
this  year  there  were  no  clinical  lectures  delivered 
in  the  hospital  at  all,  the  defaulting  Professor 
being  apparently  James  Cleghorn,3  the  new  Pro- 
fessor of  Anatomy.  During  the  year  1794-5  the 
average  number  of  patients  maintained  during  the 
winter  session  was  reduced  by  the  King's  Pro- 
fessors to  fourteen,  and  the  expenditure  reached 
£29  a  bed  for  the  half  year. 

The  King's  Professors,  in  November  1794,  put 
forward  a  claim  that  they  were  entitled  between 
them  to  two-thirds  of  the  profits  of  the  Trust 
Estate.  It  had  always  been  considered  that  their 

1  Irish  Builder,  June  15,  1897.  *  Dickson's  Letter,  p.  72. 

1  Hill's  Address  (i),  p.  32. 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  177 

salary  was  to  be  £100  a  year  each  and  no  more, 
yet  they  now  claimed,  under  section  5  of  the 
Act,  a  rateable  distribution  of  the  money  which 
was  payable  to  Dr.  Barbor  and  Sir  Nathaniel 
Barry  from  the  time  of  the  new  appointments  till 
Dr.  Quin's  death.  In  this  claim,  which  amounted 
to  £2,426  6s.  8^.,  they  were  supported  by  eminent 
legal  opinion,  but  the  funds  in  the  hands  of  the 
College  only  amounted  to  £2,478  155.  yd.  Con- 
sidering this  state  of  the  funds  and  the  liability 
of  the  College  for  the  maintenance  of  the  clinical 
lectures  and  the  library,  the  Professors  agreed  to 
be  contented  with  a  sum  of  £1,664  *&s-  ^d.,  pro- 
vided the  residue  was  applied  to  discharge  the 
other  liabilities  of  the  estate.  The  College  agreed 
to  this  proposal,  but  at  the  same  time  decided  to 
fee  Counsel  for  an  opinion  as  to  '  how  far  an 
amicable  suit  instituted  by  the  Professors  against 
the  College  may  prevent  the  opposition  of  ill- 
advised  or  ill-disposed  persons  against  the  disposi- 
tion of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  funds  ' .  These  resolutions 
were  ratified  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  College, 
but  at  the  following  meeting  on  January  10,  1795, 
it  was  decided  that  these  resolutions  should  not 
take  effect  till  the  question  had  been  '  determined 
by  a  Court  of  Equity  or  by  a  reference,  the  award 
to  be  made  a  rule  of  Court  V  At  the  same  time 
the  College  decided  that  all  expenses  incurred  by 
such  proceedings  should  be  defrayed  out  of  the 
funds  of  the  trust  estate,  and  that  if  a  bill  was 
not  filed  by  the  Professors  within  a  space  of  two 

1  Col.  P.  Minutes. 

N 


178  CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE 

months  all  the  resolutions  agreed  to  in  respect  of 
the  claim  of  the  Professors  on  the  estate  were  to 
be  rescinded.  The  case  came  to  trial  in  the  Court 
of  Chancery  on  May  8  and  n,  1795,  when  the 
*  Lord  Chancellor  was  pleased  to  dismiss  the  bill'. 
An  appeal  was  then  taken  to  the  House  of  Lords 
and  tried  there  on  February  8,  1796.  Mr.  Bursten 
and  Mr.  Saurin  appeared  for  the  King's  Professors 
and  stated  the  case  very  fully.  The  respondents, 
the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians, were  represented  by  Mr.  Frankland  and 
Mr.  W.  C.  Plunket,  but  they  were  not  called  to 
speak,  and  the  Lord  Chancellor,  addressing  the 
Law  Lords,  commented  in  very  severe  terms  on 
the  action  of  the  Professors.  He  said,  '  In  my 
judgement  this  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  appel- 
lants must  be  considered  in  a  Court  of  Equity,  as 
a  gross  and  shameless  fraud :  and  whether  the 
letter  of  the  Act  will  bear  them  out  in  the  attempt, 
or  whether  it  will  not,  at  any  other  tribunal,  it 
seems  to  me  to  be  most  perfectly  clear  that  they 
should  be  scouted  from  a  Court  of  Equity  with 
shame  and  disgrace.'  The  Lords  came  to  the 
following  judgement  in  the  case,  '  that  the  appeal 
be  dismissed  and  the  decree  therein  complained 
of  affirmed  and  that  the  Appellants  do  pay  to  the 
Respondents  £100  for  their  costs  in  respect  of  the 
appeal.'  x 

In  1795  Dr.  Perceval  and  Dr.  James  Cleghorn 
laid  a  complaint  before  the  Board  of  the  conduct 
of  two  of  the  King's  Professors  in  regard  to  their 

1  Ridgeway,  vol.  iii,  p.  433. 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  179 

management  of  the  hospital  during  the  previous 
winter.  The  Board  expressed  dissatisfaction  at 
the  conduct  of  the  Professors,  and  submitted 
the  controversy  to  the  College  of  Physicians  for 
judgement.  The  whole  matter  was  considered 
very  fully  by  the  College  of  Physicians  at  their 
meeting  on  August  20.  The  documents  were  pro- 
duced, both  Perceval  and  Cleghorn  were  heard  in 
support  of  the  complaint,  and  Dr.  Cullen  and 
Dr.  Dickson  defended  themselves  from  the  charges. 
The  first  complaint  was  that  the  Professors  at  no 
time  during  the  past  winter  supported  thirty 
patients  in  the  hospital.  To  this  the  College 
replied  that  great  latitude  ought  to  be  allowed  to 
the  attending  Physician  as  to  the  number  of 
patients  he  deemed  requisite  for  his  lectures.  The 
second  charge  was  that  after  the  first  of  May 
there  were  no  patients  admitted  to  the  hospital, 
with  the  result  that  the  place  fell  into  disrepair 
and  the  students  who  had  entered  for  a  year's 
hospital  practice  were  deprived  of  the  benefits  of 
such  attendance.  To  this  the  College  replied  that 
they  could  not,  out  of  Dun's  estate,  support  any 
patients  who  were  not  to  be  used  for  clinical 
instruction,  and  there  were  no  funds  arising  from 
public  subscriptions  for  their  support.  With  re- 
gard to  the  students,  the  College  received  sufficient 
evidence  that  they  did  not  expect  to  attend  the 
hospital  except  during  the  medical  session.  The 
third  count  in  the  charge  was  that  the  King's 
Professors  had  not  charged  the  students  the  three 
guineas  which  was  to  be  given  to  the  hospital 


i8o  CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE 

funds,  but  had  admitted  students  who  merely  paid 
the  three  guineas  for  clinical  instruction.  This 
omission  to  demand  any  fee  for  the  general  fund 
was  greatly  to  the  detriment  of  the  hospital.  The 
College  stated  that  in  acting  thus  the  Professors 
were  only  carrying  out  instructions.  The  plan  of 
enforcing  the  payment  of  six  guineas  by  each 
student  attending  the  hospital  had  been  tried  by 
the  College  for  one  year  and  appeared  to  excite 
much  discontent  among  the  students  and  occa- 
sioned a  '  considerable  diminution  in  their  number '. 
On  the  whole,  the  College  acquitted  the  Professors 
of  any  neglect  and  considered  that  they  had  dis- 
charged the  duty  they  owed  to  their  patients,  their 
pupils,  and  themselves  with  credit  and  advantage 
to  the  general  interests  of  the  School.  This  reply 
did  not  satisfy  the  Board,  who,  on  the  5th  of 
November,  referred  the  matter  to  the  Visitors  of 
the  College  of  Physicians.  The  Visitors,  however, 
did  not  consider  the  matter  within  their  jurisdic- 
tion, and  it  was  dropped.  These  various  disputes 
seem  to  have  wearied  the  Colleges  of  the  subject 
of  clinical  lectures,  and  we  read  little  more  about 
them  in  the  Registers  for  some  time. 

Two  alternative  plans  were  suggested  by  Per- 
ceval for  the  establishment  of  a  hospital.  The 
first  was  that  a  plot  of  ground  in  the  rear  of 
Townsend  Street  should  be  taken  for  the  purpose, 
but  this  had  to  be  abandoned  on  account  of  the 
prohibitive  ground-rent.  The  second  was  that  the 
Board  should  grant  a  site  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  east  end  of  College  Street,  but  this  the  Board  re- 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  181 

fused  to  do  on  account  of  the  danger  to  the  students 
of  the  College  from  the  proximity  of  an  infectious 
hospital.    The  hospital  in  Exchange  Street  was 
rapidly  falling  into  decay,  and,  in  April  1799,  was 
finally  abandoned,  the  College  of  Physicians  having 
in  the  previous  November  entered  into  negotia- 
tions with  the  Governors  of  Mercer's  Hospital  for 
clinical  lectures  to  be  delivered  there.    As  a  result 
of  these  negotiations  an  agreement  was  entered 
into  for  two  years  whereby,  on  January  i,  1799, 
certain  empty  wards  in  Mercer's  Hospital  were  to 
be  set  apart  for  the  reception  of  patients  for 
clinical  instruction.    The  Governors  of  the  Hospital 
undertook  to  support,  for  six  months,  thirty  patients 
and  nurses  according  to  a  specified  dietary  for 
a  sum  of  £254  ios.,  the  College  supplying,  in  addi- 
tion to  this  sum,  their  own  wine,  groceries,  and 
medicines.     It  was  further   agreed  that  if  the 
College  wished  to  build  additional  accommoda- 
tion, the  Governors  of  the  Hospital  would  place 
at  their  disposal  a  site  adjoining  the  hospital.    On 
the  2ist  of  January,  1799,  the  beds  were  reported 
as  ready  for  the  patients.     The  agreement  thus 
entered  into  appeared  to  be  a  satisfactory  solution 
of  a  difficulty  which  had  been  for  almost  fifteen 
years  a  source  of  continual  vexation  to  the  two 
Colleges.    The  relief,  however,  was  of  short  dura- 
tion, for  Perceval,  finding  himself  foiled  in  his 
efforts  to  induce  the  College  to  build  a  large  clinical 
hospital,  sought  the  aid  of  the  legislature,  and  in 
the  following  year  was  passed  the  celebrated  School 
of  Physic  Act,  of  1800,  which  finally  took  from  the 


182  CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE 

College  all  discretionary  power  in  the  management 
of  Dun's  estate. 

This  controversy  about  the  clinical  lectures  was 
carried  on  with  much  bitterness  between  the  two 
University  Professors.  Perceval  seems  to  have 
determined  to  use  every  means  in  his  power  to 
establish  a  great  hospital  attached  to  the  School. 
His  ideal  was  the  Royal  Infirmary  of  Edinburgh, 
and  to  attain  his  object  he  was  ready  to  sacrifice 
every  interest  which  stood  in  his  way.  Hill,  on 
the  other  hand,  was  anxious  to  found  a  botanical 
garden,  and  believed  that  the  funds  of  Dun's 
estate  could  more  properly  be  applied  to  such  an 
object  than  to  the  foundation  of  a  hospital.  Their 
objects  were  thus  diametrically  opposed,  for  if 
either  succeeded  the  other  must  fail,  and  the  dis- 
pute was  carried  on  between  them  with  a  personal 
bitterness  which  ill  became  men  supposed  to  be 
working  for  the  good  of  a  common  cause — the 
School  of  Physic.  Perceval  ultimately  triumphed, 
owing  to  his  influence  with  the  Board  and  with 
Parliament,  but  the  means  which  he  used  to 
attain  this  triumph  do  not  redound  to  his  credit. 

While  the  disputes  were  in  progress  many 
important  changes  were  made  by  the  Board  in 
the  regulations  of  the  Medical  School.  On  April 
1 6,  1790,  at '  ten  o'clock  at  night ',  James  Cleghorn 
was  elected  Professor  of  Anatomy  in  the  room  of 
his  uncle,  deceased.  Cleghorn,1  the  only  candidate 
for  the  Chair,  stated  that  he  had  been  educated 
in  Trinity  College,  and  had  studied  the  '  different 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  162. 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  183 

branches  of  Medicine  under  the  several  Professors 
in  the  School  of  Physic  in  Ireland'.  And  also 
'  that  he  had  attended  Clinical  Lectures  given  in 
the  City  of  Dublin '.  He  had  also  studied  in 
London  '  under  an  eminent  surgeon,  Mr.  Hunter  ', 
and  visited  the  hospitals  of  Paris  and  Montpelier. 
Cleghorn  had  graduated  B.A.  in  1784,  M.B.  in  the 
summer  of  1787,  and  M.D.  in  1793.  He  was 
admitted  a  Licentiate  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
in  January  1792,  and  elected  Fellow  in  1793.  He 
was  afterwards  President  of  the  College  in  the 
years  1805,  1806,  1811,  and  1816.  In  1797  he 
was  elected  State  Physician,  and  he  held  the  office 
till  his  death  in  1826.  Cleghorn  does  not  seem  to 
have  inherited  his  uncle's  love  for  Anatomy.  He 
was  re-elected  Professor  on  May  6,  1797,  but  two 
years  later  Mr.  Hartigan  was  appointed  to  assist 
him  on  account  of  his  bad  health,  and  on  July  24, 
1802,  his  resignation  of  the  Chair  was  accepted  by 
the  Board. 

On  the  5th  May,  1792,  the  Board  received 
through  Dr.  Perceval  a  letter  written  by  Dr. 
Andrew  Duncan,  in  which  he  pointed  out  that  the 
graduation  fees  for  a  Doctor  in  Physic  of  Edin- 
burgh University  amounted  to  £13  8s.  '  British  ', 
along  with  the  expense  of  printing  and  publishing 
an  'Inaugural  Dissertation'.  The  fees  in  Trinity 
College  amounted  to  £29  45.,  for  a  similar  degree, 
and  Perceval  suggested  that  if  they  were  reduced 
it '  would  tend  to  the  encouragement  of  the  School 
of  Physic  in  the  City  of  Dublin  '.*  In  consequence 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  218. 


184  CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE 

of  this  letter  the  Board  '  resolved  that  the  present 
fees,  amounting  to  £29  45.,  be  reduced  to  the  sum 
of  £14  I2s.,  and  also  that  the  sum  of  £6  i6s.  6d., 
be  paid  to  the  six  Professors  for  their  trouble 
in  examining ;  and  further,  that  each  person  so 
commencing  shall  give  in  a  printed  copy  of  his 
Inaugural  Dissertation  to  the  Vice-Chancellor, 
the  Provost,  and  each  of  the  Senior  Fellows  of 
the  University, — to  the  President  and  Censors  of 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  each  of  the  six 
Professors  of  Physic  '. 

On  the  aQth  June,  1792,  the  Board  drew  up  new 
regulations  relative  to  the  conferring  of  medical 
degrees.  These  regulations  were  as  follows  : 

'  Every  Student  in  Medicine  who  has  been  matriculated 
into  the  University  either  in  the  usual  mode  or  according 
to  the  form  prescribed  in  the  Act  of  25  Geo.  3rd,  producing 
to  the  Register  of  the  College  Testimonials  of  his  having 
studied  Medicine  three  years  in  some  University  where 
Medicine  is  publicly  taught,  and  of  his  having  attended 
the  Clinical  Hospital  and  one  complete  course  of  Clinical 
Lectures  in  Dublin,  and  also  one  complete  course  of  each 
of  the  six  Medical  Professors  of  this  University  in  their 
respective  Department,  shall  receive  from  the  Provost 
&  Senior  Fellows  a  Liceat  ad  examinandum  directed  to  the 
Faculty  of  Medicine  consisting  of  the  said  six  Medical 
Professors. 

'  The  Faculty  of  Medicine  will  examine  every  student 
producing  such  Liceat  ad  examinandum,  and  if  they  find 
him  qualified  to  obtain  Medical  Degrees,  will  certify  the 
same  to  the  Provost  and  Senior  Fellows.  Every  student 
producing  to  the  Register  of  the  College  such  certificate, 
shall  upon  paying  fees,  amounting  to  £21 :  8  : 6,  be  admitted 
to  perform  the  necessary  Acts  prescribed  by  the  Statutes 
of  the  University  to  qualify  him  for  obtaining  the  degrees 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  185 

of  Bachelor  and  Doctor  of  Medicine  and  will  receive 
a  diploma  .  .  .  certified  by  the  seal  of  the  College.' l 

On  June  15,  1793,  the  Board  agreed  to  '  the 
following  Scheme  of  the  performances  of  Medical 
Degrees ' 

'  Each  Candidate  for  degrees  in  Medicine  shall  apply 
to  the  Register  of  the  Faculty  for  a  Certificate  of  his 
attendance  on  the  several  Professors,  which  is  to  entitle 
him  to  a  Liceat  ad  examinandum  from  the  Board.  This 
he  is  to  present  to  the  Register  of  the  Faculty,  who  shall 
within  a  fortnight  of  the  time  of  receiving  the  Liceat 
appoint  a  time  for  the  examination  of  the  Candidate, 
a  week's  notice  of  the  same  being  given  to  each  member 
of  the  Faculty.  Having  passed  the  examination  before 
the  Faculty  for  the  degree  of  M.B.  or  M.D.,  the  Candidate 
shall  present  to  some  one  of  the  Professors  of  the  Faculty 
of  Medicine  an  MS  copy  of  a  Thesis  composed  by  him  in 
Latin  upon  a  subject  relating  to  any  department  of 
Medicine  he  may  choose,  provided  it  shall  have  been 
approved  by  one  of  the  Professors  of  Medicine  in  the 
University :  When  the  Professor  to  whom  the  Thesis  is 
presented,  shall  have  specified  his  approbation  thereof 
to  the  Faculty  of  Medicine,  the  Candidate  shall  receive 
from  that  body  the  following  certificate  signed  by  the 
Register  of  the  Faculty — Examinations  habita  apud 
Professores  facultatis  medicinae  in  Academia  Dublinensi, 
A.B.  Idoneum  se  praebuit  qui  admittatur  ad  praestanda 
exercitia  pro  gradibus  Baccalauriatus  et  Doctoratus  in 
Medicina.  This  certificate  shall  be  presented  to  the 
Register  of  the  University  to  be  by  him  laid  before  the 
Board,  and  on  leave  being  granted  to  perform,  shall  be 
returned  to  the  Candidate,  countersigned  by  the  same 
Register.  The  Professor  of  Medicine  in  the  University, 
on  the  certificate  so  signed  and  countersigned  being 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  221. 


186  CLOSING  YEARS  OF  THE 

presented  to  him  shall  appoint  such  days,  as  he  shall  chose 
for  the  performance  of  exercises  for  the  degrees  of  M.B. 
and  M.D.,  so  as  that  the  whole  be  completed  within 
a  month  from  the  time  of  the  Candidate's  application. 
The  Professor  himself  or  one  of  the  Professors  of  the 
Faculty,  to  be  approved  of  by  the  Board  as  his  locum 
tenens,  shall  preside  at  such  Performances.  Each  Can- 
didate for  the  degree  of  M.B.  is  to  dispute  in  the  Hall 
of  the  University,  upon  the  questions  to  be  proposed  by 
the  Professor  of  Medicine  or  his  locum  tenens,  according 
to  the  usages  of  the  University,  he  is  also  to  read  two 
Praelections — one  upon  an  acute  case,  and  the  other 
upon  a  chronic  case,  to  be  also  proposed  by  the  Professor 
or  his  locum  tenens.  For  the  degree  of  M.D.  he  is  to 
dispute  upon  two  questions  in  like  manner  as  before ; 
and  also  read  four  Praelections  one  or  more  of  which 
shall  form  his  Thesis  (or  Inaugural  Dissertation)  or  such 
part  thereof  as  may  be  agreed  on  by  the  Professor,  who 
having  on  that  occasion  signified  his  approbation  of  the 
said  Thesis  shall  authorize  it  to  be  printed  and  direct 
copies  to  be  presented  to  the  Vice-Chancellor  of  the 
University — the  Provost  and  each  of  the  Senior- Fellows — 
to  the  President  and  Censors  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  each  of  the  six  Professors  of  Physic.'  x 

At  the  beginning  of  the  winter  session  of  1795 
the  Board  ordered  the  University  Professors  to 
'  lecture  twice  in  the  week  during  their  atten- 
dance as  Clinical  Lecturers  in  Sir  Patrick  Dun's 
Hospital  '.2  On  September  28,  1799,  it  was 
ordered,  '  that  Lectures  in  Anatomy  should  be 
given  by  the  Professor  on  Tuesdays  and  Thurs- 
days, at  half  past  one  during  the  ensuing  Term 
in  the  Physiology  School ;  and  that  he  be  allowed 
to  charge  the  students  a  guinea  and  a  half  for 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  236.  *  Ibid.,  p.  279. 


EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  187 

tickets  of  admission  to  the  course  which  is  to  be 
comprised  in  not  less  than  ten  Lectures.' 

The  resolution  of  June  29,  1792,  appears  to  be 
a  direct  departure  from  the  usage  of  the  Uni- 
versity which  always  required  candidates  for 
degrees  in  any  of  the  Faculties  to  have  first 
graduated  in  Arts.  There  was,  however,  no  real 
departure  from  ancient  custom,  for  the  Board  sub- 
sequently decreed  *  that  this  rule  only  related  to 
the  Medical  Diplomas  and  not  to  Degrees,  or  as 
they  say,  '  the  Diploma  given  to  Medical  Students 
not  of  the  University  who  have  qualified  for  M.D.'  * 

No  lists  of  the  Medical  Students  of  the  Uni- 
versity prior  to  1786  have  been  preserved,  but 
since  that  time,  in  accordance  with  the  first  School 
of  Physic  Act,  every  student  of  Medicine  who 
attended  lectures  in  the  School  had  to  be  matri- 
culated by  having  his  name  entered  in  a  book 
kept  for  that  purpose  by  the  Senior  Lecturer. 
These  matriculation  lists  are  still  preserved  in  the 
College  Library,3  and  from  them  we  learn  that 
the  following  numbers  matriculated  during  the 
years  1786-1800  : 

1786,  6  entered.    1791,  i  entered.    1796,     4  entered. 

1787,  17        „          1792,  2         „         1797,     i 

1788,  5        >,         1793.  o        „         1798,     6 
I789>     3        »          1794,  5        ,.         *799>    2 
1790,     o        „          1795,  4        „         1800,  14 

During    this    period    twenty-two    persons    were 
granted  degrees  in  Medicine,  and  two  were  granted 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  400.  *  Ibid.,  p.  488. 

*  Abbot,  Cat.  of  MSS.,  T.  C.  D.,  No.  759. 


i88  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY 

diplomas,  a  small  proportion  of  those  who  matricu- 
lated in  the  School.  Many  of  these  students 
went  to  Edinburgh,  which  at  that  time  was 
attracting  medical  students  from  all  parts  of 
the  world.  During  the  four  years  1786-9,  inclu- 
sive, there  were  at  least  forty-four  Irishmen 
who  graduated  in  Medicine  in  the  Edinburgh 
University. 


CHAPTER  X 
THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

WHEN   the   clinical  lectures  had  been   finally 
established  in  Mercer's  Hospital,  Perceval  felt  that 
it  was   hopeless   for  him   to   make   any  further 
attempt  to  induce  the  College  of  Physicians  to 
expend  the   funds   of   Dun's   estate   in   building 
a  hospital.     The  arrangement  with  Mercer's  had 
met  with  general  approval,  and  promised  to  be 
a  success,  if  those  whose  duty  it  was  to  lecture 
honestly   and   loyally  fulfilled   their   obligations. 
Perceval  was  not,  however,  willing  to  accept  defeat, 
nor  would  he  submit  to  the  decision  of  the  majority 
of  his  colleagues,  and  feeling  it  impossible  to  con- 
vert them  to  his  views  by  argument,  he  determined 
to  compel  them  by  the  aid  of  the  legislature.    He 
seems  to  have  had  some  influence  with  Lord  Clare, 
the  Lord  Chancellor,  and  he  persuaded  him  to  have 
a  Committee  of  the  House  of  Lords  appointed  to 
report  '  how  far  it  is  consistent  with  the  public 
good  and  with  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  inten- 
tions of  the  testator  that  the  said  funds  should 
remain  longer  in  the  College  of  Physicians'.    The 
Earl  of  Altamont  was  appointed  chairman  of  this 
Committee,   and  any  of  the  Lords  who  wished 
were  to  attend  as  members.    The  Committee  met 
on  Tuesday,  April  16,   1799,  the  Earl  of  Mayo 


190       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

and  Lord  Tullamore  attending  with  the  chairman. 
The  first  witness  examined  was  Perceval,  and  his 
evidence  displays  the  animus  he  felt  against  the 
College  of  which  he  was  a  Fellow.  He  made  little 
of  the  efforts  of  the  College  to  establish  a  hospital 
for  clinical  teaching,  an  establishment  which  had 
been  undertaken  at  his  instigation,  and  of  which 
he  was  a  governor.  He  accused  the  College  of 
expending  the  trust  funds  to  pay  the  law  expenses 
of  both  sides  in  a  case  in  which  the  College  was 
defendant,  though  he  admitted,  on  being  pressed, 
that  the  whole  sum  so  expended  between  Novem- 
ber 21,  1794,  and  November  20,  1798,  amounted 
only  to  £333  145.  lid.,  of  which  sum  £221  2s.  Sd. 
was  paid  out  of  the  private  fund  of  the  College. 
When  asked,  '  Do  you  conceive  that  the  trusts  of 
the  Will  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun,  as  explained  and 
amended  by  subsequent  Acts,  have  been  carried 
on  in  the  best  and  fairest  manner,  for  the  pur- 
poses of  the  institution,  or  in  a  just  and  faithful 
discharge  of  the  trust  ? '  he  replied,  '  They  cer- 
tainly, in  my  opinion,  have  not  been  carried  on  in 
such  a  manner,  and  I  am  further  of  opinion  that 
no  provision  exists  for  preventing  many  of  the 
abuses  which  have  existed  from  occurring  again.' 
He  stated  further  that  he  did  not  consider  it  to  be 
in  the  interest  of  the  public  that  the  management 
of  the  funds  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  estates  should 
remain  in  the  hands  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 
In  his  opinion,  the  surplus  funds  from  the  estate, 
together  with  the  fees  to  be  paid  by  students 
attending  the  lectures  at  the  hospital,  would  be 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800        191 

sufficient  '  for  a  great  and  highly  useful  national 
establishment '.  To  show  the  foresight  exhibited 
in  this  remark  one  should  remember  that  the  most 
liberal  estimates  of  the  surplus  funds  did  not 
place  that  sum  higher  than  £1,000  or£i,ioo  a  year, 
and,  at  three  guineas  apiece,  fifty  students  would 
only  contribute  £157  ios.  a  year.  Thus  with  an 
endowment  of  under  £1,300  a  year  he  proposed 
to  build  and  support  a  hospital  which  would  be 
'  a  great  and  highly  useful  national  establishment '. 
At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Committee  the  Bishop 
of  Ossory  took  the  place  of  the  Earl  of  Mayo,  and 
Doctors  Plunket,  Hopkins,  Cullen,  and  Harvey, 
Fellows  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  were  examined. 
They  all  displayed  considerable  ignorance  with 
regard  to  the  history  of  the  application  of  the  trust, 
but  generally  were  of  an  opinion  unfavourable  to 
the  administration  of  the  College.  On  April  18, 
1799,  the  Earl  of  Altamont,  the  Earl  of  Mayo, 
and  Lord  Tullamore  again  met  as  a  Committee, 
and  adopted  the  following  report : 

'  The  Lords  Committee  appointed  to  examine  into  the 
application  of  the  funds  bequeathed  by  Sir  Patrick  Dun 
for  the  establishment  of  a  hospital  for  clinical  lectures, 
and  to  report  the  same,  as  they  shall  appear  to  them,  to 
this  house,  have  met  and  made  a  minute  inquiry  into  the 
matter  to  them  referred,  and  after  an  investigation  of  the 
books  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  and  the  examination 
of  the  most  respectable  members  of  said  College,  as  well 
as  of  the  Professors  of  Physic  by  them  chosen,  whose 
testimony  is  now  submitted  to  your  Lordships,  it  appears 
clearly  that  the  intentions  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun,  as  explained 
by  the  Acts  of  the  25th  and  3ist  of  the  present  reign, 


I92       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

have  not  been  carried  into  effect,  and,  by  the  unanimous 
admission  of  every  witness  examined,  the  trust  confided 
in  the  said  College  of  Physicians  has  been  grossly  misused. 

'  It  appears  to  your  Committee  that  by  the  3ist  of  the 
present  King  it  is  provided  that  salaries  from  the  funds 
of  Sir  Patrick  Dun  shall  be  paid  to  the  three  Professors 
at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  pounds  each,  and  no  more, 
and  that  the  surplus  of  the  income  of  said  estate,  which 
exceeded  one  thousand  pounds  a-year  after  paying  the 
said  three  professors,  should  be  applied  to  the  establish- 
ment and  support  of  an  hospital  as  the  best  means  of 
extending  the  knowledge  of  medicine  by  uniting  the 
practice  to  the  theory  of  Physic. 

'  It  appears  to  your  Committee  that  the  salaries  to  the 
said  three  professors,  at  one  hundred  pounds  a-year, 
and  no  more,  had  been  regularly  paid,  but  that  though 
no  hospital  has  been  permanently  established,  nor  any 
more  than  a  small  sum  applied  to  the  support  of  patients, 
the  only  balance  of  the  said  surplus  now  forthcoming  is 
£5  '•  9  :  3.  though  there  might  have  been  a  Balance  of  many 
Thousand  Pounds. 

'  In  searching  for  the  cause  of  said  deficiency  it  appears 
to  your  Committee  that  many  considerable  sums  have 
been  expended  by  said  College  of  Physicians  not  at  all 
warranted  either  by  the  intention  of  the  Testator,  or  by 
the  several  acts  of  the  legislature  before  alluded  to  for 
carrying  the  same  into  effect,  and  among  the  said  items 
unwisely  and  unwarrantably  expended,  your  Committee 
hold  themselves  bound  to  notice  a  present  of  Claret  to 
the  President  of  the  College  of  Physicians  annually, 
an  immoderate  purchase  of  Books,  in  some  instances 
twice  paid  for,  Law  Suits  carried  on  in  which  the  said 
College  were  both  Plaintiffs  and  Defendants,  and  actually 
paid  from  said  Funds  the  expenses  of  both,  and  Loans 
to  indigent  members  of  said  College,  which  were  never 
repaid  in  many  instances,  and  which  with  other  charges 
equally  foreign  to  the  said  trust  have  consumed  the  whole 
surplus  Income  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  estate  which  under 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       193 

wise  and  frugal  management  would  have  afforded  means 
for  a  great  and  useful  national  establishment. 

'  Your  Committee  being  of  opinion  that  there  were 
funds  abundantly  sufficient  for  such  establishment,  ear- 
nestly hope  that  the  wisdom  of  the  Legislature  will  put 
them  under  such  Regulations  as  will  faithfully  discharge 
the  benign  intention  of  the  Testator  and  most  extensively 
benefit  the  Public.' 

This  is  not  the  place  to  enter  into  a  defence  of 
the  College  of  Physicians  against  the  charges  con- 
tained in  the  foregoing  report,  but  it  is  right  to 
say  that  a  careful  investigation  of  the  accounts 
of  the  College  does  not  bear  out  the  truth  of  the 
allegations.  With  regard  to  the  presents  of  claret, 
it  is  expressly  stated  in  the  College  Minutes  that 
this  was  to  be  paid  for  out  of  the  private  funds  of 
the  College,  and  there  is  no  entry  of  such  expendi- 
ture in  the  trust  accounts.  In  explanation  of  this 
gift  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  President 
for  each  year  placed  his  house  at  the  disposal  of 
the  College  for  their  meetings  and  as  a  home  for 
their  property,  there  being  at  that  time  no  other 
place  appropriated  to  College  purposes.  In  regard 
to  the  money  spent  on  lawsuits,  it  has  always  been 
recognized  that  the  legal  expenses  involved  in  the 
administration  of  a  trust  should  be  taken  by  the 
trustees  from  the  trust  funds.  When  the  Professors 
put  forward  their  claim,  founded  on  the  highest 
legal  opinion,  to  two-thirds  of  the  income  of  the 
trust  estate,  the  College  endeavoured  to  settle 
the  claim  by  *  an  amicable  suit ',  the  expenses  of 
which  should  be  borne  by  the  trust  estate,  but 
when  this  was  found  to  be  impossible  they  resisted 

o 


194       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

the  claim  of  the  Professors  in  the  courts,  and  two- 
thirds  of  the  total  legal  expenses  were  borne  by 
the  private  funds  of  the  College.  The  Irish  Parlia- 
ment at  the  time  was,  however,  in  no  condition 
to  judge  of  the  honesty  of  any  body  or  any 
corporation,  as  it  was  itself  hopelessly  corrupt. 
It  was,  however,  in  consequence  of  this  report  that 
the  School  of  Physic  Act l  of  1800  was  passed. 

This  Act  set  forth  that  the  Professors  appointed 
were  to  be  called  the  King's  Professors  of  the  City 
of  Dublin  on  the  foundation  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun, 
and  to  be  as  follows  : 

Professor  of  the  Institutes  of  Medicine, 
Professor  of  the  Practice  of  Medicine, 
Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy, 
and  when  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College 
of  Physicians  should  think  fit,  or  the  funds  permit 
of  it,  a  Professor  of  Midwifery  was  to  be  appointed. 
The  existing  Professors  were  to  be  continued  in 
office.  Each  Professor  was  to  have  a  salary  of 
£100  (Irish)  a  year,  and  no  more,  out  of  Dun's 
estate.  After  the  payment  of  the  three  King's 
Professors  it  was  estimated  that  there  would  be 
a  surplus  of  about  £900  a  year.  Out  of  this 
surplus,  after  deducting  £70  a  year  for  the  salary 
of  a  librarian,  the  agent's  fees,  the  expenses  of 
advertising  lectures,  and  other  matters  incident 
to  the  School  of  Physic,  a  sum  not  exceeding  £150 
a  year  was  to  be  paid  as  ground-rent  for  land  on 
which  to  build  a  hospital.  The  surplus,  after  these 
charges  had  been  paid,  was  to  be  devoted  to 

1  40  George  III,  cap.  Ixxxiv. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       195 

building  the  hospital  until  it  was  of  sufficient  size 
to  contain  beds  for  thirty  patients.  This  hospital 
was  to  be  called  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital,  and 
the  governing  body  was  to  consist  of  the  Visitors 
of  the  College  of  Physicians,  the  President,  Vice- 
President,  and  Censors  of  the  same,  the  Provost 
of  Trinity  College,  and  twelve  other  persons  to  be 
elected  out  of  those  who  might  become  subscribers; 
but  no  physician  or  surgeon  who  attended  patients 
in  the  hospital  might  become  a  governor.  Eight 
Commissioners  were  named  for  the  more  speedy 
building  of  the  hospital,  and  vacancies  among 
these  Commissioners  were  to  be  filled  by  the 
President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 
All  moneys  and  arrears  belonging  to  the  estate,  as 
well  as  the  £1,200  vested  in  the  public  funds,  were 
to  be  handed  to  these  Commissioners  for  building 
purposes.  No  clinical  patients  were  to  be  main- 
tained out  of  the  funds  of  Dun's  estate  till  the 
hospital  was  built  and  had  sufficient  accommoda- 
tion for  thirty  patients.  After  that  the  clear 
residue,  over  and  above  that  necessary  to  support 
the  thirty  patients,  was  to  be  applied  to  enlarging 
the  hospital  till  it  could  accommodate  one  hundred 
patients  and  contain  a  room  for  a  library  and 
a  lecture-room.  When  the  hospital  was  completed, 
and  after  defraying  the  necessary  charges  arising 
from  maintaining  one  hundred  patients  and  the 
establishment  of  the  hospital,  which  were  not 
met  by  voluntary  subscriptions,  then  the  surplus 
was  to  be  devoted  first  to  paying  a  salary  of  £100 
to  a  Professor  of  Midwifery,  and  then  to  such 


196       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

other  purposes  connected  with  the  School  of 
Physic  as  should  be  approved  by  the  Chancellor  or 
Vice-Chancellor  of  the  University,  the  Archbishop 
of  Dublin,  the  Provost  of  Trinity  College,  and  the 
Professor  of  Physic  of  the  University.  The  King's 
Professors  were  to  give  clinical  lectures  on  the 
patients  in  the  hospital  on  two  days  a  week  during 
each  session,  without  any  extra  salary,  and  the 
King's  Professors  and  the  University  Professors 
were  to  '  read  such  lectures  during  the  space  of 
three  months,  in  alternate  succession,  as  had 
heretofore  been  practised,  or  in  such  order  as  they 
shall  agree  upon  amongst  themselves '.  Each  pupil 
was  to  pay  a  fee  of  three  guineas  for  each  three 
months'  course.  Before  he  was  allowed  to  enter 
for  such  a  course  he  was  to  enter  his  name  with 
the  treasurer  of  the  hospital,  and  pay  to  him  for 
the  use  of  the  hospital  a  fee  of  twenty  guineas, 
unless  he  was  a  matriculated  student  of  Dublin, 
or  Oxford,  or  Cambridge  University,  and  had  con- 
tinued his  studies  in  Arts  under  a  tutor  in  one  of 
these  Universities  for  at  least  two  years,  in  which 
case  he  was  only  to  pay  for  the  use  of  the  hospital 
a  fee  of  three  guineas.  This  payment  of  twenty 
guineas  or  three  guineas  was  to  entitle  the  student 
to  be  admitted  to  any  course  during  one  year,  but 
if  he  wished  to  enter  for  a  further  period  he  was 
to  pay  a  further  fee  of  twenty  guineas  or  three 
guineas  '  as  the  case  may  be  by  the  year  '. 

The  President  and  Fellows  were  on  St.  Luke's 
Day  to  elect  a  librarian,  who  was  to  have  control 
of  the  library,  and  receive  a  salary  of  £70  (Irish), 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       197 

provided  he  '  supplied  fuel  for  the  Library '  and 
medical  lecture-room.  Till  the  hospital  was  built 
the  books  were  to  be  kept  in  a  room  provided  by 
Trinity  College,  which  room  was  to  be  under  the 
inspection  of  the  Provost.  A  general  control  of 
the  library  and  the  purchase  of  books  was  to 
be  in  the  hands  of  the  Chancellor  of  the  Univer- 
sity, the  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  the  Provost,  and 
the  Professor  of  Physic  in  Trinity  College.  The 
University  Professors,  as  denned  in  the  former 
Act,  were  to  continue  on  the  same  footing  as 
before. 

The  election  of  the  King's  Professors  was  to  be 
carried  out  as  denned  in  the  former  Act,  the  method 
of  choosing  the  electors,  their  powers,  and  the 
notice  of  the  election  being  as  before,  and  no  elector 
was  eligible  for  a  Professorship.  The  King's  Pro- 
fessorships were,  however,  thrown  open  to  persons 
of  ah1  nations  who  professed  '  their  faith  in  Christ ', 
but  the  University  Professorships  were  still  con- 
fined to  Protestants.  The  oath  to  be  administered 
to  the  electors  and  the  Professors  was  denned, 
and  permission  was  given  for  a  Quaker  to  affirm 
instead  of  taking  the  oath.  The  Professorships 
were  all  to  become  vacant  every  seventh  year, 
permanence  being  given,  however,  to  the  existing 
holders  of  the  University  Professorships,  during 
good  behaviour.  At  the  expiration  of  the  seven 
years  of  office  the  Professor  was  eligible  for  re- 
election, and  might  be  continued  in  office  for 
a  second  period  of  seven  years  without  formal 
election,  provided  that  three  months'  notice  was 

03 


198       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

given  of  the  fact  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  which 
was  necessary  if  the  election  was  to  be  held.  The 
powers  of  the  College  to  regulate  these  Professors 
were  the  same  as  before,  with  a  similar  power  to 
appeal  to  the  Visitors  in  case  of  a  deadlock.  The 
clauses  relating  to  the  admonishing  of  the  Pro- 
fessors, and  those  defining  their  duties  and  times  of 
lecturing  were  re-enacted.  The  clinical  lectureswere 
to  be  given  in  English,  unless  otherwise  directed  by 
the  Colleges,  and  a  room  was  to  be  provided  in 
Trinity  College  for  them  till  the  hospital  was 
built.  The  regulations  as  regards  the  fees  of 
students,  for  lectures  other  than  the  clinical 
lectures,  were  to  be  settled  by  the  respective 
Colleges.  The  Professors  were,  when  they  had 
completed  half  the  course  of  their  lectures,  to 
return  to  the  Senior  Lecturer  of  Trinity  College 
a  list  of  the  pupils  who  had  '  attended  them 
during  such  part  of  said  course  of  their  respective 
lectures '. 

Till  the  hospital  was  built  the  President  and 
Fellows  might  permit  the  clinical  lectures  to  be 
given  in  any  Dublin  Hospital,  where  this  was 
permitted  by  the  Governors  '  without  expense  to 
the  Estate  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun  '. 

The  Act  also  appointed  the  Lord  Chancellor 
of  Ireland,  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's 
Bench,  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common 
Pleas,  and  the  Lord  Chief  Baron  of  the  Exchequer, 
all  of  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland  and  for  the  time 
being,  as  Visitors  of  the  College  of  Physicians.  To 
these  Visitors  the  President  and  Fellows  were  once 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       199 

in  each  year  to  '  render  a  true,  just  and  full  account 
of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  issues  and 
profits  of  the  estates  real  and  personal  of  the  said 
Sir  Patrick  Dun  '. 

It  was  further  decided  that  any  Fellow  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  who  was  appointed  a  Pro- 
fessor, either  University  or  King's  Professor,  was 
thereby  to  vacate  his  Fellowship.  He  might,  how- 
ever, be  elected,  during  the  tenure  of  his  Professor- 
ship, an  Honorary  Fellow  of  the  College.  Such 
Honorary  Fellows  were  not  to  attend  the  meetings 
of  the  College  or  vote  at  them  unless  specially 
summoned  by  the  President  to  consult  in  some 
matter  '  regulating  of  the  practice  of  Medicine  in 
this  City  or  Kingdom  '. 

No  University  Professor  or  King's  Professor  was 
to  be  allowed  to  hold  the  office  of  'the  King's 
Professorship  of  Physic  in  the  University  of 
Dublin ',  and  no  one  was  to  be  elected  a  Fellow  of 
the  College  of  Physicians  unless  he  was  a  Bachelor 
or  Master  of  Arts  or  Doctor  of  Physic  of  either 
Dublin,  Oxford,  or  Cambridge  University,  unless 
the  number  of  Fellows  was  reduced  to  six,  in  which 
case  such  qualification  might  be  dispensed  with. 
William  Harvey,  Patrick  Plunket,  and  Daniel 
Bryan,  who  had  recently  vacated  their  Fellow- 
ships, were  reinstated,  and  William  Harvey  was 
appointed  President  of  the  College.  Persons  pro- 
fessing the  Roman  Catholic  religion  were  to  be 
eligible  for  election  as  Fellows  of  the  College 
of  Physicians,  provided  they  subscribed  to  the 
oath  defined  in  'An  Act  to  enable  his  Majesty's 


200       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

Subjects,  of  whatever  persuasion,  to  testify  their 
allegiance  to  him ',  and  no  other  oath  was  to  be 
administered  to  such  persons. 

The  clause  in  the  Charter  of  William  and  Mary, 
which  admitted  all  graduates  in  Physic  of  the 
University  of  Dublin  to  the  College  of  Physicians 
without  examination,  was  repealed,  and  the  College 
was  given  permission  to  examine  all  such  persons 
before  admission,  '  in  the  same  manner  as  other 
persons  are  usually  examined  and  to  reject  such 
of  them  as  shall  decline  to  submit  to  such  examina- 
tion or  shall  upon  examination  appear  to  them  to 
be  unfit  to  be  admitted.' 

This  Act,  which  received  the  Royal  Assent  on 
August  i,  1800,  defined  the  statutory  obligations 
of  the  School  of  Physic  in  clear  and  distinct  terms, 
and  under  its  provisions  the  School  and  Colleges 
are  still  largely  governed. 

Shortly  after  the  passing  of  the  Act,  James 
Cleghorn,  who  was  in  bad  health  and  showed  no 
aptitude  for  anatomical  teaching,  resigned  his 
chair,  and  William  Hartigan,  his  assistant,  was 
elected  in  his  place.  The  family  of  Hartigan,  or 
O' Hartigan,  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  ancient 
Irish  origin,  whose  members  possessed  estates  in 
County  Galway.1  The  first  of  this  family  we  meet 
in  Dublin  was  Edward  Hartigan,  apothecary,  and 
member  of  the  Guild  of  Barber  Surgeons,  who  was 
admitted  to  the  Freedom  of  the  City  of  Dublin  in 
1749.  This  Edward  made  his  will  on  the  28th 
December,  1766,  signing  it  with  his  mark,  he  '  not 

1  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  326. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       201 

being  able  to  use  his  right  hand'.  In  this  will, 
which  was  proved  on  the  24th  January,  1767,  he 
leaves  the  residue  of  his  estate  and  effects  to  his 
son  William  and  his  daughter  Mary  when  they 
should  come  to  the  age  of  18.  William  Hartigan, 
born  about  the  year  1766,  was  educated  as  a 
surgeon,  and  on  March  2,  1784,  at  the  first  meeting 
of  the  College  of  Surgeons  under  their  new  charter, 
was  elected  a  member  of  that  body.  On  the 
30th  October,  1789,  he  was  elected  to  the  Chair  of 
Anatomy  and  Physiology  in  the  College  of  Surgeons 
School,  and  in  September  of  1798  was  appointed 
Professor  of  Surgery.  Both  these  appointments 
he  resigned  in  1799,  having  in  the  year  1797  held 
the  office  of  President  of  the  College  of  Surgeons. 
On  August  31,  1799,  the  Board  granted  the  request 
of  Professor  James  Cleghorn  that  he  be  allowed  to 
employ  '  Mr.  Hartigan  a  Surgeon  of  eminence  ' 
to  assist  him  in  his  Anatomy  lectures  during  the 
coming  session,  and  this  permission  was  repeated 
on  the  27th  of  September  in  the  following  year. 
On  July  24,  1802,  Cleghorn  resigned,  and  the 
Board  appointed  the  30th  October  following  as 
the  date  of  election  of  the  new  Professor.1  This 
date  was  subsequently  altered  to  November  6,  in 
order  to  permit  the  statutory  advertisements  to 
appear,  and  on  the  latter  date  William  Hartigan 
was  elected,  being  apparently  the  only  candidate 
for  the  post.  Before  the  appointment  the  Board 
had  decided  that  the  Anatomy  house  should  re- 
ceive temporary  repair,  provided  the  repairs  were 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  393. 


202       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

necessary  and  the  cost  did  not  exceed  £20. 
Cameron l  states  that  he  has  in  his  possession 
tickets  of  admission  to  the  anatomical  course  in 
Trinity  College,  dated  November  1804,  in  which 
James  Cleghorn  is  mentioned  as  Professor  of 
Anatomy  and  Chirurgery,  and  William  Hartigan 
as  Lecturer  in  Anatomy.  Such  cards  must,  how- 
ever, have  been  merely  remnants  of  the  forms 
used  previous  to  Cleghorn's  resignation  and  Har- 
tigan's  appointment.  When  Cleghorn  resigned  the 
Chair  of  Anatomy  he  claimed  as  his  property  the 
anatomical  preparations  which  were  exhibited  in 
the  school.  These  were  probably  the  preparations 
made  by  his  uncle.  The  Board,  however,  admitted 
the  claim,  but  while  doing  so  they  adopted  the 
following  resolution  : 

'  That  whatever  preparations  should  henceforward  be 
made  by  the  Anatomy  Professor  they  shall  be  considered 
as  College  property ;  the  College  however  to  be  at  the 
expense  of  all  the  necessary  ingredients  for  making  such 
preparations.'  * 

About  the  same  time  the  Board  appointed  three 
of  their  number  as  a  Committee  to  consider  what 
money  the  College  should  allocate  to  enable  the 
Professors  of  Botany,  Chemistry,  and  Anatomy 
'to  render  their  lectures  more  useful'.  This  com- 
mittee reported  on  February  12,  1803,  that  the 
claim  of  Dr.  Cleghorn  to  almost  all  the  prepara- 
tions in  the  Anatomical  Theatre  had  been  admitted 
by  the  Board,  but  the  removal  of  these  prepara- 
tions would  interrupt  the  course  of  anatomical 

1  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  327.  '  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  399. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       203 

studies,  and  materially  injure  the  reputation  of 
the  University.  Under  these  circumstances  the 
Committee  recommended  the  Board  to  offer  Dr. 
Cleghorn  a  sum  of  £250  for  the  entire  collection. 
They  further  recommended  that  the  Board  should 
grant  to  the  Professor  of  Anatomy  a  sum  not 
exceeding  £15  per  annum  '  to  supply  mercury, 
spirits  and  other  materials  for  making  and  pre- 
serving such  Anatomical  Preparations  '.  Had  the 
Board  in  the  future  rigidly  adhered  to  these 
resolutions  the  College  would  have  been  saved  the 
loss  of  many  valuable  anatomical  and  pathological 
specimens.  On  November  6,  1803,  a  list  of  the 
preparations  in  the  Anatomical  Theatre,  signed 
by  the  late  and  present  Professors  of  Anatomy, 
was  submitted  to  the  Board  and  ordered  to  be 
'  laid  up  among  the  College  Papers ' ;  the  where- 
abouts of  this  interesting  document  has  not  been 
discovered. 

Hartigan  lived  first  in  King  Street,  Stephen's 
Green,  and  then  in  No.  3,  Kildare  Street,  a  house 
afterwards  famous  as  the  residence  of  James 
William  Cusack.  It  is  probable  that  he  was 
educated  as  an  apprentice  to  a  surgeon,  for  we 
have  no  record  of  his  having  taken  a  University 
degree  till  in  1802  he  was  granted  an  M.D.  of 
Trinity  College,  honoris  causa.  He  was  twice 
married,  first  in  December  1780,*  to  a  Miss 
Isabella  Steward,  and  secondly  on  August  n, 
1787,  to  Anne  Elizabeth  Pollock,  of  Jervis  Street.2 
His  eldest  son,  Edward,  was  for  a  time  his  appren- 

1  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  328.  *  Dub.  Chronicle,  1787. 


204       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

tice,  but  eventually  left  surgery  for  the  Church. 
Hartigan  died  of  '  ossification  of  the  heart '  on 
December  15,  1812.  He  had  been  unable  to  lecture 
during  the  winter  session  of  that  year,  and  at  his 
request  on  the  3ist  October,  1812,  the  Board  had 
appointed  Samuel  Wilmot  to  lecture  in  his  place.1 
The  Botany  School,  one  of  the  original  depart- 
ments of  the  Medical  Faculty  of  the  College 
founded  in  1711,  was  for  many  years  greatly 
hampered  in  its  work  by  the  want  of  a  garden 
for  teaching  purposes.  We  have  seen  that  as  early 
as  1687 2  the  kitchen  garden  of  the  College  was  to 
be  made  into  a  physic  garden  at  the  charge  of 
the  College,  and  at  the  building  of  the  School  in 
1711  '  the  Laboratory  and  Anatomick  Theatre  ' 
were  to  be  erected  at  the  south-east  corner  of 
the  '  Physick  Garden  '.  With  the  building  of  the 
library,  which  was  completed  about  1733,  this 
physic  garden  seems  to  have  disappeared.  At  any 
rate  we  meet  with  no  further  mention  of  it  in  the 
College  Registers,  and  its  existence  is  not  indicated 
in  the  plan  of  the  College  in  Rocque's  map  in 

1750. 

William  Clements,  Lecturer  in  Botany  from  1733 
to  1763,  was  for  the  last  ten  years  of  that  period 
also  Vice-Provost,  and  in  that  capacity  had  allotted 
to  him  a  considerable  tract  of  ground  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  College  Park,  which  was  long 
known  as  the  Vice-Provost's  garden.  It  is  prob- 
able that  Clements  made  use  of  this  garden  in 
obtaining  supplies  for  his  botanical  lectures.  James 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  72.  *  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  264. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       205 

Span,  who  in  1763  succeeded  Clements  as  Lecturer 
in  Botany,  seems  to  have  cultivated  a  small 
botanical  garden,1  but  where  it  was  situated  we 
have  not  been  able  to  discover.  Edward  Hill,  who 
succeeded  Span  in  1773,  was  most  anxious  to 
establish  a  large  and  well-ordered  garden,  one 
which  would  be  not  only  a  credit  but  an  ornament 
to  the  College.  This  he  looked  on  as  of  far  greater 
importance  than  the  establishment  of  a  hospital 
for  clinical  lectures,  a  form  of  teaching  to  which, 
as  we  have  seen,  he  was  not  partial.  At  the  time 
of  Hill's  appointment  the  present  site  of  Botany 
Bay  was  the  kitchen  garden  of  the  College,  and 
towards  the  close  of  1774  this  ground  was  taken 
up  for  additional  buildings  for  the  accommodation 
of  students.2  It  is  possible  that  it  was  in  this 
kitchen  garden  that  Span  grew  the  specimens  with 
which  he  illustrated  his  lectures,  and  it  is  from 
the  former  use  to  which  the  site  was  put  that  the 
present  square  owes  the  name  of  '  Botany  Bay '. 
On  January  21,  1775,  the  Provost  was  asked  to 
'  look  out  for  a  piece  of  ground  proper  and  con- 
venient for  a  Botany  Garden  ',3  but  he  does  not 
seem  to  have  succeeded  in  finding  such  a  place. 
Hill  was  bitterly  disappointed  that  the  School  of 
Physic  Act  of  1785  did  not  contain  permission 
for  the  establishment  of  a  botanical  garden,  and 
he  set  himself  at  once  to  try  to  induce  the  Board 
and  the  College  of  Physicians  jointly  to  establish 
such  a  place.  He  felt  that  the  more  money  from 

1  Perceval,  Account,  p.  16.  *  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  298. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  iv,  p.  299. 


206       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

the  Dun's  estate  which  was  spent  on  other  pur- 
poses, such  as  the  establishment  of  a  hospital,  the 
less  was  he  likely  to  effect  this  object,  and  it  is 
to  this  cause  that  we  must  largely  attribute  his 
quarrel  with  Perceval. 

About  the  year  1789  Hill  applied  to  the  Board 
for  money  to  support  a  garden,  and  they  authorized 
him  to  make  a  similar  application  to  the  College  of 
Physicians,  who  on  March  the  25th  of  that  year 
resolved  that,  since  the  Board  were  willing  to  set 
apart  £70  a  year  for  such  a  purpose,  the  College 
of  Physicians  would  co-operate  in  the  undertaking 
when  the  necessary  estimates  were  prepared.  Hill 
proposed  that  the  Physicians  should  grant  £100 
a  year  from  the  trust  estate,  and  a  resolution 
agreeing  to  this  was  passed  as  a  first  reading  on 
April  15,  1793.  In  this  year,  1793,  an  Act  passed 
the  Irish  House  of  Commons  granting  the  sum  of 
£5,000  to  the  Dublin  Society,  of  which  sum  £1,300 
was  to  be  applied  '  towards  providing  and  main- 
taining a  botanic  Garden  '  and  other  purposes  ;  of 
this  sum  at  least  £300  was  to  be  expended  on  the 
garden.1  It  was  hoped  that  the  Society  and  the 
Colleges  might  join  in  the  support  of  this  garden, 
but  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  when 
approached  on  the  matter,  said  '  he  would  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  Colleges  '.*  Hill  was  so 
satisfied  with  the  way  things  were  progressing 
that  in  December,  1795,  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  Provost  Murray,  he  took  the  lease  of 
a  field,  about  six  acres  in  extent,  which  he  said  he 

1  Statutes  of  the  Realm,  vol.  xvi,  p.  571.     *  Hill,  Address  (i),  p.  17. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       207 

would  hold  in  trust  for  the  University,  and  of 
which  he  agreed  to  pay  one-half  the  rent  until 
such  time  as  the  whole  ground  was  required  by 
the  University  for  the  purposes  of  a  garden.  On 
May  23,  1797,  the  College  of  Physicians  passed  as 
a  second  reading  the  resolution  appropriating  £100 
a  year  towards  this  garden.  It  was  then  suggested 
that  such  application  of  the  funds  was  outside  the 
powers  of  the  Trustees,  and  a  Committee,  consist- 
ing of  Drs.  Perceval,  Hill,  and  Harvey,  was  ap- 
pointed to  confer  with  the  Board  and  take  legal 
opinion  on  the  matter.  This  Committee  reported 
on  the  agth  of  September,  1797,  that  Dr.  Hill 
received  as  salary  and  for  the  support  of  a  garden 
the  sum  of  £160  a  year,  out  of  which  £100  was 
annually  appropriated  to  the  support  of  a  garden, 
and  that  the  Committee  would  consider  the  arrange- 
ments for  the  support  of  this  garden  by  the  two 
Colleges  as  soon  as  the  right  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  to  use  the  funds  of  Dun's  estate  for 
this  purpose  was  established.  Hill  then  produced 
to  the  College  of  Physicians  counsel's  opinion  that 
such  an  application  of  the  funds  was  quite  legal, 
and  the  Committee  was  ordered  to  meet  again  and 
make  final  arrangements,  Dr.  Perceval  to  be  the 
convener,  but,  before  this  Committee  was  sum- 
moned to  meet,  the  College  of  Physicians  on  the 
I5th  of  January,  1798,  had  before  them  for  the 
third  reading  the  resolution  granting  the  £100 
a  year  for  the  garden,  which  resolution  was  lost 
by  the  casting  vote  of  the  chairman.  Hill  then 
determined  to  devote  his  entire  salary  to  the  sup- 


208       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

port  of  his  garden,  but  he  got  little  or  no  encourage- 
ment from  the  University,  and  when  the  second 
School  of  Physic  Act  was  passed  he  was  com- 
pelled, on  the  nth  of  August,  1800,  to  resign 
his  Professorship  of  Botany,  and  Robert  Scott 
was  appointed  his  successor.  Hill  afterwards 
endeavoured  to  recover  from  the  Board  the  money 
he  had  spent  on  the  garden,  an  attempt  which  led 
to  considerable  dispute,  and  though  both  parties 
agreed  on  July  4,  1801,  to  submit  the  matter  to 
arbitration,  eventually,  in  March,  1803,  a  case 
came  to  trial  at  the  King's  Bench,  when  a  consent 
was  made  a  rule  of  court  by  which  the  Board  had 
to  pay  Hill  the  sum  of  £618  igs.  gd.,  the  garden 
and  all  the  buildings  in  it  being  handed  over  to 
Hill  absolutely.  Each  party  was  to  pay  its  own 
costs  in  the  action.1 

While  this  dispute  was  in  progress,  on  April  n, 
1801,  the  Board  decided  that  the  Professor  of 
Botany  should  be  authorized  to  employ  a  gardener, 
'  acquainted  with  the  botanical  arrangements  of 
plants ',  at  a  salary  of  £50,  in  order  to  assist  in 
collecting  plants  to  illustrate  the  botanical  lec- 
tures. This  gardener  was  to  live  in  the  house  at 
Harold's  Cross,  built  by  Dr.  Hill,  and  to  superin- 
tend the  ground  there.  The  Committee  appointed 
by  the  Board  to  report  on  the  annual  expenditure 
necessary  to  make  the  lectures  of  the  medical 
professors  more  useful,  recommended  that  the 
Professor  of  Botany  should  be  allowed  to  spend 
£100  a  year  for  supplying  and  procuring  plants. 

1  Hill,  Address  (i),  p.  113. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       209 

They  were  of  opinion  that  Botany,  *  which  as  it 
is  connected  with  general  knowledge,  and  estab- 
lished as  a  public  lecture  for  all  students,  ought 
to  be  patronised  by  the  University.'  They  were 
further  of  the  opinion  that  '  Dr.  Scott's  talents 
and  exertions  as  Professor  of  Botany  well  deserve 
that  he  should  receive  from  the  students  instead 
of  155.  each,  the  sum  of  £i  55.  each.' x  On  March  9, 
1805,  the  Board  increased  the  salary  of  the 
gardener  to  £130  a  year,  on  condition  that  he 
employed  two  labourers  throughout  the  year,  and 
additional  labourers  from  the  month  of  March  to 
December.2  The  next  year,  on  July  5,  the  Board 
agreed  'to  take  a  piece  of  land  consisting  of  ... 
acres  leased  by  Lord  Fitzwilliam  to  the  College  for 
175  years  at  15  guineas  an  acre  for  the  purpose 
of  a  Botany  Garden  provided  that  Dr.  Scott  the 
Professor  of  Botany  notify  the  ground  to  be  in  all 
respects  fitted  for  that  purpose.' 3  Thus  was 
started  the  splendid  garden  at  Ball's  Bridge,  which 
still  remains  such  a  useful  and  ornamental  adjunct 
to  the  University.  This  garden  the  Board  decided 
to  enclose  with  a  wall  ten  feet  high,  and  on  May  6, 
1807,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  Dublin 
Society  '  for  the  assistance  which  the  Society  has 
voted  to  our  new  Botanic  Gardens  '.4  It  was 
decided  on  the  27th  February,  1808,  that  the  Pro- 
fessor of  Botany  was  to  lecture  four  times  a  week 
from  the  I5th  of  April  to  the  I5th  of  July,  '  pro- 
vided that  if  he  chooses  to  conduct  his  pupils  into 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  403.  *  Ibid.,  p.  433. 

3  Ibid.,  p.  452.  *  Ibid.,  p.  470. 


210       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

the  country  in  order  to  examine  the  native  plants 
once  a  week  his  doing  so  shall  be  considered  as 
equivalent  to  a  lecture.' *  The  first  twelve  lectures 
of  the  course  were  to  be  open  to  all  students  of 
the  University,  the  remainder  being  confined  to 
those  who  paid  fees  for  attendance.  Dr.  Scott's 
term  as  Professor  having  expired,  he  was  re-elected 
on  the  25th  March,  1808,  Dr.  Leahy  and  Dr. 
Halliday  being  also  candidates.  Scott,  however, 
died  a  few  months  after  this  election,  and  on  the 
i6th  of  January,  1809,  William  Allman  was  elected 
Professor.  At  this  election,  Dr.  Harty,  Dr.  Litton, 
and  Dr.  Wade,  were  candidates,  as  well  as  Dr. 
Allman. 

The  gardener  who  was  appointed  to  assist  the 
Professor  was  James  Townsend  Mackay,  who 
proved  himself  afterwards  a  botanist  of  consider- 
able ability.  He  was  on  many  occasions  given 
special  grants  by  the  Board  for  the  purpose  of 
travelling  in  different  parts  of  the  country  to 
collect  specimens  for  the  garden,  and  in  1836  he 
published  his  Flora  Hibernica,  which  was  long 
a  standard  work  on  the  subject.  In  1849  the 
Board  granted  him  the  degree  of  LL.D.,  honoris 
causa,  and  he  continued  in  charge  of  the  garden 
till  his  death  on  February  25,  1862,  at  the  age  of 
85.  During  his  tenure  of  office  the  gardens  were 
considerably  increased  in  size,  and  laid  out  much 
in  their  present  form. 

The  fees  to  be  charged  for  botany  lectures  were 
several  times  regulated  by  the  Board.  On  the 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  480. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       211 

5th  April,  1791,  the  Professor  was  authorized  to 
charge  15s.1  to  each  of  the  senior  freshman  class 
for  these  lectures,  and  we  have  seen  that  in  1803 
this  fee  was  raised  by  los.  Again  on  July  13, 
1811,  the  fee  was  raised  to  £i  ios.,  and  at  this  it 
remained  for  many  years  after. 

The  chemical  laboratory,  which  had  been  in 
active  use  since  the  foundation  of  the  School, 
appears  to  have  been  developed  considerably 
during  the  Professorship  of  Perceval,  who,  what- 
ever may  be  thought  of  him  otherwise,  was  un- 
doubtedly most  active  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  his  chair.  In  1801  the  Board  set  out  the 
vacations  which  were  to  be  observed  by  the 
Professor  of  Chemistry.2  He  was  not  allowed 
much  relaxation  during  the  winter  session,  as  the 
vacations  were  to  be  '  from  the  Friday  before 
Christmas  Day  to  the  Monday  next  preceding  the 
feast  of  the  Epiphany.  Easter  vacation  from 
Good  Friday  to  the  Monday  next  succeeding 
Easter  Monday.  Shrovetide  vacation,  Shrove  Tues- 
day and  Ash  Wednesday.  Days  of  Public  Thanks- 
giving or  Humiliation  ;  and  the  days  of  Quarterly 
Examinations/  We  are  not  told  whether  these 
holidays  were  fixed  in  the  interests  of  the  students, 
or  to  compel  the  attendance  of  the  Professor,  but 
we  may  hope  it  was  not  necessary  for  the  latter 
purpose.  During  the  next  winter  session  Dr. 
Perceval  was  permitted  to  employ  Dr.  Francis 
Barker  to  assist  him  with  the  chemistry  lectures 
by  giving  a  private  course  in  the  laboratory,  and 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  187.  *  Ibid.,  p.  367. 


212       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

on  the  3rd  July,  1802, '  twenty  guineas  was  granted 
to  Dr.  Barker  going  to  Paris  for  the  purpose  of 
buying  fossils.'  x 

On  February  12,  1803,  Perceval  reported  '  that 
in  order  to  fit  up  the  Chemical  laboratory,  in 
a  manner  adapted  to  the  perfect  state  of  Natural 
Science,  with  permanent  apparatus,  a  sum  of 
nearly  £150  should  be  allotted,  which  will  render 
the  University  lectures  a  branch  of  Education 
suited  to  the  advanced  state  of  Science  and  pro- 
ductive of  that  impressive  effect  which  excites  the 
attention  of  the  youthful  mind.' 2  It  was  con- 
sidered that  if  this  money  were  granted  the  course 
in  Chemistry  would  not  involve  the  College  in  any 
annual  expenditure.  Some  months  later,  in  Decem- 
ber, Perceval  handed  to  the  Board  a  catalogue  of 
the  minerals  in  the  laboratory  which  were  to  be 
looked  on  as  College  property.  During  this  period 
Barker  continued  to  assist  the  Professor,  and  on 
the  2ist  of  December,  1805,  the  Board  resolved 
'  that  in  consideration  of  Dr.  Barker's  extraordinary 
exertions  in  the  different  courses  of  Chemistry 
which  he  has  given  he  be  empowered  to  furnish 
the  Bursar  with  Bills  of  his  expenses  for  the  course 
of  the  current  year  not  exceeding  £50  sterling  and 
certified  by  the  Professor.' 3 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  on  February  6, 
1808,  the  Provost  announced  Dr.  Perceval's  resig- 
nation of  the  Professorship  of  Chemistry,  and  it 
was  resolved  '  that  the  Provost  be  requested  to 
convey  to  Dr.  Perceval  the  lively  sense  which  the 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  392.         *  Ibid.,  p.  403.          *  Ibid.,  p.  441. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800        213 

Board  entertain  of  the  long  and  laborious  services 
in  that  Professorship,  of  the  zeal  and  ability  with 
which  he  has  discharged  his  duties  &  the  important 
effect  of  his  meritorious  exertions  in  exciting  & 
directing  the  attention  of  the  Country  and  of  the 
University  in  particular  to  the  pursuit  of  chemical 
knowledge.'  l  The  Professorship  was  then  adver- 
tised, and  on  May  16,  1808,  Dr.  Barker  was 
unanimously  elected.  He  continued  in  office  for 
forty-one  years.2 

Almost  immediately  after  the  passing  of  the 
School  of  Physic  Act  the  Board  admitted  the  prin- 
ciple of  extern  clinical  lectures.  Had  this  principle 
been  recognized  fifteen  years  earlier,  it  would  have 
saved  much  wrangling,  would  have  rendered  the 
Act  of  1800  unnecessary,  and  would  have  per- 
mitted the  money  which  was  spent  on  the  clinical 
hospital  to  be  devoted  to  the  development  of  the 
academic  teaching  in  the  School.  On  October  18, 
1800,  Perceval  applied  to  the  Board  for  permission 
to  employ  Dr.  Crampton  to  give,  in  place  of  him, 
clinical  lectures  in  Dr.  Steevens'  Hospital.  This 
permission  the  Board  granted,  subject  to  approval 
by  the  Governors  of  the  Hospital.  Crampton  had 
been  appointed  assistant  at  Dr.  Steevens'  Hospital 
in  the  previous  February,  and  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Governors  of  the  hospital  held  in  the  chambers  of  the 
Right  Hon.  the  Lord  Chancellor  at  the  Four  Courts 
on  the  zgth  November,  1800,  it  was  resolved : 

'  That  Dr.  Crampton  be  permitted  by  the  Governors 
of  Dr.  Steevens'  Hospital  to  give  reports  on  the  cases 
1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  480.  *  Ibid.,  p.  490. 

P3 


214       THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800 

of  the  medical  patients  whom  he  visits  in  said  Hospital 
during  the  Winter  half-year  ending  May  ist,  1801,  to 
pupils  attested  by  the  Senior  Lecturer  of  Trinity  College 
to  be  regularly  matriculated  in  the  School  of  Physic  in 
Dublin  and  none  others.  Said  pupils  paying  for  said 
attendance  on  said  reports  six  guineas  to  the  Register 
of  the  Hospital  and  to  Dr.  Crampton  for  reports  and 
lectures  on  said  reports,  five  guineas,  which  lectures  are 
to  be  delivered  in  Trinity  College.' 

'  Resolved :  that  admission  cards  be  provided  and 
signed  by  the  Register  and  that  he  make  out  a  list 
of  pupils  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Provost  and  Senior 
Fellows  of  Trinity  College  who  have  agreed  to  allow  the 
attendance  on  said  course  for  the  present  Medical  Session 
as  one  of  the  Qualifications  for  Medical  Degrees.'  * 

This  is  the  first  admission  of  the  principle  of 
clinical  instruction  in  the  general  hospitals  of 
Dublin,  a  principle  which  was  afterwards  to  be  so 
much  developed,  and  to  become  one  of  the  chief 
features  of  the  Dublin  School.  This  permission 
was  renewed  in  the  following  winter  session  and 
again  in  1802,  but  the  practice  was  stopped  in 
1803,  as  Steevens  Hospital  was  for  two  years  prac- 
tically in  the  hands  of  the  military  authorities 
during  alterations  in  the  Royal  Infirmary. 

In  1803  the  Board  gave  leave  to  Dr.  Stokes  '  to 
lend  one  of  his  rooms  to  the  gentlemen  giving 
clinical  lectures  on  the  cases  of  the  patients  in  the 
Meath  Hospital  for  the  space  of  one  fortnight  and 
no  longer,  unless  the  College  of  Physicians  recom- 
mend to  us  the  acceptance  of  attendance  on  these 
lectures  as  a  qualification  for  a  Medical  Diploma.' z 
The  College  of  Physicians  replied  at  once  '  that 

1  Minutes,  Steevens  Hospital.  *  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  418. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  ACT,  1800       215 

attendance  on  a  course  of  clinical  lectures  to  be 
delivered  by  Dr.  Stokes  at  the  Meath  Hospital  for 
six  months,  will  be  considered  by  the  College  of 
Physicians  as  an  adequate  qualification  for  medical 
degrees  so  far  as  the  attendance  on  Clinical  lectures 
constitutes  such  a  qualification*. 

In  1805  the  Board  again  extended  recognition 
to  the  lectures  of  Dr.  Crampton  at  Steevens 
Hospital,  and  this  is  the  last  we  hear  of  special 
permission  for  such  lectures.  The  present  building 
of  Dun's  Hospital  was  sufficiently  advanced  to 
accommodate  thirty  beds  in  1808,  and  no  doubt 
the  clinical  instruction  was  given  there.  Jonathan 
Osborne,  writing  in  1844  of  Dun's  Hospital,  states 
that  '  the  professors  Clinical  Courses  have  been 
uninterruptedly  delivered  during  the  medical  ses- 
sions for  the  last  twenty-three  years  ',  a  statement 
which  suggests  that  previous  to  1820  there  was 
little  teaching  there. 

In  July,  1821,  Robert  James  Graves  was 
appointed  Physician  to  the  Meath  Hospital,  and 
a  few  years  later  he  was  joined  by  William  Stokes. 
It  was  these  two  physicians  who  made  the  name 
of  the  Meath  Hospital  famous  in  medical  history, 
and  raised  the  standard  of  clinical  teaching  to 
a  height  which  had  never  before  been  known  in 
Dublin. 


CHAPTER  XI 
JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND  WHITLEY  STOKES 

THE  death  of  William  Hartigan,  '  the  late 
respectable  and  lamented  Professor  of  Anatomy,'  l 
was  to  prove  an  event  of  great  moment  in  the 
history  of  the  School  of  Physic,  for  on  June  21, 
1813,  James  Macartney  was  appointed  his  suc- 
cessor.2 Macartney,  whose  name  must  ever  be 
remembered  with  honour  in  Trinity  College,  was 
born  in  Armagh  on  the  8th  March,  1770,  where  his 
father,  also  James,  owned  some  property  and 
enjoyed  life  as  a  gentleman  farmer.  The  elder 
James  Macartney  was  a  man  of  some  literary  taste 
and  had  married  in  1760  Mary  Maxwell,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  John  Maxwell,  a  Presbyterian  minister 
and  a  close  friend  of  Francis  Hutcheson,  the 
Glasgow  Professor.  As  a  boy  the  future  anatomist 
was  kept  under  a  rigid  discipline  by  his  father,  and 
being  a  delicate  child,  he  received  little  teaching 
till  he  was  nearly  nine  years  old.  He  tells  us  that 
at  the  age  of  eight  years  he  suffered  from  a  severe 
attack  of  ophthalmia  which  made  him  almost 
blind  for  a  year,  and  it  was  not  till  he  had  recovered 
from  this  attack  that  he  learned  to  read.  At  the 
age  of  ten  years  he  was  enrolled  in  the  Armagh 
Corps  of  Irish  Volunteers,  a  division  of  that  great 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  81.  J  Ibid.,  p.  98. 


WHITLEY  STOKES  217 

citizen  army  of  the  north  which  at  one  time  seemed 
likely  to  change  the  history  of  Ireland.  At  the  age 
of  twelve  he  was  sent  to  the  Classical  Endowed 
School  of  Armagh,  but  he  only  remained  there 
for  a  short  period,  and  his  preliminary  education 
was  completed  at  home  under  the  care  of  a  private 
tutor.  In  1788,  on  the  death  of  his  mother,  he 
went  as  a  clerk  to  the  business  establishment  of 
his  cousins  Andrew  and  Hugh  Carlile,  linen  mer- 
chants of  Newry,  but  his  stay  there  was  short,  as 
in  1790  his  father  died  and  he  returned  home  to 
live  with  his  brothers. 

While  at  home  he  spent  his  time  farming,  and 
he  seems  to  have  revived  his  boyish  interest  in  the 
political  movements  of  the  time,  for  in  1792  he 
joined  the  Society  of  United  Irishmen,  and  in  the 
following  year  took  part  in  organizing  a  branch  in 
Armagh.  The  Society  of  United  Irishmen  was  at 
first  more  a  social  than  a  political  organization,  but 
it  soon  lost  its  original  purpose  and  came  under 
the  ban  of  the  Government.  Macartney  did  not 
approve  all  the  tendencies  of  the  Society  he  had 
joined,  and  in  consequence  his  relations  with  the 
more  ardent  members  became  greatly  strained. 
Just  at  this  time,  too,  he  fell  very  much  in  love 
with  a  Miss  Mary  Ekenhead,  and  on  her  refusing 
his  suit,  he  suffered  from  lovesickness,  and,  as  he 
tells  us,  he  determined  to  adopt  the  profession  of 
a  Surgeon  to  harden  his  heart. 

To  carry  out  this  intention,  and  probably  also 
to  escape  the  trying  position  in  which  his  political 
opinions  had  involved  him,  he  came  to  Dublin  in 


2i8  JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND 

1794.  In  March  of  that  year  he  was  bound  as 
apprentice  to  Hartigan,  then  Professor  of  Anatomy 
in  the  College  of  Surgeons'  School,  and  devoted 
himself  with  great  energy  to  the  study  of  Anatomy. 
He  also  attended  the  lectures  on  Chemistry  by 
Perceval  in  the  School  of  Physic,  the  only  part 
of  his  course  which  he  took  in  that  School.  While 
a  student  in  Dublin  he  became  a  close  friend  of 
many  of  the  leaders  of  the  United  Irishmen  then 
in  the  city,  and  though  never  actually  sworn  a 
member  he  was  present  at  many  of  the  Council 
Meetings.  In  Dublin,  as  previously  in  Armagh,  his 
refusal  to  take  the  oath,  and  his  objection  to  the 
more  violent  measures  advocated  by  some  of  the 
members  of  the  Society,  aroused  suspicion,  and  in 
1795  he  left  Dublin  and  returned  to  Armagh.  The 
strenuous  life  he  had  led  in  Dublin  seems  to  have 
told  on  his  health,  and  when  Miss  Ekenhead  saw 
him,  she  feared  that  he  was  still  suffering  from  the 
heart  trouble  which  her  refusal  of  him  had  caused 
the  year  before.  The  intervention  of  mutual 
friends  brought  about  a  renewal  of  the  suit,  and 
on  April  10,  1795,  James  Macartney  and  Mary 
Ekenhead  were  married.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
following  winter  session  Macartney  returned  to 
his  medical  studies  in  Dublin,  but  early  in  the 
year  1796,  with  the  full  permission  of  Hartigan, 
he  left  for  London.  During  the  next  three  years 
he  devoted  himself  to  study  with  great  energy, 
attending  classes  at  Guy's,  St.  Thomas's  and 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospitals,  as  well  as  at  the 
Great  Windmill  Street  School.  In  1798  he  was 


WHITLEY  STOKES  219 

appointed  Demonstrator  in  Anatomy  to  Abernethy 
at  St.  Bartholomew's  School,  and  on  February  6, 
1800,  he  passed  as  a  Member  of  the  Royal  College 
of  Surgeons,  London.  Almost  immediately  after 
obtaining  this  qualification  he  was  appointed 
Lecturer  in  Comparative  Anatomy  at  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's, and  he  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
this  office  till  the  spring  of  1811.  About  the  time 
of  his  appointment  to  the  Chair  of  Comparative 
Anatomy  he  gave  up  his  post  as  Demonstrator, 
apparently  as  the  result  of  some  dispute  with 
Abernethy.  In  his  new  position  his  relations  with 
his  colleagues  were  not  quite  harmonious,  for 
shortly  after  his  appointment  he  had  a  dispute  with 
the  Hospital  authorities  as  to  the  ownership  of  some 
preparations  he  had  made  to  illustrate  his  lectures. 
This  dispute  was  eventually  submitted  to  arbitra- 
tion and  decided  against  Macartney.  These  pre- 
parations had  been  prepared  partly  at  the  Hospital 
expense,  and  Macartney  immediately  began  to 
prepare  a  duplicate  set  entirely  at  his  own  expense. 
The  question  of  the  ownership  of  these  new  speci- 
mens was  also  raised,  but  Macartney  refused  '  to 
part  with  the  absolute  and  uncontrolled  property 
of  these  preparations  '.*  These  disputes  did  not 
tend  to  make  Macartney's  relations  with  his 
colleagues  more  cordial,  and  though  he  continued 
to  lecture  regularly  every  year,  he  does  not  seem 
to  have  taken  any  other  part  in  the  School  work. 
In  the  spring  of  1803  he  was  appointed  Surgeon 
to  the  Royal  Radnor  Militia  and  remained  with 

1  Macalister,  Macartney,  p.  59. 


220  JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND 

the  regiment  for  a  period  of  nine  years  till  it  was 
disembodied  in  1812,  obtaining  leave  each  spring 
to  deliver  his  lectures  in  London.  In  March,  1811, 
he  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society,  and 
in  August  of  that  year  he  came  with  his  regiment 
to  Ireland.  On  the  termination  of  his  military 
duties  in  1812,  Macartney  determined  to  remain  in 
Ireland  and  to  seek  the  Chair  of  Anatomy  in 
Trinity  College,  on  the  death  of  Hartigan,  who  was 
known  to  be  seriously  ill  and  not  expected  ever  to 
lecture  again.  Although  Macartney  came  to  this 
determination  early  in  1812,  he  did  not  make 
any  movement  to  seek  for  the  post  till  after  the 
announcement  of  Hartigan's  death  in  December 
of  that  year.  He  got  little  encouragement  in  his 
canvass  from  Mrs.  Hartigan,  who  wrote  telling  him 
that  her  husband  before  his  death  had  recom- 
mended Wilmot  for  the  chair,  and  went  on  to  say 
that  '  the  exertions  of  the  College  of  Surgeons  to 
draw  all  the  pupils  they  could  to  their  School,  as 
also  the  number  of  Junior  Lecturers,  reduce  our 
income  very  much,  and  these  three  last  years  they 
did  not  produce  above  one  hundred  pounds  per 
annum.  If  I  were  to  advise  you  as  a  friend  it  would 
be  never  to  wear  out  your  lungs  for  such  a  paltry 
sum  '.*  It  appears  that  Wilmot,  who  had  been 
Hartigan's  deputy  and  was  a  candidate  for  the 
post,  had  promised,  if  he  were  elected  Professor, 
to  hand  over  to  Mrs.  Hartigan  the  whole  of 
the  salary  of  the  public  course  of  lectures,  so 
Mrs.  Hartigan's  advice  to  Macartney  cannot  be 

1  Macalister,  Macartney,  p.  91. 


WHITLEY  STOKES  221 

considered  quite  disinterested.  At  all  events  the 
advice  had  no  influence  on  Macartney,  who  at 
once  began  a  vigorous  canvass.  He  obtained 
testimonials  from  all  the  leading  teachers  in 
London,  and  in  May  took  the  M.D.  degree  of 
St.  Andrews  University. 

The  election  was  originally  fixed  for  the  3rd  of 
May,  but  in  consequence  of  a  mistake  the  adver- 
tisement, though  paid  for,  was  not  inserted  in  the 
London  Gazette  in  proper  time,  and  on  February  9 
the  Board  postponed  the  date  of  election  till 
June. 

Immediately  after  the  death  of  Hartigan,  the 
College  of  Physicians  had  appointed  a  Committee, 
consisting  of  Dr.  Hopkins,  Dr.  Leahy,  and  Dr. 
Todderick,  to  draw  up  a  recommendation  to  be 
forwarded  to  the  Board  of  Trinity  College  on  the 
subject  of  the  vacant  Professorship  of  Anatomy. 
This  Committee  urged  the  Board  to  appoint  a 
Physician  as  Professor,  since  one  of  the  principal 
duties  of  the  chair  was  the  delivery  of  clinical 
lectures  at  Dun's  Hospital.  The  Committee  went 
on  to  state  that  Medicine  and  Surgery  were  now 
quite  separate  branches  of  the  profession,  and  that 
the  students  the  Professor  would  have  to  teach 
were  students  of  Medicine  as  distinct  from  Surgery. 
It  seemed  impossible  to  them  for  a  man  to  teach 
Medicine  properly  who  devoted  his  life  entirely 
to  the  practice  and  study  of  Surgery.  This  recom- 
mendation the  College  stated  was  made  without 
partiality  for  any  individual,  and  without  any 
knowledge  of  who  were  likely  to  be  candidates  for 


222  JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND 

the  vacant  office.  The  Committee  pointed  out  that 
the  late  Professor  had  uniformly  refused  to  give 
any  Clinical  lectures,  and  that  the  College  of 
Physicians  would  have  drawn  the  attention  of  the 
Board  to  this  matter  before  '  had  they  not  been 
restrained  by  tenderness  towards  the  feelings  of  the 
late  respectable  Professor  '.  This  report  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  Board  at  their  meeting  on  January  2, 
1813,  but  they  declined  to  consider  the  recom- 
mendations, stating  that  the  election  must  be 
governed  solely  by  the  regulations  of  the  School 
of  Physic  Act.1 

Just  before  the  election  the  Board  passed  the 
following  resolution,2  which  was  to  govern  the 
election  of  a  Professor  : 

'  if  more  votes  shall  appear  for  one  candidate  than  for 
any  other,  tho'  not  a  majority  of  the  entire  votes,  such 
candidate  shall  be  elected.  If  an  equal  number  of  votes 
shall  appear  for  two  or  more  candidates  greater  than  for 
any  other  and  the  Provost  shall  be  among  the  voters  for 
one  of  the  said  candidates  the  candidate  for  whom  the 
Provost  has  so  voted  shall  be  elected.  But  if  the  Provost 
has  not  voted  for  any  of  the  said  two  or  more  candidates 
it  shall  be  deemed  that  no  election  has  taken  place.' 

On  June  21  the  Board  met  to  elect  the  Professor 3 
and 

'  read  over  the  memorials  of  all  the  candidates  who  had 
presented  memorials  and  lodged  their  testimonials  and 
documents  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  Act  of 
Parliament,  viz.  of  Dr.  Samuel  Wilmot,  Dr.  James 
Macartney,  Sir  Thomas  Moriarty,  M.D.,  Dr.  Peter  Edward 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  84.  *  Ibid.,  p.  96.  '  Ibid.,  p.  96. 


WHITLEY  STOKES  223 

M'Loughlin,  and  Dr.  Richard  Ryan.  The  votes  were  then 
taken,  when  there  appeared  for  Dr.  M'Loughlin  one  vote, 
viz.  Dr.  Prior  ;  for  Dr.  Wilmot  one  vote,  viz.  Dr.  Phipps ; 
and  the  Provost  and  the  five  remaining  Senior  Fellows 
for  Dr.  James  Macartney,  who  was  declared  duly  elected 
and,  being  called  in,  took  the  Oath  prescribed  by  the 
Act  and  was  admitted  into  the  Professorship.' 

At  the  following  Summer  Commencements  Mac- 
artney was  given  by  the  University  the  degree  of 
M.D.,  honoris  causa. 

Of  the  unsuccessful  candidates  at  this  election 
Samuel  Wilmot  had  perhaps  the  strongest  claims 
on  the  electors.  He  had  taken  Hartigan's  place 
during  his  illness,  and  the  Board  had  appointed 
him,  on  Hartigan's  death,  to  continue  the  lectures 
till  the  new  Professor  was  appointed,  though 
in  doing  so  they  expressly  informed  him  '  that 
this  Permission  is  not  to  give  him  any  peculiar 
claim  to  the  Professorship  of  Anatomy  '-1  After 
the  election  the  Board  voted  him  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  guineas  as  a  testimony  of  their 
approbation  of  the  way  he  had  performed  his 
duties. 

Peter  M'Loughlin  was  a  graduate  in  Arts  and 
Medicine  of  the  University,  and  a  Fellow  of  the 
College  of  Physicians,  and  he  seems  to  have  had 
the  support  of  that  body  in  his  candidature. 
Sir  Thomas  Moriarty  had  been  knighted  in 
November,  i8io,2  but  neither  he  nor  Ryan  seems 
to  have  had  any  substantial  claim  to  the  Pro- 
fessorship. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  81.  *  Knights,  vol.  ii,  p.  310. 


224  JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND 

Macartney's  colleagues  on  the  staff  of  the  School 
at  the  time  of  his  appointment  were  : 

UNIVERSITY  PROFESSORS 

Medicus Whitley  Stokes. 

Regius  Professor  of  Medicine      .  Edward  Hill. 

Professor  of  Botany   ....  William  Allman. 

Professor  of  Chemistry    .      .      .  Francis  Barker. 

KING'S  PROFESSORS 

Practice  of  Medicine        .      .      .     Martin  Tuomy. 
Institutes  of  Medicine      .      .      .     John  William  Boy  ton. 
Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy  .     John  Crampton. 

Of  these  men  by  far  the  most  distinguished  was 
Whitley  Stokes,  who,  besides  being  Medicus,  had 
held  the  King's  Professorship  of  the  Practice  of 
Medicine  from  1798  to  1812. 

Whitley  Stokes,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Gabriel 
Stokes,  an  ex-Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  was  born  in 
Waterford  in  1763.  His  grandfather,  also  Gabriel, 
was  a  distinguished  scientific  instrument  maker 
and  engineer,  and  had  held  the  office  of  Deputy 
Surveyor-General  of  Ireland.  Whitley  entered 
Trinity  College  in  1778,  was  elected  a  Scholar  in 
1781,  and  commencing  B.A.  in  the  spring  of  1783, 
was  elected  a  Fellow  four  years  later  in  1787,  being 
on  July  i,  1789,  at  his  own  request,  elected  into 
the  medical  Fellowship.1  On  June  22,  1793,  having 
laid  before  the  Board  the  necessary  certificates  of 
his  attendance  on  the  several  Professors  of  Medi- 
cine, he  was  granted  a  Liceat  ad  examinandum, 
and  the  degrees  of  M.B.  and  M.D.  were  conferred 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  77. 


WHITLEY  STOKES  225 

on  him  at  the  Summer  Commencements.  In 
November  1795  he  was  admitted  a  Licentiate  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  without  examination,  having 
in  that  year  succeeded  Thomas  Elrington  as 
Donegall  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  Uni- 
versity. In  the  March  previous  he  had  received 
a  grant  of  £50  from  the  Board  '  for  the  purpose  of 
Prosecuting  his  Studies  in  Edinburgh  '.l  Stokes, 
like  Macartney,  became  implicated  in  the  United 
Irishmen  movement,  and  was  actually  a  captain 
in  one  of  the  corps  of  that  body.  Like  Macartney, 
too,  he  did  not  approve  the  whole  tendency  of 
the  movement,  and  in  1791  he  seems  to  have 
largely  withdrawn  himself  from  the  society.  In 
April  1798  the  Lord  Chancellor,  Lord  Clare,  and 
Dr.  Duigenan,  acting  as  Visitors  of  the  University, 
held  a  visitation  to  inquire  as  to  the  existence  of 
seditious  and  treasonable  societies  among  the 
students  of  the  College.  Stokes  was  one  of  the 
principal  men  put  on  trial.  He  denied  that  he 
knew  of  the  existence  of  any  society  of  United 
Irishmen,  or  of  any  illegal  or  secret  societies  in  the 
College.  He  admitted  having  been  a  member  of 
that  body  himself  prior  to  1791,  and  that  he  had 
recently  attended  as  physician  a  man  who  was 
known  to  be  a  member,  but  he  pleaded  as  his 
excuse  that  the  man  was  sick  and  very  poor. 
Many  witnesses  testified  in  Stokes's  favour,  and 
stated  that  his  influence  among  the  students  was 
always  used  for  the  best.  Lord  Clare,  however, 
was  implacable,  and  Stokes  was  adjudged  unfit 

1  Reg.,  voL'v,  p.  269. 
Q 


226  JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND 

to  hold  the  office  of  College  tutor,  and  was  not  to 
be  allowed  to  be  elected  a  Senior  Fellow  for  three 
years.  Subsequently  a  very  strong  memorial  was 
sent  to  Lord  Clare  in  favour  of  Stokes,  and  drew 
from  the  noble  Lord  the  following  letter : 1 

'  Berkeley  Square, 

'  Nov.  15,  1799. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  am  favoured  with  your  letter  and  a 
memorial,  very  respectably  signed  by  some  of  the  Fellows 
of  Trinity  College  in  favour  of  Dr.  Stokes.  It  is  quite 
unnecessary,  I  hope,  to  assure  you  that  it  will  always 
give  me  great  pleasure  to  comply  with  any  request  which 
may  come  so  forcibly  urged  to  me.  In  the  present 
instance,  however,  the  thing  is  impossible,  as  what  has 
been  done  at  the  last  Visitation  is,  in  my  opinion,  irre- 
vocable ;  and  even  if  it  were  not,  I  am  sorry  to  be  obliged 
to  state  to  you  that,  from  my  knowledge  of  Dr.  Stokes, 
he  is  a  most  improper  person  to  be  entrusted  in  any 
degree  with  the  government  or  direction  of  any  College. 
If  I  had  been  at  liberty  to  act  at  the  last  Visitation  on 
perfectly  well-grounded  private  conviction,  I  must  have 
expelled  him. 

'  I  am,  very  truly,  your  faithful,  humble  Servant, 

'  CLARE.' 

Every  action  of  Stokes  throughout  his  long  life 
shows  him  to  be  a  man  whom  Lord  Clare  could 
neither  buy  nor  bully,  and  this  may  perhaps  be 
urged  in  extenuation  of  the  harsh  sentence  passed 
by  the  Visitors. 

Wolfe  Tone  in  his  Journal,  writing  in  reference 
to  this  incident  on  May  20,  1798,  forms  a  fairer 
opinion  of  Stokes  when  he  says  : 

1  Stubbs,  p.  300. 


WHITLEY  STOKES  227 

'  With  regard  to  Stokes,  I  know  he  is  acting  rigidly  on 
principle,  for  I  know  he  is  incapable  of  acting  otherwise  ; 
but  I  fear  very  much  that  his  very  metaphysical  unbend- 
ing purity,  which  can  accommodate  itself  neither  to 
man,  tune,  nor  circumstances,  will  always  prevent  his 
being  of  any  service  to  his  country,  which  is  a  thousand 
pities  ;  for  I  know  no  man  whose  virtues  and  whose 
talents  I  more  sincerely  reverence.  I  see  only  one  place 
fit  for  him,  and,  after  all,  if  Ireland  were  independent, 
I  believe  few  enlightened  Irishmen  would  oppose  his 
being  placed  there — I  mean  at  the  head  of  a  system 
of  national  education.  I  hope  this  last  specimen  of 
FitzGibbon's  moderation  may  give  him  a  little  of  that 
political  energy  which  he  wants  ;  for  I  have  often  heard 
him  observe  himself  that  nothing  sharpened  men's 
patriotism  more  than  a  reasonable  quantity  of  insult  and 
ill-usage ;  he  may  now  be  a  living  instance  and  justify 
his  doctrine  by  his  practice.' 1 

The  place  designed  for  Stokes  by  Tone  was  never 
to  be  his,  but  instead,  for  many  years  to  come,  he 
was  to  occupy  the  most  prominent  position  as 
a  medical  teacher  in  the  two  great  Schools  of  the 
country.  In  consequence  of  the  decision  of  the 
Visitors,  the  Board  were  compelled  on  March  3, 
1800,  to  pass  over  Stokes  when  a  vacancy  occurred 
among  the  Senior  Fellows,2  but  on  June  10,  1805, 
he  was  admitted  into  the  Senior  Fellowship  vacant 
by  the  death  of  Dr.  Browne.3  We  have  seen  that 
during  the  winter  session  of  1803-4,  Stokes  was 
authorized  to  give  clinical  lectures  in  the  Meath 
Hospital,  of  which  place  he  subsequently,  in  1818, 
became  Physician.  For  many  years  he  acted  as 
Curator  of  the  University  Museum,  for  which 

1  Wolfe  Tone,  vol.  ii,  p.  315.  *  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  346. 

'  Ibid.,  p.  435. 


228  JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND 

service  he  received  a  small  salary  from  the  Board, 
and  on  several  occasions  was  thanked  by  them  for 
the  additions  which  he  had  made  to  the  Museum. 
On  June  21,  1806,  he  received  permission  from  the 
Board  to  deliver  lectures  on  Natural  History, 
provided  such  lectures  did  not  interfere  with  the 
other  duties  of  the  students.  These  lectures  were 
to  be  delivered  in  the  Law  School  at  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  but  though  they  were  continued 
for  several  years  they  are  not  to  be  looked  on  as 
instituting  a  professorship,  as  this  subject  was  for 
many  years  deemed  part  of  the  province  of  the 
Professor  of  Anatomy. 

In  1810  Stokes's  energies  were  directed  into  a 
new  channel,  for  on  July  14  of  that  year  the  Board 
appointed  him  to  superintend  the  mines  which  had 
been  found  on  the  College  estates.  This  appoint- 
ment was  to  last  for  seven  years,  and  Stokes  was 
'  to  receive  half  the  clear  profit  arising  from  the 
mines  during  that  period  V 

From  the  foundation  of  Trinity  College  the 
statute  enforcing  celibacy  on  the  Fellows  had  been 
nominally  in  force,  but,  as  we  have  seen,  it  was 
as  often  honoured  in  the  breach  as  in  the  observ- 
ance. A  custom  seems  to  have  grown  up,  whereby 
it  was  considered  that  the  statute  need  only  be 
enforced  in  those  cases  in  which  its  breach  was 
brought  officially  to  the  cognizance  of  the  Board. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1811,  however,  the 
Board  obtained  a  King's  Letter  enforcing  the 
Statute  of  Celibacy  on  the  Fellows,  but  freeing 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  532. 


WHITLEY  STOKES  229 

from  censure  any  of  those  Fellows  who,  within 
two  months  of  the  promulgation  of  the  Statute, 
declared  themselves  to  be  married  before  the 
'royal  will  became  expressly  declared'.1  Stokes 
petitioned  against  any  of  the  College  money  being 
expended  on  procuring  this  Letter,  on  the  grounds 
that  the  governing  part  of  the  College  had  not  been 
consulted  on  its  expediency,  and  '  because  the 
restraints  on  marriage  contained  in  this  Statute 
appear  to  me  likely  to  injure  the  morals  of  this 
College  and  to  give  countenance  to  the  formation 
of  convents  in  Ireland'.2  His  protest  was,  how- 
ever, of  no  avail,  and  on  January  4,  1812,  he  gave 
notice  to  the  Provost  that  on  July  28,  1796,  he  had 
married  Mary  Anne  Picknell.3 

On  February  4,  1798,  Stokes  was  appointed 
King's  Professor  of  the  Practice  of  Medicine  in 
place  of  Stephen  Dickson.  Dickson  had  been 
appointed  King's  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and 
Pharmacy  in  1786,  but  on  the  death  of  Edward 
Brereton,  having  resigned  this  appointment,  he 
was,  on  the  27th  March,  1792,  elected  King's 
Professor  of  the  Practice  of  Medicine.  In  1797 
Dickson  was  admonished  by  the  electors  for  neglect 
of  duty  and  for  persistence  of  this  neglect  he 
was,  on  December  4,  1797,  deprived  of  his  office. 
Stokes' s  second  term  of  seven  years  as  Professor 
ended  on  February  6,  1812,  and  on  that  day 
Martin  Tuomy  was  appointed  his  successor.  No 
reason  has  been  assigned  for  this  displacement 

1  T.  C.  D.  Statutes,  vol.  i,  p.  241.  *  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  31. 

'  Ibid.,  p.  33. 

Q3 


230  JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND 

of  Stokes,  and  that  it  did  not  meet  with  his 
approval  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  he  con- 
templated taking  legal  action  against  the  electors 
on  the  ground  of  insufficient  notice.1  The  Col- 
lege of  Physicians,  however,  obtained  Counsel's 
opinion  that  three  lunar  months',  not  three 
calendar  months',  notice  was  all  that  was  re- 
quired by  the  Act,  and  Stokes  had  to  remain 
satisfied  with  this.  On  April  n  following  he 
obtained  leave  from  the  Board  to  deliver  a  course 
of  lectures  on  the  Practice  of  Medicine  in  the 
Medical  Lecture  Room  No.  22,  Trinity  College. 
A  similar  leave  was  given  in  the  next  year,  and 
Stokes  continued  to  lecture  on  Medicine  in  the 
University  for  some  time,  though  he  did  not 
hold  any  medical  professorship. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Stokes  resigned  his 
Senior  Fellowship  on  account  of  conscientious 
scruples,2  he  having  joined  the  religious  sect 
known  as  the  '  Walkerites  ',  but  this  statement  is 
not  borne  out  by  the  Register  of  the  Board.  The 
sect  of  the  Walkerites  had  been  founded  about 
1804  by  John  Walker,  a  Fellow  of  Trinity  College. 
Walker  held,  among  other  opinions,  that  all 
Christians  should  practise  the  advice  of  St.  Paul, 
and  '  salute  one  another  with  a  holy  kiss  '.  A 
Chapel  of  the  sect  was  opened  in  Stafford  Street, 
and  the  congregation  soon  became  large,  but 
dissensions  arose  as  to  the  necessity  of  observance 
of  St.  Paul's  advice  in  public  assemblies.3  The 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  36.  *  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  503. 

'  Ibid.,  p.  486. 


WHITLEY  STOKES  231 

two  sub-sects  resulting  from  this  division  were 
termed  at  the  time  the  '  Osculists  '  and  the  '  Anti- 
Osculists '.  Whether  Stokes  adopted  these  opinions 
or  not,  or  if  he  did  which  of  the  sub-sects  he  joined, 
we  have  been  unable  to  discover,  but  his  own 
letter  leaves  us  in  no  doubt  that  it  was  for  an 
entirely  different  reason  he  resigned  his  Fellowship. 

In  1814  the  Board  had  under  consideration  the 
establishment  of  a  Chair  of  Natural  History.  It 
was  decided  that  such  a  Chair  should  be  instituted 
and  offered  to  Stokes,  if  he  resigned  his  Fellowship. 
The  Chair  was  to  be  worth  £800  a  year,  but  was 
not  at  any  time  ( to  be  tenable  with  a  Fellowship  '  ; 
The  Professor  was  to  deliver  at  least  twenty-six 
lectures  each  year  in  the  months  of  May  and  June, 
and  was  to  be  allowed  to  charge  fees  for  such 
lectures  to  any  students  not  on  the  College  books 
who  wished  to  attend.  The  appointment  was  for 
life,  subject  to  the  control  of  the  Board  '  in  like 
manner,  and  under  like  penalties,  as  are  settled 
with  respect  to  the  Professor  of  Divinity  by  the 
Statutes  '.l  In  consequence  of  this  appointment 
Stokes  handed  to  the  Board  the  following  written 
statement :  '  In  consequence  of  my  having  been 
elected  to  the  Lecturership  of  Natural  History 
by  the  Resolution  in  the  Registry  of  the  3oth 
of  May  last,  and  in  Reliance  on  the  same,  I  do 
hereby  resign  my  Senior  Fellowship  in  Trinity 
College  Dublin.'  2 

This  action  of  the  Board  in  so  richly  endowing 
a  Chair  of  Natural  History  has  been  the  subject 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  173.  *  Ibid.,  p.  179. 


232  JAMES  MACARTNEY  AND 

of  some  comment,  but  it  must  be  remembered  that 
in  their  appointment  of  Stokes  they  were  securing 
his  services  as  a  teacher  at  a  smaller  salary  than 
he  might  justly  have  expected  as  a  mere  adminis- 
trative officer  in  the  College. 

On  January  15,  1816,  Stokes  was  elected  an 
Honorary  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  and 
on  December  14,  1818,  he  was  elected  Physician 
to  the  Meath  Hospital  in  the  place  of  Thomas 
Egan,  deceased,  and  on  the  I5th  June  following  he 
was  elected  Professor  of  Medicine  in  the  College 
of  Surgeons  School  as  successor  to  John  Cheyne. 
His  appointment  as  Physician  to  the  Meath  he 
resigned  in  favour  of  his  son  the  great  William 
Stokes  in  1826,  but  he  continued  his  lectures  in  the 
College  of  Surgeons  till  1829,  and  on  November  13, 
1830,  he  succeeded  Hill  as  Regius  Professor  of 
Medicine. 

In  one  of  the  letters  of  '  Erinensis  '  to  the  Lancet, 
which  Cameron  l  attributes  to  Dr.  Herries  Greene, 
a  very  pleasant  picture  is  drawn  of  Stokes  as 
a  lecturer.  In  this  description  the  writer  tells  us 
that  '  besides  the  excellence  of  the  matter  in  his 
discourses,  the  composition  is  invariably  correct, 
sometimes  beautiful  and  sublime  as  the  subject 
admits  ',  and  again,  '  having  concluded  his  lecture 
he  lays  aside  the  didactic  formality  of  their 
Profession  ;  the  elevation  of  the  naturalist  sub- 
sides into  the  dignified  familiarity  of  the  com- 
panion ;  seated  upon  the  end  of  his  table  he  is 
surrounded  by  his  pupils,  and  inculcates  by  a 

1  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  339. 


WHITLEY  STOKES  233 

practical  illustration  those  amenities  of  life  of 
which  he  is  so  warm  an  advocate,  and  so  perfect 
an  example.' * 

In  this  courtesy  of  demeanour,  Stokes  seems  to 
have  differed  from  many  of  his  contemporaries. 
Graves,  speaking  in  1821,  contrasts  the  manners 
of  Irish  physicians  with  those  of  French,  very  much 
to  the  disadvantage  of  the  former.  He  speaks  of 
the  '  laudable  curiosity  on  the  part  of  the  student 
suppressed  by  a  forbidding  demeanour  or  an 
uncourteous  answer  from  his  teacher  '.  And  again 
of  French  physicians,  '  we  do  not  find  them 
indulging  in  coarse,  harsh,  and  even  vulgar 
expressions  to  their  hospital  patients  ;  we  do  not 
find  them  with  two  vocabularies — one  for  the  rich, 
and  another  for  the  poor.' z 

Stokes  did  not  write  much  on  medical  matters. 
In  1793  he  published  in  Latin  his  thesis  for  the 
M.D.  degree,  taking  as  his  subject  '  Respiration '. 
In  1817  he  published  a  small  pamphlet  on  the 
subject  of  contagion,  in  which  he  advocated 
advanced  views  on  the  necessity  of  isolation  of  the 
sick  and  disinfection  of  their  houses.  He  also 
published  an  English-Irish  Dictionary,  a  reply  to 
Paine's  Age  of  Reason,  and  a  booklet  combating  the 
views  of  Malthus  on  Population.  On  April  the 
I3th,  1845,  he  died  at  his  house  in  Harcourt  Street 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two ;  he  was  survived  by  his 
wife  for  just  three  years. 

1  Lancet,  vol.  iii,  1824,  p.  58. 

*  Graves  Lectures,  1864,  pp.  6  and  7. 


CHAPTER  XII 
THE  NEW  SCHOOL 

As  knowledge  of  anatomy  is  the  foundation  of 
all  study  of  medicine,  so  an  efficient  Anatomical 
Department  is  essential  to  the  success  of  a  School 
of  Medicine.  With  the  appointment  of  Macartney 
the  School  of  Physic  was  to  enter  on  a  period  of 
activity  which  had  hardly  been  dreamed  of  before. 
Macartney,  fresh  from  the  London  Schools,  full  of 
vigour  and  energy,  determined  to  make  the  School 
of  Physic  in  Ireland  equal  if  not  superior  to  the 
great  schools  of  London  and  Edinburgh.  The 
duties  of  the  Professor  of  Anatomy  consisted  in 
delivering  a  course  of  twelve  Public  Lectures,  open 
to  all  students  of  the  University,  and  also  a  course 
of  Systematic  Lectures  on  five  days  in  the  week, 
together  with  superintending  the  work  in  the 
dissecting-room.  Besides  this  he  had  to  deliver  in 
his  turn  clinical  lectures  in  the  Hospital  to  the 
students  of  the  School.  This  latter  duty  almost 
at  once  caused  some  friction,  for  since  Macartney 
had  no  licence  to  practise  Physic  from  the  College 
of  Physicians  the  Fellows  of  that  College  were  not 
permitted  to  consult  with  him.  This  anomalous 
position  of  a  teacher  of  clinical  medicine,  not  him- 
self licensed  to  practise  the  subject  which  he 
taught,  Macartney  seems  to  have  made  no  effort 


"O 
N 

CO 


O 
O 

O 

in 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  235 

to  alter,  as  he  did  not  apply  to  the  College  of 
Physicians  for  a  licence.  Had  he  done  so  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  such  a  licence  would  have 
been  granted  to  him  as  a  graduate  of  medicine  of 
St.  Andrews,  and  an  honorary  graduate  of  Dublin. 
On  the  i6th  of  August,  1824,  the  Fellows  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  themselves  removed  the 
difficulty  by  electing  him  an  Honorary  Fellow. 

On  November  i,  1813,  Macartney  delivered  his 
first  introductory  lecture  in  Trinity  College,  taking 
as  his  subject  the  importance  of  anatomy  in 
medical  education.  In  that  year  fifty-three 
students  entered  for  the  systematic  course  and 
twenty-one  for  dissections.  This  session  was  so 
occupied  by  teaching  and  preparing  specimens 
for  the  Museum,  and  by  lecture-room  duties,  that 
Macartney  had  little  time  left  to  originate  any 
administrative  reform  in  the  School. 

The  procedure  at  the  final  examination  for 
medical  degrees  was  at  the  time  unsatisfactory. 
The  student  having  finished  his  course  of  study 
presented  a  certificate  to  that  effect  to  the  Board, 
who  granted  him  a  Liceat  ad  examinandum.  This 
the  candidate  presented  to  the  Examiners,  and  at 
the  examination,  which  was  conducted  in  Latin, 
each  of  the  Professors  in  turn  examined  him 
orally  for  fifteen  minutes.  If  the  Examiners  con- 
sidered the  knowledge  shown  at  this  examination 
sufficient,  the  Board  granted  the  candidate  leave 
to  perform  acts,  after  which  he  had  a  grace  for  his 
degree.  Macartney  was  anxious  to  increase  the 
efficiency  of  the  Professors'  examination  by  intro- 


236  THE  NEW  SCHOOL 

ducing  practical  tests,  and  to  effect  this  he  sug- 
gested to  his  colleagues  that  they  should  in  the 
case  of  each  candidate  hold  a  private  examination 
in  English,  and  if  the  candidate  did  not  pass  this 
examination  satisfactorily,  he  was  to  be  dissuaded 
from  applying  for  a  Liceat.  This  plan  did  not  meet 
with  the  approval  of  the  King's  Professors,  who 
met  to  make  representations  on  the  subject  to  the 
College  of  Physicians.  Boyton  and  Tuomy  drew 
up  a  report  which  was  submitted  to  the  College 
of  Physicians  at  their  meeting  on  October  I,  1814, 
in  which  they  stated  that  this  departure  from 
ancient  custom  would  tend  to  lower  the  standing 
of  the  Profession  and  make  the  examination  held 
under  the  Liceat  a  mere  formal  procedure  with- 
out dignity.  Crampton,  the  Professor  of  Materia 
Medica,  wrote  stating  that  he  was  not  present 
at  the  meeting  at  which  this  report  was  drawn  up, 
and  that  he  had  refused  to  sign  it  as  it  did  not 
meet  with  his  approval.  The  College,  however, 
adopted  the  view  of  the  two  Professors  contained 
in  the  report,  and  passed  a  resolution  directing  the 
King's  Professors  that  they  were  not  '  to  be 
present  at  any  examination  for  medical  degrees, 
in  which  any  question  might  be  put  or  answer 
received  in  the  English  language  '*•  They  also 
resolved  that  all  the  clinical  lectures  in  Dun's 
Hospital  and  the  reports  of  the  cases  taken  there, 
were  to  be  in  the  Latin  tongue.  This  resolution 
was  sent  to  the  Board  of  Trinity  College,  who 
forwarded  a  copy  of  it  to  Hill,  the  Regius  Professor 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  138. 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  237 

of  Physic,  with  a  request  that  he  would  inform 
them  whether  the  examinations  for  degrees  held 
under  the  Liceat  ad  examinandum  were  conducted 
in  Latin.  Hill  replied  as  follows  : 

'  Examinations  in  English  as  introductory  to  a  learned 
Profession  are  so  absolutely  contrary  to  the  conceptions 
which  I  entertain  of  a  literary  education,  as  to  render  it 
impossible  that  I  would  tolerate  them  in  any  case  in 
which  I  possessed  any  influence.  No  instance  of  the  kind 
has  ever  happened  to  me,  and  in  the  examinations  of 
Medical  Candidates  under  a  Liceat  ad  examinandum  how 
could  I  in  any  possibility  be  satisfied  thro'  such  examina- 
tion of  the  Candidates  being  Doctrina  idoneum.' 1 

In  extenuation  of  this  opinion  we  must  remem- 
ber that  Hill,  himself  an  excellent  classical  scholar, 
was  at  the  time  seventy-two  years  old.  A  com- 
promise was  eventually  effected  through  the  inter- 
vention of  Provost  Elrington,  whereby  the  pre- 
liminary examination,  as  well  as  the  examination 
under  the  Liceat  were  both  conducted  in  Latin. 

At  this  time  the  number  attending  lectures  in  the 
School  rose  rapidly,  and  the  old  Anatomy  House 
was  no  longer  sufficient  for  their  accommodation. 
To  give  more  space  to  the  Professor  of  Anatomy 
the  Board,  on  January  24,  1815,  directed  that  the 
'  wax-works  '  should  be  removed  to  the  top  story 
of  the  house,  and  that  an  additional  building 
should  be  '  erected  in  the  garden  adjacent  to  the 
Anatomy  House '  .2  In  the  folio  wing  year  the  Natural 
Philosophy  School  was  appropriated  to  Anatomy, 
the  instruments  in  it  being  '  removed  to  the  Room 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  138.  *  Ibid.,  p.  157  a. 


238  THE  NEW  SCHOOL 

over  the  Ante  dining  Hall  V  Macartney  was  not 
content  with  merely  delivering  his  own  course  of 
lectures  in  the  School,  but  was  anxious  that  the 
most  complete  facilities  for  education  should  be 
afforded  to  students.  With  this  object  he  applied 
to  the  Board  for  leave  for  Arthur  Jacob  to  deliver 
lectures  in  the  Anatomy  Theatre  on  the  construc- 
tion and  diseases  of  the  Eye,  and  permission  for 
this  was  granted  in  April  i8i8.2  In  the  following 
September  he  obtained  permission  for  Dr.  Pent- 
land  to  deliver  a  complete  course  of  lectures  on 
Midwifery.  This  subject  was  not  at  the  time 
taught  in  the  School  of  Physic.  The  Board  had,  on 
October  i,  1803,  permitted  Francis  Hopkins  '  to 
read  the  introductory  lectures  of  his  course  of 
Midwifery  in  the  Medical  lecture  room  in  the 
College ',  but  a  Chair  in  Midwifery  was  not 
established  till  many  years  later.  As  there  was 
a  Professor  of  Midwifery  in  the  School  of  the 
College  of  Surgeons,  and  the  Master  of  the  Rotunda 
Hospital  gave  regular  courses  of  lectures  in  the 
subject,  it  was  obviously  to  the  advantage  of  the 
School  of  Physic  that  the  students  should  not  be 
compelled  to  seek  teaching  in  this  important 
subject  in  rival  institutions. 

In  1820  the  number  of  students  studying 
medicine  in  the  School  of  Physic  reached  303,  and 
the  problem  to  find  accommodation  for  them  became 
urgent.  Macartney  was  compelled  to  repeat  his 
lectures  twice  each  day  as  there  was  not  room  for 
the  entire  class  in  the  theatre  at  one  time,  and,  to 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  203.  *  Ibid.,  p.  218. 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  239 

add  to  the  difficulties,  the  floors  in  the  old  Anatomy 
House  were  found  to  be  in  a  very  dangerous  state. 
Under  these  circumstances  the  Board,  on  Septem- 
ber 27,  1820,  resolved  '  that  for  the  present  the  use 
of  the  Building  No.  22,  is  granted  for  the  purpose 
of  holding  the  lectures  in  Anatomy  and  Chirur- 
gery  ',  and  that  '  a  plan  for  building  a  new  House 
for  those  purposes  is  to  be  furnished  by  the 
Architect  to  the  Bursar'.1  Macalister2  states 
that  this  permission  was  accompanied  by  the 
condition  that  no  dead  body  be  brought  into  the 
room,  but  the  resolution  of  the  Board,  as  given  in 
the  Register,  contains  no  such  proviso. 

Nothing  more  was  done  about  the  new  building 
during  this  session,  and  in  March  1821  Macartney 
wrote  urging  the  Board  to  proceed  with  the  new 
building.  In  reply  to  this  request  the  Board 
informed  him  that  when  the  Professors  and  the 
architect  would  agree  as  to  the  plans  the  Board 
were  prepared  to  obtain  estimates,  and  they  ap- 
pointed a  committee  consisting  of  Doctors  Phipps, 
Lloyd,  and  Wilson,  Senior  Fellows,  '  to  determine 
on  the  best  site.' 3  This  proved  a  matter  of  con- 
siderable difficulty,  and  various  suggestions  were 
put  forward.  Macartney  wanted  a  building  on 
the  site  at  present  occupied  by  the  Pathological 
Laboratory  and  Dental  Hospital,  with  openings 
into  Lincoln  Place  and  into  the  College.  The 
Provost  suggested  that  the  site  of  the  old  Anatomy 
House  should  be  selected,  but  eventually  it  was 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  280.  *  Macalister,  Macartney,  p.  131. 

*  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  299. 


240  THE  NEW  SCHOOL 

decided   that   the   building   should   be    '  on   the 
ground  heretofore  the  Bowling  Green  V 

The  College  park  at  that  time  presented  a  very 
different  appearance  from  what  it  does  at  present. 
When  the  College  was  founded  its  southern 
boundary  was  formed  by  a  badly-made  road, 
known  as  St.  Patrick's  Well  Lane,  so  called  from 
the  holy  well  of  St.  Patrick  which  was  situated 
in  the  College  ground  almost  opposite  the  end 
of  the  present  Dawson  Street.  About  1682,  the 
old  Danish  mound,  or  Thingmote,  which  occupied 
the  present  position  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  was 
removed,  and  the  earth  of  which  it  was  composed 
was  deposited  in  St.  Patrick's  Well  Lane,  so  as 
to  raise  this  considerably  above  the  level  of  the 
College  ground.  The  new  road  thus  formed  was 
called  Nassau  Street,  after  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
and  the  Board  of  Trinity  College  built  a  high  brick 
wall  separating  their  property  from  the  street. 
About  the  same  time  the  Board  gave  permission  for 
a  bowling  green  to  be  laid  down  in  the  park,  and 
allowed  as  a  subscription  towards  the  undertaking 
the  sum  received  from  '  the  last  Commencement 
supper  fees'.2  The  park  was  to  a  certain  extent 
laid  out  and  planted  in  1722,  but  it  remained, 
especially  towards  its  eastern  end,  more  or  less 
of  a  marsh  where,  even  as  late  as  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  snipe  might  sometimes  be  found. 
In  this  condition  the  park  continued  till  in  1842  the 
old  boundary  wall  was  replaced  by  the  present  rail- 
ings, and  in  1852  the  ground  was  drained. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  342.  *  Reg.,  vol.  iii,  p.  241. 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  241 

In  April  1823  the  Board  advertised  for  estimates 
for  the  new  Medical  School  buildings,  according  to 
the  plans  of  Mr.  Morrison,  the  College  architect. 
Several  estimates,  varying  from  £3,980  to  £5,350, 
were  received,  and  that  of  Messrs.  Bergin, 
M'Kenna  and  Woods1  was  accepted,  and  the 
work  was  commenced  in  May.  Macalister  takes 
the  Board  to  task  for  not  having  insisted  that  the 
plans  of  the  building  should  satisfy  the  Professors. 
It  would  appear,  however,  that  the  plans,  as  sub- 
mitted by  the  architect,  were  sent  by  the  Board 
to  Macartney  for  his  criticism,  and  the  architect 
was  directed  to  modify  his  plans  in  accordance  with 
these  criticisms  before  the  Board  advertised  for 
estimates.  It  is  always  a  difficult  matter  for  a 
body  like  the  Board  to  adjudicate  in  a  professional 
matter  of  the  kind,  and  one  does  not  see  what 
more  they  could  have  done  than  accept  the  plans 
of  the  architect  prepared  under  such  conditions. 
Macartney  seems  to  have  felt  himself  aggrieved 
that  he  was  not  given  a  free  hand  in  the  matter, 
but  just  as  subsequent  events  failed  to  justify  his 
objection  to  the  site  selected,  so  probably  he  was 
not  infallible  in  his  ideas  as  to  the  architectural 
details.  There  was,  it  is  true,  some  difficulty 
about  light,  but  when  the  attention  of  the  Board 
was  directed  to  this,  they  immediately  ordered 
that  the  required  alteration  should  be  made,  and 
voted  a  sum  of  £100  for  the  purpose.2 

There  were  other  troubles  connected  with  the 
building,  besides  those  connected  with  the  plans, 

1  Reg,,  vol.  vi,  p.  342.  *  Ibid.,  p.  352. 

R 


242  THE  NEW  SCHOOL 

for  in  the  Register,  on  the  I4th  of  February,  1824, 
we  read  that  '  it  appearing  that  a  violent  assault 
had  been  made  on  the  workmen  employed  at  the 
new  Anatomy  House  by  journeymen  carpenters 
in  combination,  it  was  agreed  that  the  Bursar 
be  directed  to  offer  a  reward  of  £100  for  the  dis- 
covery of  those  concerned  '.*  The  reward,  however, 
does  not  appear  ever  to  have  been  claimed.  One 
day  when  Macartney  was  inspecting  the  building 
just  before  its  completion,  he  met  the  architect 
and  expressed  his  opinion  of  the  work  in  very 
plain  terms.  Words  led  to  blows,  and  the  meeting 
ended  by  Macartney  breaking  his  umbrella  over 
Morrison's  head.  An  action  at  law  was  started  in 
consequence,  but  peace  was  made  between  the 
parties  by  the  Provost.2  On  November  i,  1825, 
Macartney  delivered  his  inaugural  lecture  in  the 
new  School,  and  stated  that '  The  Board  of  Trinity 
College  have  bestowed  a  more  valuable  gift  upon 
the  community  by  building  this  house  than  if  they 
had  founded  ten  hospitals  '.3 

During  this  session  a  most  serious  charge  was 
brought  against  Macartney,  involving  not  only 
his  character,  but  that  of  the  School.  It  appears 
that  a  youth  named  Clements,  who  had  attended 
lectures  in  the  School,  when  dying  of  fever,  had 
refused  the  ministrations  of  the  Church,  avowing 
himself  an  Atheist.  This  youth  protested  that 
any  one  who  studied  physiology  would  naturally 
come  to  adopt  such  views.  As  Macartney  taught 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  354.  *  Macalister,  Macartney,  p.  164. 

1  Ibid.,  p.  1 66. 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  243 

physiology  in  the  School  his  enemies  were  only 
too  glad  to  fix  on  him  the  responsibility  for 
this  youth's  opinions,  and  a  charge  of  teaching 
materialism  was  formulated  against  the  Professor. 
At  the  instance  of  the  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  the 
Board  cited  Macartney  and  his  accusers  to  appear 
before  them,  in  order  that  the  charges  might  be 
investigated,  and,  after  a  very  full  hearing  of  the 
evidence  Macartney  was  honourably  acquitted  of 
the  charges  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  Board. 
This  accusation  attracted  considerable  attention 
at  the  time,  not  only  in  England,  but  also  in 
Europe,  and  Macartney  received  many  letters 
congratulating  him  on  his  acquittal. 

It  was  during  the  early  part  of  Macartney's 
tenure  of  the  Professorship  that  a  Society  of 
Medical  Students,  the  forerunner  of  the  present 
Biological  Association,  came  into  active  existence. 
As  early  as  May  2,  1801,  permission  had  been 
granted  for  '  a  Medical  Society  under  the  control 
of  the  Board  ' *  to  meet  within  the  College,  but  this 
Society  does  not  seem  to  have  flourished  and  we 
hear  nothing  more  of  it.  On  November  26,  i8i4> 
the  Board  granted  their  permission  to  a  Society 
of  Medical  Students  to  hold  their  meetings  in  the 
lecture-room  in  No.  22  Trinity  College.2  This  per- 
mission was,  however,  withdrawn  in  January  1823 3 
and  afterwards  the  Society  seems  to  have  languished, 
if  it  did  not  actually  expire.  It  was  revived  again 
in  1853  by  Robert  Ball,  under  the  name  of  the 
Dublin  University  Zoological  and  Botanical  Asso- 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  371.        *  Ibid.,  vol.  vi,  p.  44.         *  Ibid.,  p.  336. 


244  THE  NEW  SCHOOL 

ciation,  and  in  1859  published  a  volume  of  Trans- 
actions, after  which  we  again  lose  sight  of  it  till 
it  was  revived  later  in  its  present  form. 

At  this  time  another  trouble  which  was  seriously 
to  menace  the  prosperity  of  the  School  was  coming 
into  prominence.  In  the  early  days  of  medical 
teaching  in  Ireland  there  seems  to  have  been  no 
difficulty  in  procuring  an  adequate  supply  of 
material  for  anatomical  dissections.  It  did  not 
need  a  large  supply  to  satisfy  the  requirements 
of  the  five  dissecting  tables  in  the  old  school, 
and  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  school  of 
the  College  of  Surgeons  in  1784,  the  Anatomical 
Theatre  in  Trinity  College  was  the  only  public 
dissecting-room  in  Dublin.  In  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury the  supply  of  subjects  was  obtained  by  the 
removal  of  recently  buried  bodies  from  the  city 
graveyards,  for  though  the  College  of  Physicians 
had  the  right  of  demanding  the  bodies  of  a  certain 
number  of  executed  criminals  each  year  for  the 
purpose  of  dissection  this  privilege  does  not  seem 
to  have  been  exercised.  The  method  of  procuring 
anatomical  material  by  robbing  graves  sometimes 
got  the  students  into  trouble.  In  the  Dublin 
Gazette  for  September  4,  1750,  we  read  : 

'  Last  Fryday  evening  some  young  Surgeons  went  in 
a  Coach  to  Doneybrook  to  take  up  the  corpse  of  a  child 
who  had  been  buried  in  that  Churchyard  the  night  before  : 
While  they  were  digging  open  the  grave,  the  father  of  the 
child  got  information  of  it,  and  assembling  some  of  his  neigh- 
bours, came  to  the  place  by  the  time  they  had  got  the  body 
up  ;  when  they  fell  on  them,  took  the  corpse  back  again, 
and  severely  chastised  the  young  gentlemen  for  their  pains.' 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  245 

In  the  same  paper  for  October  2,  1750,  there  is 
published  a  letter  from  one  William  Smith,  '  now 
under  sentence  of  death  in  Newgate/  in  which  he 
says  : 

'  As  to  my  corporal  frame,  I  know  it  is  unworthy  of 
material  notice  ;  but  for  the  sake  of  that  reputable  family 
from  which  I  am  descended,  I  cannot  refrain  from  anxiety 
when  I  think  how  easily  this  poor  body  in  my  friendless 
and  necessitous  condition,  may  fall  into  the  possession  of 
the  Surgeons  and  perpetuate  my  disgrace  beyond  the 
severity  of  the  law.' 

On  these  grounds  he  prays  the  '  humane '  to  supply 
him  with  funds  to  enable  him  to  have  his  body 
decently  buried  in  consecrated  ground. 

The  difficulty  of  getting  subjects  in  Edinburgh, 
and  the  high  price  they  commanded,  culminated 
in  1828  in  the  atrocities  of  Burke  and  Hare, 
who  systematically  murdered  persons  and  sold 
their  bodies  to  the  Schools.  The  discovery  of 
the  crimes  committed  by  these  men  created  a 
popular  outburst  throughout  the  kingdom  against 
the  methods  of  the  resurrectionists  and  led  to  many 
riots,  in  one  of  which  the  dissecting-room  of 
Dr.  Alexander  Moir  in  Glasgow  was  burned  by  the 
mob.  Macartney  was  fearful  for  the  safety  of  his 
own  department  in  the  College,  especially  as  at 
that  time  the  neighbourhood  of  Lincoln  Place, 
or  Park  Street,  as  it  was  then  called,  was  in- 
habited by  a  very  undesirable  population.  There 
was  trouble,  too,  with  the  Porter,  Cuddy,  who 
appears  to  have  tried  on  several  occasions  to  stir 
up  the  people  against  the  Professor  and  the  School. 

R3 


246  THE  NEW  SCHOOL 

Under  these  circumstances  Macartney  wrote  a 
letter  to  the  papers  in  which  he  says  : 

'  I  do  not  think  that  the  upper  and  middle  class  have 
understood  the  effects  of  their  own  conduct  when  they 
take  part  in  impeding  the  progress  of  dissection,  nor  does 
it  seem  wise  to  discountenance  the  practice  by  which 
many  of  them  are  supplied  with  artificial  teeth  and  hair. 
Very  many  of  the  upper  ranks  carry  in  their  mouths 
teeth  which  have  been  buried  in  the  Hospital  Fields.' 

We  do  not  know  what  weight  this  appeal  had,  but 
it  does  not  seem  calculated  to  lead  to  the  open 
support,  at  all  events,  of  the  practice  of  the 
resurrection-men.  In  1828  he  adopted  a  better 
method,  and  drew  up  the  following  document, 
which  he  signed  himself,  and  induced  many  other 
notable  persons  to  sign  : 

'  We  whose  names  are  hereunto  affixed,  being  convinced 
that  the  study  of  Anatomy  is  of  the  utmost  value  to 
mankind,  inasmuch  as  it  illustrates  various  branches 
of  Natural  and  Moral  Science,  and  constitutes  the  very 
basis  of  the  healing  art ;  and  believing  that  the  erroneous 
opinions  and  vulgar  prejudices  which  prevail,  with 
regard  to  dissections,  will  be  most  effectually  removed  by 
practical  example  ;  do  hereby  deliberately  and  solemnly 
express  our  desire  that,  at  the  usual  period  after  death, 
our  bodies,  instead  of  being  interred,  should  be  devoted 
by  our  surviving  friends  to  the  more  rational,  benevolent, 
and  honourable  purpose  of  explaining  the  structure, 
functions,  and  diseases  of  the  human  body.' l 

Macartney  took  an  active  part  in  the  legisla- 
tion which  eventually  led  to  the  passing  of  the 
Anatomy  Act  of  1832.  He  gave  evidence  before 
the  Parliamentary  Committee,  and  though  he 

1  Lond.  Med.  Gazette,  vol.  i,  p.  637. 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  247 

did  not  approve  all  the  provisions  of  the  Bill,  he 
gave  it  his  general  support,  believing  that  some 
legislation  was  necessary  to  remove  the  difficulties 
and  restraints  under  which  teachers  of  Anatomy 
laboured. 

In  Dublin  there  does  not  seem  ever  to  have  been 
an  actual  shortage  of  anatomical  material  before 
the  passing  of  the  Anatomy  Act,  such  as  existed  in 
other  places,  but  the  constant  worry  and  danger 
involved  in  procuring  material  told  heavily  on  the 
anatomical  teachers  and  threatened  at  any  time  to 
ruin  both  them  and  the  School  in  which  they 
taught. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT.    MACARTNEY'S 
RESIGNATION 

IN  addition  to  the  dissecting-room  and  chemical 
laboratory,  lecture-rooms  had  been  provided  in  the 
new  Medical  School  for  the  Professors  of  Anatomy 
and  Chemistry.  The  three  University  Professors 
of  Anatomy,  Chemistry,  and  Botany  lectured  there, 
the  two  former  in  the  winter  session,  from  Novem- 
ber till  the  end  of  April,  and  the  latter  in  the 
summer  session,  from  May  till  July.  The  other 
lectures  of  the  School,  in  the  theory  and  practice 
of  Medicine,  in  the  institutes  of  Medicine,  and  in 
Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy,  together  with  the 
Clinical  lectures,  were  delivered  in  Sir  Patrick 
Dun's  Hospital.  These  six  Professors,  with  their 
various  departments,  constituted  the  School  of 
Physic  in  Ireland,  which,  being  partly  housed  and 
paid  for  by  the  University  and  partly  by  the 
College  of  Physicians,  was  under  the  joint  control 
of  the  two  Colleges.  It  is  important  to  remember 
that  at  this  time  the  School  of  Physic  was  not 
looked  on  as  the  Medical  School  of  Trinity  College, 
any  more  than  it  was  the  School  of  the  College  of 
Physicians. 

The  charge  has  often  been  brought  against 
Trinity  College  that  she  neglected  her  School  of 


SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT  249 

Medicine,  and  looked  on  it  as  something  apart  from 
the  University  and  unworthy  her  care  till  its  very 
success  forced  recognition.  History,  however,  does 
not  warrant  such  a  charge,  and  sufficient  answer 
to  it  is  found  in  the  readiness  with  which  the  Board 
sanctioned  the  expenditure  of  over  £4,000  on  the 
new  school  buildings,  besides  taxing  their  revenues 
with  a  considerable  sum  yearly  for  the  support  of 
the  various  Professors  and  their  departments. 
True,  the  new  Medical  School  was  walled  off  from 
the  rest  of  the  College,  and  entrance  to  it  from 
the  College  park  forbidden,  but  in  explanation  of 
this  we  must  remember  that  the  majority  of  the 
students  there  were  not  students  of  Trinity  College, 
and  not  directly  under  the  control  of  the  Fellows. 

The  students  of  the  School  were  divided  into 
two  classes,  those  who  took  the  Arts  course  in  the 
University,  and  those  who,  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  the  School  of  Physic  Act,  had  merely 
matriculated  in  the  School,  and  of  the  whole  class 
the  latter  division  supplied  by  far  the  greater 
number.  Though  the  control  of  the  School  was 
equally  divided,  there  was  one  function  over  which 
Trinity  College  had  undivided  authority — that  of 
conferring  degrees,  or  qualifications  on  the  students 
who  had  completed  their  courses.  Over  this  func- 
tion of  the  University  the  College  of  Physicians  had 
no  control.  The  College  of  Physicians  had,  it  is 
true,  the  right  given  them  by  the  45th  Section 
of  the  School  of  Pnysic  Act,  to  examine  all  can- 
didates who  sought  their  licence,  and  in  accordance 
with  the  Charter  of  the  College  no  one  could 


250  SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT 

practise  Physic  within  a  radius  of  seven  miles  of 
Dublin  who  did  not  possess  this  licence ;  still  the 
privilege  gave  the  College  little  real  control  over 
the  qualifications  of  medical  practitioners.  Com- 
paratively few  took  the  licence  of  the  College  of 
Physicians,  and  licentiates  of  both  the  Royal 
College  of  Surgeons  and  the  Apothecaries'  Hall 
practised  with  impunity,  though  they  were  not 
entitled  to  call  themselves  physicians. 

We  have  seen  that  on  the  2Qth  June,  1792,*  the 
Board  adopted  a  form  of  diploma  which  was  to  be 
given  to  all  Medical  students  who  had  matricu- 
lated in  the  School,  on  completing  their  course  of 
medical  study  and  passing  a  prescribed  examina- 
tion. This  diploma  was  identical  for  those  who 
had  graduated  in  Arts  and  for  those  who  had  not, 
but  on  the  latter  the  Board  would  not  confer  a 
degree.  This  caused  some  discontent  among  the 
students,  who  considered  that  the  diploma  held 
out  the  promise  of  a  degree,  which  promise  the 
Board  refused  to  fulfil.  To  remove  this  discontent 
the  King's  Professors  submitted  to  the  College  of 
Physicians  for  their  approval  a  form  of  diploma 
which  left  out  all  reference  to  a  degree,  merely 
stating  that  after  due  study  '  iudicamus  eum 
habilem  atque  idoneum  qui  Medicinam  exerceat* . 
The  College  approved  this  diploma  and  stated  that 
they  would  examine  for  licence  any  one  presenting 
it.  The  diploma  was  then  submitted  to  the  Board, 
and  on  May  3,  1817,  it  was  adopted.2  The  College 
of  Physicians  were,  however,  not  satisfied  with  the 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  221.  *  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  200. 


SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT  251 

medical  curriculum,  and  on  September  14,  1820, 
they  received  a  report  from  a  committee  which 
had  been  appointed  '  to  consider  what  changes  in 
the  system  of  medical  education  should  be  laid 
before  the  Board  of  Trinity  College  '.  This  report 
recommended  that  the  period  of  study  should  be 
lengthened  to  five  years,  and  that  during  the  third 
year  students  should  be  compelled  to  attend  the 
Clinical  lectures  in  Dun's  Hospital,  and  that  during 
the  fourth  year  they  should  attend  Clinical  lectures 
'  in  some  Capital  or  University  out  of  Ireland 
where  medicine  is  publickly  taught '.  This,  how- 
ever, was  an  admission  which  would  have  been 
fatal  to  the  School,  for  there  would  be  no  justifica- 
tion for  its  existence  and  its  power  to  license 
medical  men,  were  it  not  in  a  position  to  teach 
them  without  compelling  them  to  attend  at  some 
other  school.  The  report  was,  however,  modified, 
and  on  October  2,  1820,  it  was  ordered  that  the 
following  letter  should  be  sent  to  the  Board  of 
Trinity  College.1 

'  The  President  and  Fellows  of  the  King  and  Queen's 
College  of  Physicians  in  Ireland  feel  it  their  duty  to 
address  you  on  a  subject  of  great  importance,  not  only 
to  the  profession  over  which  they  preside,  but  to  the 
community  at  large.  The  manner  in  which  the  diplomas 
in  Medicine  are  conferred  in  the  School  of  Physic  has  been 
found  to  occasion  serious  injury  to  the  public  by  tending 
to  encourage  as  Medical  Practitioners  persons  who  are 
in  no  respect  qualified  to  be  recognised  as  such.  It  appears 
to  the  College  most  strange  that  while  the  Surgeon  is 
obliged  by  law  to  have  an  apprenticeship  of  five  and  an 

1  Col.  P.  Minutes. 


252  SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT 

Apothecary  of  seven  years,  the  Physician,  whose  profes- 
sional studies  are  more  extensive  than  either,  and  whose 
literary  attainments  ought  to  be  more  general,  should 
obtain  a  diploma  in  the  short  space  of  three  years  only. 

'  The  Academic  Degrees  of  M.B.  cannot  be  procured 
until  the  completion  of  the  seventh  year  after  the  period 
of  entrance  into  the  University.  The  College  are  of 
opinion  that  a  period  of  at  least  five  years  study  ought 
to  be  required  from  those  who  are  candidates  for  the 
diploma.  They  would  further  submit  to  the  Provost  and 
Board  of  Trinity  College  that  no  person  be  permitted  to 
matriculate  until  he  should  have  completed  his  eighteenth 
year,  and  that  it  be  considered  imperative  on  each 
Medical  student  to  attend  annually  two  Professors,  and 
the  Hospital  and  Clinical  lectures  during  the  last  two 
years.  The  College  further  beg  leave  to  submit  to  the 
Board  the  propriety  of  coming  to  a  determination  on  the 
subject  as  speedily  as  may  be  convenient.' 

This  letter  was  received  by  the  Board  at  their 
meeting  on  October  5,  1820,  and  '  the  Register 
was  directed  to  communicate  to  the  College  their 
approbation  of  the  principle  and  to  invite  them 
to  suggest  a  detailed  plan  '.*  This  the  College  of 
Physicians  at  once  proceeded  to  do  and  presented 
the  following  report  to  the  Board. 

'  That  the  principal  defects  in  the  present  system  of 
medical  education  are 

'  i.  The  too  easy  admission  of  Students  many  of  whom 
commence  their  Medical  Education  without  those  previous 
classical  acquirements  which  are  indispensable  for  the 
study  of  a  learned  profession. 

'  2.  The  facility  afforded  by  the  very  rapid  attainment 
of  medical  honours,  thus  legalising  practice  resting  on  no 
solid  basis,  on  the  product  of  a  crude  and  undigested  mass 
of  information. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  280. 


SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT  253 

'  3.  The  Committee  therefore  think  that  if  the  following 
regulations,  suggested  for  the  adoption  of  Trinity  College, 
were  enacted  the  errors  complained  of  would  be  remedied 
as  far  as  can  be  expected  at  present. 

'  These  proposed  regulations  it  will  be  observed  differ 
somewhat  from  the  first  submitted  but  preserve  their  spirit. 

'  I.  That  no  person  shall  be  admissible  as  a  medical 
student  of  the  University  until  he  shall  have  undergone 
a  Classical  Examination  in  the  courses  required  for 
entrance  into  Trinity  College. 

'  2.  That  Certificates  of  Medical  Study  for  five  Sessions 
(authenticated  by  the  proper  officer)  at  any  University 
or  Universities  where  residence  is  enforced,  shall  be 
required  previous  to  examination  for  a  diploma,  and  that 
the  said  Certificate  shall  set  forth  that  the  Candidate  has 
during  the  above  mentioned  period  attended  lectures  on 
Anatomy,  Chemistry,  Materia  Medica,  the  theory  and 
practice  of  Physic,  two  courses  of  Clinical  lectures  in 
two  separate  Sessions  (one  whereof  shall  have  been 
delivered  in  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital)  and  has  dissected 
for  one  Session.' 

This  important  and  comprehensive  document 
was  sent  to  the  Board  who,  on  November  25,  1820, 
resolved  that 

'  Such  Medical  Students  as  apply  for  Matriculation  be 
informed  by  the  present  Senior  Lecturer,  that  a  new 
arrangement  is  under  consideration  respecting  the 
period  of  medical  studies  to  which  they  must  be  subject  '-1 

The  outlook  was  distinctly  hopeful,  and  on 
June  n,  1821,  the  Registrar  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  communicated  to  that  body  the  sub- 
stance of  a  correspondence  he  had  had  with  the 
Registrar  of  Trinity  College.  Time  passed,  how- 
ever, without  anything  being  done,  and  on 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  288. 


254  SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT 

September  26,  1822,  the  College  of  Physicians 
resolved  that  the  negotiations  with  Trinity  College, 
respecting  medical  education,  should  be  revived. 
Objections  were  raised  by  the  Board  to  the  sug- 
gested scheme,  and  on  the  28th  October,  1822, 
the  College  of  Physicians  offered,  '  if  the  Board 
object  to  the  trouble  of  examining  the  candidates 
for  matriculation ',  to  appoint  Examiners  them- 
selves. Even  this  did  not  bring  matters  to  a  head, 
and  on  April  12,  1823,  the  College  of  Physicians 
learned  from  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians  of 
London  that  '  they  do  not  consider  the  Diploma 
of  the  School  of  Physic  in  Ireland  a  sufficient 
qualification  on  which  to  grant  an  examination  for 
license  '.  Subsequently  the  College  got  Counsel's 
opinion  that  they  were  not  bound  to  recognize  the 
diploma  of  Trinity  College  but  only  the  degree, 
yet  in  spite  of  this  nothing  was  done  to  rectify 
matters  till  many  years  later.  The  College  of 
Physicians  did  what  they  could,  and  on  January  17, 
1825,  directed  their  Professors  '  that  they  for  the 
future  shall  call  a  roll  of  their  respective  classes 
on  each  day  of  lecture,  and  that  they  shall  withhold 
certificates  from  such  pupils  as  shall  not  have 
attended  one-half  of  the  lectures  during  the  present 
session  and  three-fourths  in  succeeding  sessions  '. 
On  February  22,  1834,  the  Board  of  Trinity 
College  unanimously  adopted  the  following  regula- 
tions for  Medical  Students  : 1 

'  A  Bachelor  in  Arts  shall  be  entitled  to  a  Liceat  ad 
Examinandum  for  the  Degree  of  Bachelor  of  Medicine 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  87. 


SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT  255 

on  his  producing  Certificates  of  his  having  attended  the 
following  courses,  if  the  Certificates  show  that  during 
each  of  four  Sessions  he  attended  one  and  not  more  than 
three  of  the  courses  which  begin  in  November. 

'  The  Degree  may  be  conferred  at  the  July  Commence- 
ments of  his  middle  Bachelor  year.' 

The  courses  of  lectures  consisted  of  those 
delivered  by  the  six  Professors  of  the  School  of 
Physic,  the  course  in  Midwifery  delivered  by  the 
Professor  of  Midwifery  of  the  College  of  Physicians, 
together  with  '  one  year's  attendance  on  the 
practice  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital  including 
six  months'  Clinical  lectures  in  that  Hospital '. 
No  increase  was  made  in  the  length  of  time  to  be 
spent  in  study,  and  nothing  was  arranged  with 
regard  to  students  who  did  not  graduate  in  Arts. 
On  May  7,  1836,  the  restriction  as  to  the  middle 
Bachelor  year  was  withdrawn  and  candidates 
were  allowed  to  proceed  to  the  M.B.,  at  the  Com- 
mencements next  after  that  at  which  they 
graduated  A.B.1 

Not  only  was  there  difficulty  with  the  diplomas 
but  soon  the  degrees  were  not  above  suspicion. 
Thus  on  April  21,  1838,  the  College  of  Physicians 
drew  the  attention  of  the  Board  to  the  fact  that 
'  a  full  medical  degree  was  without  any  reason 
recently  conferred  '  on  a  Student  of  the  School  who 
had  not  graduated  in  Arts.  The  Board  replied 
that  the  degree  in  question  was  '  conferred  by 
inadvertence  and  a  misconception  as  to  the  facts  ', 
but  at  the  same  time  promised  that  '  such  mistake 
will  furnish  matter  of  future  caution  and  not  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  119. 


256  SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT 

precedent  V  One  can  picture  the  joy  of  the 
student  in  thus  outwitting  the  Board,  but  such 
a  state  of  things  was  eminently  unsatisfactory. 
No  matter  what  regulations  were  made  by  the 
School  Authorities  as  to  the  instruction  to  be  given 
by  the  Professors,  it  was  competent  for  the  Board 
of  Trinity  College,  without  consultation  with  the 
College  of  Physicians,  to  qualify  all  and  sundry 
who  might  apply  to  them  for  that  purpose.  That 
the  standard  of  education  was  kept  as  high  as  it 
was  is  greatly  to  the  credit  of  the  University. 
There  was  at  the  time  no  medical  man  among  the 
Senior  Fellows.  The  position  of  Medicus  remained 
vacant  from  the  resignation  of  Whitley  Stokes  in 
1816,  till  the  appointment  of  John  Toleken  in 
1838.  The  Board  consequently  were  entirely 
dependent  on  outside  advice  for  information  on 
medical  matters.  Even  so,  no  great  difficulty 
would  have  arisen,  had  the  medical  faculty, 
consisting  of  the  Regius  Professor  and  the  six 
Professors,  worked  harmoniously  together.  They 
did  not  do  so,  and  this  want  of  harmony  led  to 
many  troubles.  Hill,  the  Regius  Professor  of 
Physic,  at  the  time  an  old  man,  seems  to  have 
taken  little  interest  in  the  working  of  the  School, 
and  we  do  not  find  from  the  Registers  that  he 
afforded  the  Board  any  assistance  in  harmonizing 
the  work  of  the  other  Professors.  Allman,  who 
was  Professor  of  Botany,  and  Barker,  Professor  of 
Chemistry  and  Registrar  of  the  Faculty,  seem  to 
have  been  content  to  pursue  their  way  in  peace,  but 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  145. 


SCHOOL  MANAGEMENT  257 

Macartney,  the  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery, 
undoubtedly  the  most  attractive  lecturer  in  the 
School,  was  by  no  means  content  to  let  things 
take  their  own  way.  His  activity  and  anxiety  for 
reform  continually  led  him  into  conflict  with  his 
colleagues,  especially  the  King's  Professors,  who 
were  not  a  little  jealous  that  one  who  was  a 
mere  surgeon  should  presume  to  dictate  to  them. 
We  have  seen  how,  in  the  matter  of  the  Latin 
examination,  though  he  had  the  support  of 
Crampton,  the  Professor  of  Materia  Medica,  he 
was  opposed  by  Boyton  and  1  uomy,  the  Professors 
of  the  Institutes  and  Practice  of  Medicine.  A 
further  difficulty  arose  in  connexion  with  the 
Hospital.  Macartney  was  in  the  habit  of  making 
post  mortem  examinations  on  the  patients  who 
died  in  the  Hospital,  being  actuated  by  the 
double  motive  of  teaching  Pathology  to  the 
students,  and  of  obtaining  specimens  for  his 
museum.  The  King's  Professors  objected  to  this 
procedure,  doubtless  feeling  that  it  was  not  con- 
sonant with  either  their  dignity  or  reputation  that 
their  clinical  diagnosis  should  be  revised  by  the 
post  mortem  findings  of  an  unsympathetic  colleague. 
They  may  have  been  of  the  opinion  of  the  dis- 
tinguished Dublin  clinician  of  later  days  who 
expressed  intense  dislike  to  post  mortem  examina- 
tions, since  they  so  often  upset  his  diagnoses. 
From  what  we  know  of  Macartney,  we  feel  sure 
that  he  would  not  hesitate  to  tell  the  students 
exactly  the  conditions  he  found,  no  matter  what 
opinion  might  have  been  formed  during  the 


258  MACARTNEY'S  RESIGNATION 

patient's  life  by  the  attending  physician.  Macart- 
ney appealed  to  the  College  of  Physicians  for 
permission  to  continue  these  examinations.  The 
College  was  of  course  unable  to  grant  it,  and  while 
they  expressed  a  desire  that  nothing  would  be 
done  by  their  Professors  to  limit  the  Pathological 
material  available  for  the  students  and  the  museum, 
they  informed  Macartney  that  in  their  opinion  the 
right  to  direct  a  post  mortem  examination  rested 
with  the  physician  in  charge  of  the  patient  at 
the  time  of  death,  subject  of  course  to  the  regula- 
tions of  the  Board  of  the  Hospital.  The  Board  of 
Governors  decided  the  matter  by  resolving  that 
the  physician  who  had  been  in  attendance  on  each 
patient,  and  no  one  else,  should  make  the  post 
mortem  examination  in  case  of  death.1 

The  next  difficulty  was  more  serious,  for  it  ulti- 
mately resulted  in  Macartney  severing  his  connexion 
with  the  School.  The  hours  fixed  for  the  various 
lectures  during  the  winter  session  beginning  Monday, 
November  7,  1814,  were  advertised  as  follows : 

'  At  9  o'Clock  the  Patients  will  be  visited  at  Sir  Patrick 
Dun's  Hospital  by  the  Clinical  Lecturer. 

'  At  ii  o'Clock  Dr.  Boyton  will  lecture  on  the  Institutes 
of  Medicine. 

'  At  12  o'Clock  Dr.  Crampton  will  lecture  on  Materia 
Medica  and  Pharmacy. 

'  At  i  o'Clock  Dr.  Macartney  will  lecture  on  Anatomy, 
Physiology,  and  Surgery. 

'  At  2  o'Clock  Dr.  Barker  will  lecture  on  Chemistry. 

'  At  3  o'Clock  Dr.  Tuomy  will  lecture  on  the  Practice  of 
Medicine. 

1  Macalister,  Macartney,  p.  192. 


MACARTNEY'S  RESIGNATION  259 

*  The  lectures  on  the  Practice  of  Medicine,  the  Institutes 
of  Medicine  and  Materia  Medica  will  be  delivered  at  Sir 
Patrick  Dun's  Hospital  those  on  Anatomy  and  Chemistry 
in  Trinity  College.' 

This  was  a  pretty  full  day's  work,  but  the 
students  had  three  years  in  which  to  take  out  the 
lectures,  the  only  regulation  being  that  they  should 
take  at  least  one  course  and  not  more  than  three 
each  year.  It  was  left  entirely  to  the  option  of 
the  student  what  order  he  should  take  the  lec- 
tures in,  and  consequently  there  was  of  necessity 
considerable  overlapping.  The  first  difficulty  arose 
in  1822  over  the  hour  for  the  Clinical  lectures,  as 
three  of  the  Professors  wished  the  hour  changed 
to  eleven  o'clock  and  two  of  them  to  twelve 
o'clock.  Under  the  circumstances  the  College  of 
Physicians  refused  to  make  any  alteration  during 
that  session.  Then  later  on  Crampton  wrote  to  the 
College  of  Physicians  complaining  that  Professor 
Macartney  insisted  on  giving  anatomical  demon- 
strations during  his  lecture  hour.  Macartney 
stated  that  attendance  on  the  demonstrations  was 
purely  optional  for  the  student.  The  matter  was 
referred  to  the  Board,  who  however  declined  to 
interfere.  These  matters  were  adjusted,  but  later 
on,  when  the  requirements  of  Edinburgh  University 
necessitated  the  attendance  on  separate  courses 
of  lectures  on  Surgery  and  Anatomy,  further  diffi- 
culties arose.  In  order  to  comply  with  these 
requirements,  Macartney,  in  1832,  obtained  the 
sanction  of  the  Provost  to  divide  his  course  of 
lectures,  taking  Anatomy  at  one  o'clock  five  days 


260  MACARTNEY'S  RESIGNATION 

a  week,  and  Surgery  at  three  o'clock  on  four  days. 
Macalister  says  that  this  arrangement  was  sanc- 
tioned by  the  Board  on  September  29,  1832,  but 
we  can  find  no  entry  of  such  sanction  in  the 
Register.  On  October  n,  1832,  there  is  a  minute  l 
stating  that 

'  The  Board  directed  the  Registrar  to  communicate 
to  Dr.  Macartney  that  nine  o'Clock  in  the  morning  is  the 
only  time  open  for  his  delivering  his  extra  lectures.' 

Macartney,  however,  appears  to  have  adopted 
the  two  hours  of  one  and  three  o'clock  for  his  lec- 
tures. This  latter  hour  was  the  one  appropriated 
to  the  lecture  of  Dr.  Charles  Lendrick,  who  had 
that  year  been  appointed  King's  Professor  of  the 
Practice  of  Medicine.  On  November  9,  1833,  the 
Board 

'  Resolved,  that  the  Registrar  be  directed  to  write  to 
Dr.  Lendrick  to  inform  him  that  the  only  lecture  given 
from  three  to  four  o'Clock,  which  will  be  recognised  by 
the  Board  as  a  qualification  for  a  liceat  ad  examinandum 
is  that  given  by  the  Professor  of  the  Practice  of  Medicine.'  z 

No  open  rupture  had  as  yet  occurred,  and  on 
July  29,  1834,  Macartney  was,  according  to  the 
Register  of  the  Board,  unanimously  elected 
Professor  of  Anatomy  for  seven  years.3  On 
December  13,  1834,  the  Board  again  approached 
Macartney  on  the  subject  of  the  hours  of  his 
lectures,  writing  to  him  the  following  letter  : 4 

'  Sir, — I  am  directed  by  the  Provost  and  Senior 
Fellows  to  direct  you  to  refrain  from  lecturing  at  one  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  40.  *  Ibid.,  p.  79. 

*  Ibid.,  p.  94.  •  Ibid.,  p.  98. 


MACARTNEY'S  RESIGNATION  261 

those  hours  which  have  been  already  appropriated  to  the 
lectures  of  another  Professor  of  the  School  of  Physic.' 

To  this  letter  Macartney  replied,  pointing  out  the 
difficulties  involved  by  obedience  to  the  order  of 
the  Board,  and  on  December  20,  the  following 
reply  was  sent  to  him  : l 

'  Sir, — I  have  read  your  letter  to  the  Board  and  am 
desired  to  inform  you  that  they  will  not  require  you  to 
refrain  from  lecturing  at  the  hour  of  three  o'clock  for 
the  remainder  of  the  present  Session  ;  but  they  will  not 
extend  this  indulgence  beyond  that  period.' 

On  October  13,  1835,  a  letter  was  read  to  the 
Board  from  Lendrick,  in  which  it  was  stated  that 
Dr.  Macartney  had  published  an  advertisement  in 
the  newspaper  whereby  it  appeared  that  he  did  not 
intend  '  to  comply  with  the  directions  given  to 
him  to  refrain  from  lecturing  from  three  to  four 
o'clock  '.  The  Registrar  was  directed  to  send  the 
following  letter  to  Macartney  : 2 

'  Sir, — I  am  directed  by  the  Board  to  communicate  to 
you  their  order  of  this  day  which  is  as  follows  :  Ordered 
Dr.  Macartney  shall  not  lecture  at  the  hour  from  three 
to  four  o'clock,  that  having  been  already  assigned  to 
another  of  the  Professors  in  the  School  of  Physic.' 

On  the  I7th  of  November  the  Board  noted  that 
Macartney  had  absolutely  ignored  their  order, 
and  so  decided  to  take  Counsel's  opinion  as  to  the 
best  method  of  enforcing  it.  On  November  28, 
there  being  still  no  sign  of  obedience  on  the  part 
of  the  Professor,  the  Board  ordered  '  that  the 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  98.  *  Ibid.,  p.  108. 

S3 


262  MACARTNEY'S  RESIGNATION 

Anatomy  House  be  closed  every  day  from  three 
to  four  o'clock '. 

On  the  2 ist  of  December  it  was  ordered  that 
'  the  closing  of  the  doors  of  the  Anatomy  House 
is  to  be  discontinued  as  Dr.  Macartney  gives  up 
his  three  o'clock  lecture  '.*  Matters  were  now 
hurrying  to  a  conclusion,  and  in  April  1836 
Macartney  published  an  advertisement  that  for  the 
future  he  would  deliver  four  lectures  each  week, 
two  in  Surgery  and  two  in  Anatomy.  Such  a 
course  was  hopelessly  inadequate,  as  the  University 
of  Edinburgh  required  five  lectures  in  each  subject 
each  week.  This  state  of  affairs  was  brought  to 
the  notice  of  the  Board  on  April  28,  1836,  and 
Stephen  Sandes,  then  a  Senior  Fellow  and  after- 
wards Bishop  of  Cashel,  undertook  to  communicate 
with  Macartney  '  in  hope  that  he  may  change  his 
intention  '.* 

On  April  28,  Sandes  reported  to  the  Board  his 
failure  to  move  Macartney,  and  it  was  decided  again 
to  take  Counsel's  opinion.  On  November  26  the 
Board  made  an  order  that  the  Professor  of  Anatomy 
was  to  lecture  in  the  Anatomy  Theatre  at  one 
o'clock  on  five  days  a  week  during  the  medical 
session  from  the  ist  of  November  to  the  end  of 
April,  '  and  that  this  order  be  esteemed  a  Bye-law 
agreeable  to  the  26th  Sect,  of  4oth  of  Geo.  3d.' 8 
The  next  entry  in  the  Register  with  reference  to 
Macartney  is  on  July  13,  1837,* '  Dr.  Macartney 
having  resigned  his  Professorship  of  Anatomy  and 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  173.  *  Ibid.,  p.  118. 

'  Ibid.,  p.  127.  •  Ibid.,  p.  134. 


MACARTNEY'S  RESIGNATION  263 

Surgery  the  Board  resolved  to  elect  a  Successor 
on  the  2 ist  of  October.' 

We  have  given  the  details  of  this  important 
dispute  as  fully  as  possible  from  the  Register  of  the 
Board,  for  Macalister,  presenting  the  matter  from 
Macartney's  point  of  view  has,  we  think,  not  been 
quite  just  to  the  College.  Whatever  opinion  may 
be  formed  as  to  the  wisdom  of  thwarting  a  Pro- 
fessor like  Macartney  who  had  done  so  much  for 
the  School,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Board 
gave  him  ample  notice  of  their  intention  not  to 
allow  him  to  lecture  between  three  and  four 
o'clock.  Macartney  absolutely  disregarded  the 
orders  of  the  Board  till,  by  the  closure  of  the 
School,  he  was  compelled  to  desist  from  lecturing. 
Obedience  having  been  forced  by  such  drastic 
measures  Macartney  seems  to  have  determined  to 
avenge  himself,  and  his  proposal  to  lecture  only 
four  times  a  week  was  one  that  could  not  be 
tolerated.  The  Board  tried  persuasion,  and  only 
resorted  to  compulsion  when  that  failed,  and  we 
cannot  see  that  there  was  any  other  course  open 
to  them  than  to  accept  the  resignation  of  an 
officer  who  so  openly  flouted  their  authority. 

Macartney  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  ablest 
teachers  who  had  ever  held  a  Professorship  in  the 
School  of  Physic,  and  besides  being  a  great  teacher 
he  was  a  great  reformer.  With  his  pupils,  whom  he 
treated  with  severity  but  with  fairness,  he  was 
popular,  but  he  seems  never  to  have  got  on  well 
with  his  colleagues.  Conscientious  and  hard 
working  himself  he  could  not  and  would  not 


264  MACARTNEY'S  RESIGNATION 

tolerate  inefficiency  in  others,  and  he  never 
hesitated  to  express  his  opinion  in  the  plainest 
terms  of  those,  no  matter  what  position  they 
occupied,  who  appeared  to  him  to  deserve  his 
censure. 

Like  all  great  reformers  he  was  bound  to  meet 
with  some  unpopularity,  but  Macartney  seems 
rather  to  have  looked  for  it  than  avoided  it.  When, 
during  the  fourth  period  of  his  tenure  of  the 
Professorship  he  looked  back  on  the  work  that 
he  had  accomplished,  he  seems  to  have  felt  himself 
absolutely  essential  to  the  School  and  in  a  position 
to  dictate  to  every  one  and  to  obey  none.  Such 
a  condition  of  affairs  was  impossible,  and  as 
Macartney  would  not  give  way,  there  was  no 
alternative  but  to  dispense  with  his  services. 
Thus  while  we  yield  to  none  in  our  admiration  of 
the  work  he  did  for  the  School,  we  cannot  but  feel 
that  he  was  himself  responsible  for  his  downfall. 

The  great  museum  of  anatomical  and  patho- 
logical preparations  which  he  had  collected  in 
Dublin  was  sold  to  Cambridge  in  1836,  for  an 
annuity  of  £100  a  year  for  ten  years,  and  in  the 
museum  of  that  University  many  of  the  prepara- 
tions still  remain. 

The  year  after  his  resignation  of  the  Chair  of 
Anatomy,  Macartney  published  in  London  his 
classical  work  on  Inflammation,  which  a  re- 
viewer in  the  Lancet  stated  was  '  the  most  original 
medical  work  that  has  appeared  since  the  days  of 
John  Hunter '.  During  the  last  few  years  of  his 
life  he  occupied  himself  chiefly  with  problems  of 


MACARTNEY'S  RESIGNATION  265 

the  reform  of  medical  education,  and  advocated 
views  which  afterwards  were  largely  adopted.  On 
Monday  morning,  March  9,  1843,  he  was  found 
dead  in  his  study,  where  he  had  gone  to  finish 
a  paper  which  he  was  writing  for  the  meeting  of 
the  Association  of  Fellows  and  Licentiates  of  the 
College  of  Physicians.  The  last  words  he  wrote 
before  the  pen  dropped  from  his  hand  in  death 
may  form  his  epitaph,  for  though  he  is  dead  his 
work  in  the  School  lives  on  : 

All  forms  that  perish  other  forms  supply 
(By  turns  we  catch  the  vital  breath  and  die), 
Like  bubbles  on  the  sea  of  matter  borne, 
They  rise,  they  break,  and  to  that  sea  return. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
SCHOOL  REFORM— GRAVES  AND  STOKES 

AFTER  Macartney's  resignation  of  the  Professor- 
ship of  Anatomy  the  Board  met,  and  on  October  24, 
1837,  out  of  eight  candidates  who  applied  for  the 
Professorship,  elected  Robert  Harrison.  Guided 
by  their  previous  experience,  they  insisted  on 
Harrison  signing  the  following  declaration  : l 

1  The  Board  of  Trinity  College  Dublin,  having  elected 
me  into  the  Professorship  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery  in  the 
University  of  Dublin,  I  do  hereby  promise  and  engage  to 
perform  the  duties  of  the  said  professorship  with  Diligence 
and  Regularity  according  to  the  usages  heretofore  of  the 
said  Professorship  and  conformably  to  the  instructions 
of  the  Board,  and  I  fully  accede  to  the  regulations  made 
by  the  Board  that  all  preparations  made  by  the  Professor 
shall  be  the  property  of  the  College,  but  the  expenses 
attending  them  to  be  defrayed  by  the  College.' 

Robert  Harrison,  an  Englishman  and  native  of 
Cumberland,  was  born  in  1796*  In  1814  he 
graduated  in  Arts  in  Trinity  College,  having 
previously  been  indentured  as  an  apprentice  to 
Abraham  Colles.  In  1815  he  obtained  the  diploma 
of  the  London  College  of  Surgeons,  and  in  the 
following  year  of  the  Dublin  College,  being  elected 
a  member  of  that  body  on  June  9,  1818.  In  1817 
he  was  appointed  Demonstrator  of  Anatomy  in 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  136.  *  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  398. 


GRAVES  AND  STOKES  267 

the  College  of  Surgeons  School.  He  was  for  a  time 
a  pupil  of  Macartney  in  the  School  of  Physic,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1824  took  his  M.A.  and  M.B. 
degrees,  proceeding  to  the  degree  of  M.D.  in  the 
spring  of  1837.  On  August  4,  1827,  he  had  been 
elected  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology  in 
the  College  of  Surgeons,  and  he  therefore  came  to 
the  School  of  Physic  with  considerable  experience 
as  a  teacher. 

Some  ten  years  before  the  appointment  of 
Harrison  the  staff  of  the  School  had  been 
strengthened  by  two  notable  additions  in  the  per- 
sons of  Robert  James  Graves  as  King's  Professor 
of  the  Institutes  of  Medicine,  and  William  F.  Mont- 
gomery, appointed  Professor  of  Midwifery  by  the 
College  of  Physicians  on  October  n,  1827.  Harri- 
son got  over  the  difficulty  of  the  hours  for  his 
lectures  by  getting  the  sanction  of  the  Board  for 
himself  and  Montgomery  to  give  evening  lectures. 
This  solution  of  the  difficulty  Macartney  had 
always  refused  to  adopt,  for  he  maintained  that 
the  entrance  to  the  School  from  Park  Street  was 
not  a  fit  place  for  students  at  night  time. 

The  Board  granted  £100  to  the  Professor  of 
Anatomy  to  be  '  expended  on  articles  for  com- 
mencing an  extensive  collection  for  a  museum  for 
the  Anatomy  House  Y  and  allowed  him  £30  a  year 
as  a  salary  for  an  assistant  and  curator.  They 
also  gave  him  £15  to  be  given  at  his  discretion  in 
prizes  at  an  annual  examination  to  be  held  by 
him  in  the  subjects  of  his  course.2 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  137.  *  Ibid.,  p.  176. 


268  SCHOOL  REFORM 

On  January  19,  1839,  a  very  important  memorial 
was  submitted  to  the  Board  by  the  Professors  of 
the  School  of  Physic, 

'  praying  for  a  lessening  of  the  number  of  examinations 
necessary  for  a  degree  in  Arts  to  medical  students  attend- 
ing with  diligence  two  of  the  courses  of  the  medical 
Professors  during  each  year  of  the  undergraduate  course.' * 

The  Board,  however,  replied  that  they  'cannot 
perceive  any  way  in  which  they  can  meet  their 
wishes  ',  but  asked  for  information  as  to  the  prac- 
tice in  the  Universities  of  Oxford,  Cambridge,  and 
Edinburgh.  In  consequence  of  the  information 
they  received  the  Board  approved  a  new  set  of 
regulations  for  medical  graduates.2 

'  The  times  for  graduation  are  Shrove  Tuesday  and 
the  first  Tuesday  in  July.  The  Medical  Examinations 
terminate  on  the  Tuesday  of  the  preceding  week.  Can- 
didates must  previously  have  completed  their  medical 
education,  and  produce  a  chart  testifying  to  the  details 
of  the  same  and  subscribed  by  the  Registrar  to  the 
Professors  of  the  School  of  Physic,  as  well  as  the  persons 
signing  the  certificates. 

'  Medical  students  may  obtain  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Medicine  in  two  ways  : 

'  ist.  Candidates  who  have  graduated  in  Arts  may 
obtain  the  Degree  of  Bachelor  of  Medicine  at  any  of  the 
ensuing  half  yearly  periods  of  graduation  provided  the 
requisite  Medical  Education  and  Examinations  shall 
have  been  accomplished.  The  payment  at  entrance 
is  £J5-  The  fees  for  the  Study  in  Arts  during  the  four 
years  are  £7  ios.,  each  half  year,  and  the  fees  for 
graduation  in  Arts  £8  iys.  6d. 

'  2nd.  Candidates   are   admissible   to   the   Degree  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  180.  *  Ibid.,  p.  240. 


GRAVES  AND  STOKES  269 

Bachelor  of  Medicine  without  previous  graduation  in 
Arts  at  the  end  of  five  years  from  the  July  following  the 
Hilary  Examination  of  the  first  undergraduate  year, 
provided  the  usual  Education  and  Examination  in  Arts 
of  the  first  two  years  of  the  undergraduate  course  shall 
have  been  completed,  as  also  the  Medical  Education  and 
Examinations  as  in  the  case  of  other  candidates.  The 
fees  for  the  two  years'  study  in  Arts  (besides  the  usual 
entrance  payment  of  £15)  are  £7  los.  each. 

'  The  graduation  fees  for  the  Degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Medicine  are  £11  155.  The  testimonium  of  the  M.B. 
degree  will  contain  the  following  certificate  : 

'  Testamur  .  .  .  sedulam  operam  medicinae  narrasse  et 
examinationes  coram  professoribus  feliciter  sustinuisse.' 

'  The  Medical  Education  of  a  Bachelor  of  Medicine 
comprises  attendance  on  the  following  courses  of  lectures 
(of  which  three  at  the  discretion  of  the  candidate  may  be 
attended  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh)  in  the  School  of 
Physic  established  by  Act  of  Parliament.  His  attendance 
must  be  distributed  through  four  Anni  Medici,  so  that 
he  must  get  credit  for  one  course  at  least,  and  not  for 
more  than  three  courses  in  any  one  session. 

'  The  courses  are  on  Anatomy  and  Surgery,  Chemistry, 
Botany,  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy,  Institutes  of 
Medicine,  Practice  of  Medicine,  Midwifery  (by  the  Pro- 
fessor of  the  College  of  Physicians),  Clinical  lectures  at 
Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital  during  at  least  one  session  of 
six  months,  as  delivered  by  the  Professors  in  the  School 
of  Physic,  the  attendance  on  such  Clinical  lectures  by  the 
Professors  to  be  extended  to  three  additional  months  of 
another  session,  unless  the  practice  of  the  Hospital  be 
certified  by  the  ordinary  Physicians  of  the  Institution  to 
have  been  attended  from  the  ist  of  May  till  the  ist  of 
November  following  the  session. 

'  The  fees  for  attendance  on  the  Clinical  lectures  are 
regulated  by  Act  of  Parliament.  They  amount  to 
£3  3$.  to  the  Professors  for  each  three  months'  attendance 
and  (provided  the  student  be  of  two  years'  standing  in  the 


270  SCHOOL  REFORM 

University)  £3  35.  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Hospital  for 
the  first  year,  with  a  proportionate  sum  for  any  longer 
period.  The  fees  for  each  of  the  other  courses  are  four 
guineas. 

'  The  Examinations  for  the  Degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Medicine  are  conducted  by  the  Regius  Professor  of  the 
University,  the  six  Professors  of  the  School  of  Physic,  and 
the  Professor  of  Midwifery  to  the  College  of  Physicians. 

'  No  further  examination  is  requisite  for  the  Degree 
of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  which  may  be  taken  at  the  expira- 
tion of  three  years  from  taking  the  Degree  of  M.B., 
provided  the  candidate  shall  have  graduated  in  Arts. 
The  fees  for  the  Degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  which 
entitles  the  possessor  to  the  same  election  privileges  as  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  are  £22. 

'  P.S.  The  first  undergraduate  year  may  be  saved  by 
attending  the  October  Examination  of  that  year  by  a 
student  who  has  entered  not  later  than  the  first  Monday 
after  July  of  the  same  year  and  who  has  completed  the 
payments  previously  made  by  his  class.' 

On  November  16,  1839,  the  Board  further  re- 
solved : x  '  That  in  future  students  shall  not  be 
admitted  to  the  degree  of  M.B.,  having  passed  (in 
conformity  with  the  late  medical  regulations)  the 
Senior  Freshman  year,  except  that  they  pay  fees 
for  the  half-year  in  which  the  final  examination  of 
that  year  takes  place.' 

By  these  regulations  greatly  increased  privi- 
leges were  granted  to  medical  students,  while,  at 
the  same  time,  the  course  of  study  was  made 
more  stringent.  The  diploma  previously  given 
to  students  who  had  merely  matriculated,  and 
which  was  so  much  objected  to  by  the  College  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  p.  236. 


GRAVES  AND  STOKES  271 

Physicians,  disappeared,  and  instead  students  were 
compelled  to  take  two  years  of  the  Arts  course, 
unless  they  availed  themselves  of  the  privilege 
of  saving  a  year.  At  the  same  time  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Medicine  was  opened  to  those  who  did 
not  graduate  in  Arts.  A  difference  was  always 
held  to  exist  between  those  who  took  this  degree 
after  graduating  in  Arts  and  those  who  did  not  so 
graduate,  the  latter  being  described  as  Bachelors 
in  Medicine  by  diploma,  and  not  being  permitted 
to  proceed  to  the  M.D.  degree  unless  they  graduated 
in  Arts.  Very  few  of  these  degrees  by  diploma 
were  granted,  there  being  only  one  in  the  three 
years  1842-44.  In  spite  of  this  there  was  con- 
siderable objection  to  the  practice,  and  in  1842 
proposals  1  were  received  by  the  Board  from  the 
Professors  urging  that  the  regulation  should  be 
rescinded.  On  July  14,  1846,  the  Board  resolved 
to  rescind  that  part  of  the  regulations  made  in 
July  1839  by  which  students  were  allowed  to 
take  the  degree  of  M.B.  without  previous  gradua- 
tion in  Arts.2  The  regulations  as  regards  clinical 
lectures  were  also  modified,  and  in  1841  the  Board 
decided  that  the  students  were  to  attend  the  course 
of  clinical  lectures  given  during  the  summer  session 
in  Dun's  Hospital.  This  attendance  was  to  take 
the  place  either  of  hospital  attendance  under  the 
ordinary  physicians,  or  of  the  additional  course  of 
clinical  lectures  which  was  formerly  required,  but 
was  to  be  in  addition  to  the  ordinary  winter 
course. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  vii,  pp.  97  and  99.  Ibid.,  p.  318. 


272  SCHOOL  REFORM 

The  Board  of  Trinity  College  and  the  College  of 
Physicians,  though  they  disputed  about  the  medical 
curriculum,  still  remained  on  the  most  friendly 
terms,  and  on  July  8,  1839,  the  Board  offered  to 
admit  to  the  Honorary  Degree  of  M.D.  any  six 
medical  men  whom  the  College  of  Physicians 
might  recommend,  even  though  they  had  not 
graduated  in  Arts.  The  College  expressed  their 
gratitude  for  the  honourable  privilege  conferred  on 
them,  and  suggested  the  names  of  Robert  Reid, 
M.D.,  Edin.  ;  John  Mollan,  M.D.,  Edin.  ;  Robert 
Collins,  M.D.,  Glasgow  ;  William  Stokes,  M.D., 
Edin.  ;  Evory  Kennedy,  M.D.,  Edin.  ;  and  Aquilla 
Smith,  L.K.  &  Q. C.P.I.  These  degrees  were  con- 
ferred at  the  Summer  Commencements,  and  the 
subsequent  careers  of  the  recipients  quite  justified 
the  selection  made  by  the  College. 

Having  succeeded  in  introducing  lectures  on 
midwifery  into  the  medical  course,  the  College  of 
Physicians  was  most  anxious  to  add  to  the  curri- 
culum the  study  of  Medical  Jurisprudence,  and 
with  this  view  informed  the  Board  on  i7th  October, 
1839,  that  Thomas  Brady  had  been  elected  Pro- 
fessor of  that  subject,  and  asked  that  attendance 
on  his  lectures  should  be  made  compulsory  on 
those  seeking  medical  degrees.  This  request  the 
Board  referred  to  the  Medical  Faculty  of  the 
School,  who  reported  that  they  considered  it 
inexpedient  to  increase  the  number  of  lectures 
necessary  for  the  students.  The  College  of 
Physicians  was  not  satisfied  with  this  reply,  and 
in  the  following  May  again  wrote  to  the  Board 


GRAVES  AND  STOKES  273 

saying  that  the  University  of  Edinburgh  had 
agreed  to  recognize  Professor  Brady's  lectures, 
provided  Trinity  College,  in  the  event  of  their 
requiring  such  a  course,  would  also  do  so.  The 
Board,  however,  declined  to  make  any  conditional 
promise.  The  College  of  Physicians  did  not  cease 
to  urge  on  the  Board  the  importance  of  this  sub- 
ject. Twice  in  the  year  1842  a  deputation  of  the 
physicians  waited  on  the  Board,  but  it  was  not 
till  November  15,  1845,  that  the  Board  consented 
to  a  conditional  promise  to  recognize  the  lectures 
if  teaching  in  the  subject  was  made  obligatory. 
On  March  3,  1849,  the  following  new  curriculum 

was  adopted  : 1 

Course.  Duration. 

1.  Botany       ......     3  months. 

2.  Chemistry  .         .         .         .         .         .     6        „ 

3.  Practical  Chemistry  under  the  Professor 

of  Chemistry    .         .          .         .         .     3        „ 

4.  Anatomy  and  Physiology      .         .          .6        „ 

5.  Practical    Anatomy    and    Anatomical 

demonstrations  under  the  superinten- 
dence of  the  Professor  of  Anatomy     .6  „ 

6.  Materia  Medica  .         .          .         .         .     6  „ 

7.  Institutes  of  Medicine .         .         .         .6  „ 

8.  Practice  of  Medicine      .         .         .         .6  ,, 

9.  Theory  and  Practice  of  Surgery  by  a 

Professor  to  be  appointed  by  the  Board    6        „ 

10.  Medical  Jurisprudence  by  the  Professor  of 

the  College  of  Physicians    .          .          .3         „ 

11.  Midwifery  by  the  Professor  of  the  College 

of  Physicians  .          .          .          .  6         ,, 

The  Student  not  to  be  required  to  attend  both  the 
courses  of  practical  Chemistry  and  Medical  Jurisprudence, 
1  Reg.,  vol.  ix,  p.  92. 
T 


274  SCHOOL  REFORM 

but  it  is  to  be  left  to  his  option  to  select  which  of  these 
courses  he  will  attend. 

12.  Twelve  months'  attendance  on  Sir  Patrick  Dun's 
Hospital  with  nine  months'  attendance  on  the  Clinical 
lectures  at  that  Hospital. 

13.  Six  months'  attendance  on  the  practice  of  some 
general   Hospital   approved   by   the   Board   of   Trinity 
College,  together  with  Clinical  lectures  on  Surgery. 

The  whole  course  of  medical  study  to  occupy  four  years, 
one  at  least  of  the  courses  of  lectures  and  not  more  than 
three  of  those  which  are  not  optional,  to  be  attended 
during  each  year. 

Besides  the  recognition  of  Medical  Jurispru- 
dence this  curriculum  involved  some  very  impor- 
tant changes,  the  most  notable  of  which  was  the 
separation  of  Surgery  from  the  Chair  of  Anatomy. 
In  June  of  1842  Harrison  had  suggested  this 
separation  to  the  Board,  but  it  was  not  till  these 
new  regulations  were  adopted  that  his  suggestion 
was  carried  out,  and  Robert  W.  Smith  appointed 
Professor  of  Surgery  at  a  salary  of  £100  per 
annum.  This  opened  the  way  for  the  subsequent 
granting,  first  of  diplomas,  and  then  of  degrees  in 
surgery.  The  recognition  of  teaching  in  hospitals 
other  than  that  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun  was  also  an 
innovation.  The  systematic  lectures  were  all 
delivered  in  Trinity  College  instead  of  partly  in 
Dun's  Hospital,  in  accordance  with  the  resolutions 
of  the  Board  of  the  4th  October,  1841,  and  25th 
July,  1846. 

During  the  ten  years  between  1840  and  1850 
the  Board  made  very  liberal  allowances  towards 
increasing  the  collections  in  the  various  museums 


GRAVES  AND  STOKES  275 

of  the  College.  These  grants  were  made  in  addi- 
tion to  the  sums  set  aside  annually  for  the  upkeep 
of  the  departments  of  Anatomy  and  Chemistry, 
and  show  the  interest  taken  in  the  teaching  of 
Natural  Science.  On  i5th  June,  1840,  Dr.  Coulter 
offered  his  herbarium  to  the  College,  provided  he 
was  elected  curator  of  the  botanical  part  of  the 
Museum  at  a  salary  of  £100  a  year.  This  offer 
was  accepted,  and  during  the  next  four  years  sums 
amounting  to  £1,164  IOS-  were  given  to  purchase 
shells,  plants,  and  books  for  the  collection.  Of 
this  sum  £300  '  was  given  to  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Sirr  * 
on  January  30,  1841,  for  his  late  father's  collec- 
tion of  shells ',  and  a  year  later  £410  to  Coulter  for 
a  similar  collection  made  by  him.2  In  addition  to 
this  Coulter  was  allowed  £50  a  year  to  purchase 
specimens  for  the  Herbarium,  and  £50  a  year  for 
specimens  of  zoology.  Dr.  Coulter  died  in  1843, 
and  the  following  year  William  Allman,  who  had 
been  the  Professor  of  Botany  since  1809,  resigned, 
receiving  £100  a  year  as  a  retiring  allowance. 
George  J.  Allman,  who  on  March  26,  1844,  suc- 
ceeded William  Allman  as  Professor,  offered  to  set 
aside  £150  per  annum  out  of  his  salary  to  pay 
a  curator  of  the  Herbarium.  The  Board  agreed  to 
deduct  only  the  sum  of  £100  from  the  salary  of 
the  Professor  for  this  purpose,  and  to  add  £50 
a  year  from  their  own  funds.  At  the  same  time 
that  Allman  made  this  offer,  William  Henry  Harvey 
offered  his  collection  of  10,000  specimens  to  be 
added  to  the  Herbarium,  provided  the  College 

1  Reg.,  vol.  viii,  p.  30.  *  Ibid.,  p.  78. 


276  SCHOOL  REFORM 

would  elect  him  to  the  curatorship,  and  guarantee 
to  pay  him  £300  for  his  collection  if  he  were  dis- 
missed from  the  office.1  This  offer  the  Board 
accepted,  and  allowed  him  first  £10,  and  after- 
wards £30  a  year  to  be  spent  in  purchasing  addi- 
tions to  the  collection.  Besides  this  yearly  allow- 
ance several  payments  were  made  for  special 
additions,  such  as  collections  of  Hungarian  plants, 
and  rooms  were  fitted  up  in  No.  40,  Trinity  College, 
for  the  Herbarium.2 

Harvey  afterwards,  in  1856,  succeeded  Allman 
as  Professor  of  Botany,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  occupants  of  the  Chair. 

In  1844  yet  another  collection  of  specimens  was 
offered  to  the  College  by  Robert  Ball,  on  con- 
dition that  he  was  appointed  curator  of  the 
Museum  at  a  salary  of  £200  a  year.  Besides  pre- 
senting his  collection,  which  he  valued  at  a  low 
estimate  at  £500,  Ball  proposed  to  attend  regularly 
at  the  Museum  and  lecture  on  its  contents,  and  he 
also  proposed  to  pay  an  assistant  who  would, 
without  additional  expense  to  the  College,  be  able 
to  mount  many  of  the  specimens.  He  stated  that 
his  object  would  be  to  make  the  Museum  useful 
as  a  teaching  establishment  rather  than  a  mere 
collection  of  rarities.  Ball  was  appointed  Curator 
on  April  27, 1844,  and  it  is  to  his  exertions  that  the 
present  Zoological  Museum  is  chiefly  due.  While 
he  filled  this  post  Ball,  in  the  year  1853,  started 
the  Dublin  University  Zoological  and  Botanical 
Society.  In  1850  the  Board  conferred  on  him 

1  Reg.,  vol.  viii,  p.  206,  '  Ibid.,  p.  241. 


GRAVES  AND  STOKES  277 

the  degree  of  LL.D.,  Honoris  Causa,  and  in  1851 
he  was  elected  secretary  of  the  new  Queen's 
University,  but  was  allowed  by  the  Board  to  con- 
tinue as  Director  of  the  Museum.1  Ball  died  on 
the  30th  March,  1857  ;  his  son,  Sir  Charles  Ball, 
is  the  present  Regius  Professor  of  Surgery. 

The  School  of  Physic  was  fortunate  in  having 
on  its  staff  during  this  period  of  its  career  two  of 
the  most  distinguished  men  to  be  found  in  the 
long  roll  of  Irish  physicians.  The  names  of  Graves 
and  Stokes  are  written  large  on  the  pages  of 
Medical  History,  and  the  reputation  of  the  Dublin 
School  owes  to  these  two  men  a  debt  the  extent 
of  which  it  is  difficult  to  overestimate. 

Robert  James  Graves  was  the  son  of  Richard 
Graves,  Senior  Fellow  of  Trinity  College  and 
Regius  Professor  of  Divinity,  and  Eliza,  daughter 
of  James  Drought,  also  a  Fellow  of  Trinity  College. 
Born  in  Dublin  on  March  27,  1797,  Graves  was 
educated  in  Trinity  College,  where  he  graduated 
B.A.  in  1815,  and  M.B.  in  1818.  He  then  spent 
three  years  in  foreign  travel  and  study,  visiting 
the  great  schools  of  London,  Edinburgh,  France, 
Germany,  and  Italy,  and  while  in  the  latter 
country  formed  an  intimate  acquaintance  with 
the  great  artist  Turner.  Returning  to  Dublin,  he 
was,  on  the  27th  November,  1820,  admitted  a 
Licentiate  of  the  King  and  Queen's  College  of 
Physicians,  and  on  July  31  following  was  elected 
Physician  to  the  Meath  Hospital.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  winter  session  of  that  year  Graves  delivered 

1  Proc.  Zoolog.  and  Bot,  Assoc.,  p.  7. 


278  SCHOOL  REFORM 

his  first  introductory  lecture  to  the  students  of  the 
hospital,  and  pointed  out  those  broad  principles 
of  medical  education  which  were  destined  to 
change  the  clinical  teaching  not  only  of  the  Dublin 
School  but  of  the  Medical  Schools  throughout  the 
world.  The  keynote  of  this  method  was  the 
personal  observation  of  disease  by  the  student 
under  the  guidance  of  a  sympathetic  teacher. 
'  From  the  very  commencement  the  student  ought 
to  witness  the  progress  and  effects  of  sickness,  and 
ought  to  persevere  in  the  daily  observation  of 
disease  during  the  whole  period  of  his  studies.' 
In  this  lecture  Graves  gives  a  graphic  picture  of 
the  method  of  clinical  teaching  then  in  vogue, 
and  from  it  we  can  understand  how  great  was  the 
difference  between  his  method  and  that  in  general 
use  in  the  hospitals.  Under  the  old  method  the 
majority  of  the  students  never  came  in  contact 
with  the  patients  at  all,  but  had  '  to  trust  solely 
to  their  ears  for  information  '.  This  information, 
too,  in  Dun's  Hospital,  was,  till  the  year  1831, 
given  in  Latin,  or,  as  Graves  says,  '  I  have  called 
the  language  Latin,  in  compliance  with  the  gener- 
ally received  opinion  of  its  nature.'  On  April  7, 
1823,  Graves  was  chosen  a  Fellow  of  the  College 
of  Physicians,  and  on  October  2,  1827,  was  elected 
King's  Professor  of  the  Institutes  of  Medicine. 
From  this  time  till  his  resignation  in  1841,  Graves 
taught  in  the  School  of  Physic  and  Dun's  Hospital, 
while  at  the  same  time  he  continued  his  clinical 
lectures  in  the  Meath.  In  1838  he  took  a  leading 
part  in  the  foundation  of  the  Dublin  Pathological 


GRAVES  AND  STOKES  279 

Society,  and  was  its  first  President.  This  Society, 
the  first  Pathological  Society  established  in  the 
United  Kingdom,1  continued  its  separate  exis- 
tence till,  with  the  other  medical  societies  of 
Dublin,  it  was  merged  in  the  Royal  Academy  of 
Medicine  in  Ireland.  In  1843  Graves  published 
his  System  of  Clinical  Medicine,  which  contained 
his  celebrated  clinical  lectures.  These  lectures 
had  previously  been  published  in  the  medical 
papers  of  the  day,  and  in  1838  an  edition  of  them 
had  been  issued  in  Philadelphia  in  Dunglison's 
American  Medical  Library.  Of  this  work  it  is 
unnecessary  that  we  should  speak  in  detail.  The 
teaching  contained  in  it  on  such  subjects  as 
nursing,  the  treatment  of  fevers  and  consumption, 
represents  the  basis  of  our  present  practice.2 
Trousseau,  writing  of  the  work,  says  : 

'  For  many  years  I  have  spoken  of  Graves  in  my 
Clinical  lectures  ;  I  recommend  the  perusal  of  his  work  ; 
I  entreat  those  of  my  pupils  who  understand  English  to 
consider  it  as  their  breviary  ;  I  say  and  repeat  that,  of  all 
the  practical  works  published  in  our  time,  I  am  acquainted 
with  none  more  useful,  more  intellectual.' 3 

In  1827,  on  his  election  as  King's  Professor, 
Graves  had  to  vacate  his  Fellowship  of  the  College 
of  Physicians,  but  was  immediately  admitted  as 
an  Honorary  Fellow,  and  on  his  resignation  of  the 
Professorship  he  was  reinstated,  and  elected  Presi- 
dent in  the  years  1843  and  1844.  In  the  former 
year  he  resigned  his  physiciancy  to  the  Meath 

1  Hurry,  p.  7.  *  Walsh,  p.  174. 

3  Graves,  Lectures,  1864,  p.  vii. 


28o  SCHOOL  REFORM 

Hospital,  '  in  consequence ',  as  he  says, '  of  finding 
that  I  could  no  longer  discharge  my  duties  to  the 
patients  and  pupils  in  a  satisfactory  manner.' x  In 
1849  he  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society, 
and  he  was  also  a  member  of  many  of  the  learned 
societies  of  Europe.  He  died  on  March  20,  1853, 
after  a  protracted  and  painful  illness,  which  was 
borne  with  courage  and  patience.2  As  an  obituary 
notice  published  at  the  time  says  :  '  By  his  death 
the  Irish  School  has  lost  one  of  its  brightest  orna- 
ments ;  one  whose  labours  had  made  his  name 
familiar  in  every  European  and  American  School.' 3 
The  life  of  the  great  William  Stokes  has  been 
told  so  well  and  so  often  by  different  writers  4  that 
it  is  only  necessary  to  give  the  briefest  outline  of 
it  here.  William,  the  son  of  Whitley  Stokes,  was 
born  in  Dublin  in  July  1804.  His  early  education 
was  conducted  at  home  under  the  eye  of  his 
father,  his  tutor  being  John  Walker,  ex- Fellow  of 
Trinity  College,  and  founder  of  the  Walkerite  sect 
already  referred  to.  At  first  Stokes  seemed  to  be 
an  indolent,  if  not  a  stupid,  pupil,  but  later  on  he 
devoted  himself  to  study  with  that  energy  which 
characterized  his  later  life.  In  his  early  days  he 
was  the  constant  companion  of  his  father,  and  for 
some  time  assisted  him  in  his  lectures  on  natural 
history  in  Trinity  College.  After  some  short  pre- 
liminary study  in  the  school  of  the  College  of 

1  Ormsby,  p.  125.  *  Studies  in  Physiology,  p.  Ixxxiii. 

*  Med.  Times  and  Gazette,  March  26,  1853. 

4  Stokes,  Life  ;    Acland,  Memoir  ;    Dub.   Univ.  Mag.,  August 
1874. 


GRAVES  AND  STOKES  281 

Surgeons  and  in  the  School  of  Physic,  William 
Stokes  went  to  Glasgow,  where  he  chiefly  worked 
at  chemistry  in  the  laboratory  of  Professor  Thomp- 
son. Leaving  Glasgow  he  proceeded  to  Edinburgh, 
where  he  graduated  M.D.  in  1825,  reading  a  thesis 
De  Ascite.  Before  he  graduated  in  Edinburgh  he 
published  a  small  octavo  book  of  239  pages,  en- 
titled An  Introduction  to  the  use  of  the  Stethoscope ; 
with  its  application  to  the  Diagnosis  in  Diseases  of 
the  Thoracic  Viscera  including  the  Pathology  of  these 
various  Affections.  For  this  work,  which  was  one 
of  the  first  on  the  subject  published  in  the  English 
language,  he  received  the  sum  of  £70.  After 
taking  his  degree  in  Edinburgh,  Stokes  returned 
to  Dublin,  and  was  at  once  appointed  one  of  the 
physicians  to  the  Dublin  General  Dispensary,  and 
in  the  following  year,  on  the  resignation  of  his 
father,  he  was  appointed  Physician  to  the  Meath 
Hospital.  There  he  began  his  lifelong  friendship 
with  Graves,  and  there  the  two  great  physicians 
together  developed  that  clinical  teaching  which 
has  made  the  name  of  the  Meath  Hospital  famous 
in  the  annals  of  medicine.  On  December  3,  1825, 
Stokes  was  admitted  Licentiate  of  the  College  of 
Physicians,  and  was  elected  Honorary  Fellow  on 
St.  Luke's  Day,  1828,  having  in  that  year  published 
Two  Lectures  on  the  Use  of  the  Stethoscope.  In  1826, 
Whitley  Stokes,  then  Professor  of  Medicine  at  the 
College  of  Surgeons,  asked  the  Royal  College  of 
Surgeons  that  his  son  William  might  be  associated 
with  him  in  his  lectures  in  order  that  the  students 
might  enjoy  the  benefit  of  his  clinical  teaching 


282  SCHOOL  REFORM 

at  the  Meath.1  The  request  was  refused,  and  in 
1829  William  Stokes  succeeded  Henry  Marsh  as 
Lecturer  in  Medicine  in  the  Park  Street  School, 
which  post  he  held  till  1842.  In  1837  he  pub- 
lished his  work  on  the  Diseases  of  the  Lungs  and 
Windpipe,  a  work  which  immediately  placed  him 
in  the  forefront  of  medical  thinkers  of  his  time, 
and  which  still  remains  one  of  the  classics  in  the 
literature  of  our  profession.  On  October  12,  1840, 
Whitley  Stokes  resigned  the  Regius  Professorship 
of  Medicine  in  the  University,  and  William  was 
immediately  elected  to  that  office  for  the  period 
of  his  father's  lifetime.2  On  the  death  of  Whitley 
Stokes  the  Regius  Professorship  became  vacant, 
the  Board  had  the  difficult  problem  of  deciding 
between  Graves  and  Stokes,  who  became  can- 
didates for  the  post.  On  May  3,  1845,  Stokes  was 
elected,  receiving  four  votes,  while  Graves  received 
three.3  Though  the  subsequent  career  of  Stokes 
fully  justified  this  choice,  one  cannot  help  regretting 
that  Graves  was  not  elected,  as  then  the  roll  of 
Regius  Professors  might  have  included  the  names 
of  both  these  men. 

During  the  thirty-eight  years  that  Stokes  held 
the  Professorship  he  worked  with  a  whole-hearted 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  School  and  Uni- 
versity. Almost  every  page  of  the  Registers  of  the 
Board  bear  testimony  to  the  work  he  did  in  watch- 
ing the  interests  of  the  University  and  guiding  the 
development  of  the  School.  In  the  negotiations 

1  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  449.  *  Reg.,  vol.  viii,  p.  15. 

J  Ibid.,  p.  259. 


GRAVES  AND  STOKES  283 

which  led  to  the  passing  of  the  Medical  Act  of 
1858,  he  acted  as  the  ambassador  of  the  Board, 
and,  on  the  formation  of  the  General  Medical 
Council  under  that  Act,  Stokes  was  nominated 
Crown  representative  for  Ireland.  Every  one  of 
the  reforms  in  the  School  of  Physic  during  Stokes's 
tenure  of  office  bear  his  impress,  and  many  were 
entirely  due  to  his  exertion  and  influence. 

In  1854  appeared  his  work  on  the  Diseases  of 
the  Heart  and  Aorta,  which  was  really  the  second 
part  of  his  former  publication.  Besides  these 
formal  works  the  contributions  from  his  pen  to 
the  medical  papers  were  numerous,  so  many 
indeed  that  a  mere  enumeration  of  them  occupies 
nearly  five  pages  in  the  volume  of  his  life  which 
was  published  by  his  son  in  1898.  It  was  in  this 
work  on  the  Diseases  of  the  Heart  and  the  Aorta 
that  he  describes  that  form  of  respiration  associ- 
ated with  his  name  and  that  of  another  great  Irish 
physician,  John  Cheyne.  The  passage  is  so  admir- 
able as  a  piece  of  descriptive  writing  that  we  give 
it  in  full : * 

'  A  form  of  respiratory  distress,  peculiar  to  this  affection 
(fatty  degeneration  of  the  heart)  consisting  of  a  period  of 
apparently  perfect  Apnoea,  succeeded  by  feeble  and  short 
inspirations,  which  gradually  increase  in  strength  and 
depth  until  the  respiratory  act  is  carried  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  which  it  seems  capable,  when  the  respirations 
pursuing  a  descending  scale,  regularly  diminish  until  the 
commencement  of  another  apnoeal  period.  During  the 
height  of  the  paroxysm  the  vesicular  murmur  becomes 
intensely  puerile.' 

1  Heart  and  Aorta,  p.  336. 


284  SCHOOL  REFORM 

During  his  long  life  Stokes  received  honours 
from  many  societies  and  corporations.  In  1836 
he  was  one  of  the  six  men  on  whom,  at  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  College  of  Physicians,  the 
Dublin  University  conferred  the  degree  of  M.D. 
Honoris  Causa,  and  in  the  October  of  that  year 
the  College  of  Physicians  elected  him  a  Fellow, 
choosing  him  as  their  President  in  the  years  1849 
and  1850.  In  1861  he  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  LL.D.  of  Edinburgh,  in  1865  the  D.C.L. 
of  Oxford,  and  in  1874  the  LL.D.  of  Cambridge. 
In  1862  he  was  appointed  Physician  in  Ordinary  to 
the  Queen  in  Ireland,  and  in  the  following  year 
was  elected  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society.  In  1867 
he  was  President  of  the  British  Medical  Associa- 
tion, and  in  1874  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy. 
Thus  did  men  delight  to  honour  our  great  Regius 
Professor,  and  honouring  him  did  honour  to 
themselves.  In  1876  illness  compelled  Stokes  to 
withdraw  from  active  work,  and  he  retired  to  his 
home,  Carrig  Breacc,  at  Howth,  where  he  died 
peacefully  on  January  6,  1878. 


CHAPTER  XV 
MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

WHILE  Stokes  was  Regius  Professor  of  Medicine 
several  Acts  dealing  with  medical  matters  were 
passed  by  the  English  Parliament,  and  many 
changes  were  also  made  in  the  regulations  of  the 
School  of  Physic.  The  agitation  which  eventually 
resulted  in  the  passing  of  the  Medical  Act  of  1858, 
was  noticeable  as  early  as  1841  in  the  deliberations 
about  the  School,  and  the  Board  of  Trinity  College 
took  an  active  part  in  the  preliminary  inquiries 
concerning  the  Bill.  On  several  occasions  both 
the  Regius  Professor  and  Dr.  Montgomery,  the 
Professor  of  Midwifery,  represented  the  Board  in 
London  at  these  inquiries.  The  College  of  Physi- 
cians on  January  4,  1845, 1  wrote  to  the  Board 
stating  that  they  had  learned  that  the  University 
of  Dublin  proposed  to  enter  into  a  concordat  with 
the  London  College  of  Physicians,  and  with  the 
Universities  of  Oxford,  Cambridge,  and  Edinburgh, 
for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  conjoint  final 
examination  in  Medicine.  The  College  of  Physicians 
desired  to  join  in  this  concordat,  and  to  this  pro- 
posal the  Board  expressed  their  agreement.  This 
proposal  was  never  carried  out,  but  it  is  interest- 
ing in  view  of  the  more  recent  suggestion  of  a  one- 
portal  system  for  medical  qualification. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  viii,  p.  263. 


286  MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

The  election  of  Robert  W.  Smith  as  Professor 
of  Surgery,  in  pursuance  of  the  resolution  of  the 
Board  on  March  3,  1849,  caused  considerable 
annoyance  to  the  Council  of  the  Royal  College  of 
Surgeons,  who  applied  to  the  Board  for  the  recog- 
nition of  the  curriculum  of  their  School  in  the  case 
of  students  seeking  degrees.  With  a  view  to  giving 
effect  to  such  an  arrangement,  the  Board  on 
November  12,  1850,  adopted  new  regulations  with 
regard  to  the  Medical  School.  By  these  regula- 
tions any  candidate  for  the  M.B.  degree  might 
take  his  courses  in  the  College  of  Surgeons  School, 
provided  such  courses  were  equivalent  to  those  of 
the  School  of  Physic,  and  provided  also  he  attended 
one  Annus  Medicus  in  the  School  of  Physic.1 
Students  in  Arts,  whose  names  were  on  the  College 
books,  were  to  be  allowed  free  attendance  on 
one  course  of  each  of  the  University  Professors' 
lectures,  while  medical  students  in  the  Junior 
Sophister  year  were  to  be  allowed  credit  for  the 
terms  and  term  examinations  of  that  year. 
Students  were  also  to  be  permitted  to  take  the 
Bachelor  degree  in  Medicine  at  the  same  commence- 
ments at  which  they  took  the  B.A.  Licentiates  of 
the  College  of  Surgeons  who  were  graduates  in 
Arts,  were  to  be  permitted  to  present  themselves 
for  the  examination  for  the  M.B.  degree  as  soon 
as  they  had  finished  one  Annus  Medicus  in  the 
School  of  Physic.  This  latter  regulation  was  not 
to  take  effect  unless  the  College  of  Surgeons 
agreed  to  admit  Bachelors  of  Medicine  of  the 

1  Reg.,  vol.  ix,  p.  293. 


MEDICAL  LEGISLATION  287 

University  of  Dublin  to  the  Licence  of  the  College 
on  their  producing  certificates  of  having  attended 
two  courses  in  the  School  of  that  College,  or  in 
some  school  recognized  by  that  College.  The 
Board  further  decided  that  an  Annus  Medicus  in 
the  School  of  Physic  could  be  kept  in  any  one  of 
the  four  following  ways  : 

1.  Two  professional  courses  of  six  months  each 

2.  One  six  months'  course  and  two  courses  of  three 

months  each. 

3.  Three  three  months'  courses  of  clinical  lectures  at 

Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital  and  further  a  Pro- 
fessor's course  of  six  months. 

4.  A  similar  attendance  on  the  clinical  lectures  with  an 

attendance  on  two  of  the  Professors'  courses  of 
three  months  each. 

These  regulations  were  submitted  to  the  Council 
of  the  College  of  Surgeons,  who  replied  on  Decem- 
ber 7,  I85O,1  that  they  were  most  anxious  to 
encourage  their  licentiates  to  become  graduates 
of  Trinity  College,  and  consequently  were  prepared 
to  admit  to  their  examinations  all  graduates  in 
Arts  of  the  University  who  produced  certificates 
of  surgical  education  required  by  the  by-laws  of 
the  College,  of  which  certificates  those  required 
for  the  M.B.  degree  might  be  considered  part. 
The  Board  replied  that  they  would  require  all  the 
certificates  of  all  the  Professors  of  the  School  of 
Physic  to  be  recognized  by  the  College  of  Surgeons 
if  any  plan  of  reciprocity  was  to  be  established. 
This,  in  view  of  the  establishment  in  the  School  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  ix,  p.  307. 


288  MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

Physic  of  surgical  lectures,  the  College  of  Surgeons 
refused  to  do,  and  the  negotiations  fell  through. 

On  February  22,  1851,  the  Board  received 
a  memorial  from  the  medical  students  of  the 
School  praying  for  the  establishment  of  a  School 
of  Surgery.1  The  Regius  Professor  was  sent  to 
London  to  confer  with  the  Medical  Boards  of  the 
Navy  and  Army,  to  see  whether  a  diploma,  if 
granted  by  the  University,  would  be  recognized. 
The  reply  was  favourable,  and  the  Professors  of 
the  School  suggested  that  the  curriculum  for  such 
a  diploma  should  extend  over  four  years,  during 
which  time  the  following  courses  should  be  taken 
out : 

Anatomy  and  Physiology  ) 

Demonstrations  and  Dissections'- of  each  three  courses. 

Theory  and  Practice  of  Surgery  ) 

Chemistry  \ 

Practice  of  Medicine     ,       , 

,,. ,    .,  >-of  each  one  course. 

Midwifery 

Materia  Medica         I 

Also  a  three  months'  course  of  Practical  Chemis- 
try, Botany,  and  Medical  Jurisprudence,  and 
attendance  for  three  sessions,  each  of  nine  months' 
duration,  at  the  practice  of  a  general  hospital 
approved  by  the  Board,  with  attendance  on  the 
clinical  lectures  on  medicine  and  surgery  there 
delivered.  Of  the  twenty-seven  months'  hospital 
attendance,  six  might  be  passed  at  a  lying-in 
hospital  approved  by  the  Board,  but  not  more 
than  three  of  the  six  months'  courses  of  lectures 

1  Reg.,  vol.  ix,  p.  344. 


MEDICAL  LEGISLATION  289 

were  to  be  taken  in  any  one  year.  The  surgical 
diploma  was  to  be  given  to  any  student  who  had 
completed  his  full  surgical  curriculum,  and  had 
taken  out  one  year's  Arts  study.  After  the  com- 
pletion of  this  one  year's  Arts  study  it  was  not 
to  be  necessary  for  the  student  to  keep  his  name 
on  the  College  books.1  The  Colleges  of  Surgeons 
of  both  Dublin  and  London  protested  against  this 
scheme  of  the  University.  They  declared  that  it 
was  a  violation  of  the  rights  of  their  Colleges,  and 
a  degradation  of  the  profession  of  surgery.  The 
medical  papers  of  the  time  were  flooded  with 
letters  and  articles  intended  to  prove  that  the 
University  had  no  capacity  to  teach  surgeons,  and 
no  authority  to  license  them.  The  College  of 
Surgeons  in  Ireland  went  so  far  as  to  write  to 
Primate  Beresford,  who  was  the  Chancellor  of  the 
University,  but  the  Primate  contented  himself 
with  forwarding  the  letter  to  the  Board.  The 
Board,  however,  satisfied  with  the  correctness  of 
their  attitude,  answered  all  and  sundry  who  com- 
plained, and  on  January  24,  1852,  proceeded  to 
the  election  of  a  University  Professor  of  Surgery, 
who  was  to  hold  office  for  a  period  of  five  years 
at  a  salary  of  £100  per  annum,  and  whose  duty 
was  to  conduct  the  examinations  for  the  surgery 
diploma.  There  were  two  candidates,  James 
William  Cusack,  M.D.,  and  Robert  Adams,  M.D. ; 
the  former  was  elected  by  four  votes  to  three.2 
The  Board  further  agreed  to  charge  the  sum  of 
£2  i os.  for  the  surgery  diploma. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  x,  p.  63.  *  Ibid.,  p.  112. 

u 


2QO  MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

While  the  Board  and  the  College  of  Surgeons 
were  wrangling  over  the  validity  of  the  surgical 
diploma,  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College 
of  Physicians  were  associating  themselves  more 
closely  with  the  School  of  Physic.  They  approved 
the  surgical  diplomas  of  the  University,  and  ex- 
pressed satisfaction  at  the  attention  which  the 
Board  was  paying  '  to  the  important  object  of 
raising  the  standard  of  medical  and  surgical 
education.' *  On  September  3,  1852,  the  College 
of  Physicians  agreed  to  admit  to  the  licence  of  the 
College,  without  examination,  all  graduates  of 
the  University  of  Dublin  who  had  performed  their 
full  acts,  provided  such  candidates  paid  the  neces- 
sary fees  and  fulfilled  the  by-laws  of  the  College.2 
This  privilege  was  conditional  on  the  President 
and  Censors  of  the  College  being  permitted  to 
take  part  in  the  examinations  and  vote  on  the 
admission  of  all  candidates  for  medical  graduation. 
The  Board  accepted  this  condition,  and  thus,  after 
a  lapse  of  a  hundred  years,  the  President  and 
Censors  of  the  College  of  Physicians  again  became 
ex  officio  examiners  for  the  medical  degrees  of  the 
University.  The  scheme,  however,  did  not  last 
long,  for  on  March  u,  1854,  the  College  suggested 
to  the  Board  further  regulations  as  to  the  sum- 
moning of  the  College  of  Physicians  to  the  examina- 
tions, and  suggested  that  a  fee  of  a  guinea  should 
be  paid  for  the  attendance.  The  Board  agreed  to 
the  suggestions,  but  professed  themselves  unable 
to  discover  any  fund  from  which  the  fee  was  to 

*  Reg.,  vol.  x,  p.  91.  *  Ibid.,  p.  163. 


MEDICAL  LEGISLATION  291 

be  derived.  On  April  26,  1856,  the  Professors  of 
the  University  discussed  this  arrangement  for  the 
final  examination,  but  at  the  time  were  unable  to 
come  to  any  conclusion.  On  June  14  a  new  plan 
for  conducting  these  examinations  was  finally 
agreed  to,  in  which  the  co-operation  of  the  College 
of  Physicians  was  not  included.1  Under  the  new 
scheme  the  candidates  were  to  be  examined  'on 
the  usual  Academic  plan,  i.e.  that  they  be  examined 
in  Class  and  all  on  the  same  days '.  The  examina- 
tion was  to  take  place  in  the  College  Hall,  and 
occupy  two  days.  The  professors  were  to  be  sum- 
moned to  the  examination,  and  the  summons  was 
to  contain  the  names  of  the  candidates  who  were 
to  be  examined.  The  examination  was  to  be 
partly  by  printed  and  partly  by  oral  questions  ; 
the  written  part  taking  place  on  the  first  day 
from  10  to  12  a.m.,  and  from  3  to  5  p.m.,  the 
viva  voce  on  the  second  day,  each  candidate  being 
examined  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  At  the  end 
of  the  examination  the  Professors  were  to  meet 
in  the  hall  and  decide  who  had  passed  the  examina- 
tion, and  declare  the  results.  These  regulations 
were  adopted  by  the  Board,  but,  though  there 
was  no  function  left  for  the  President  and  Censors 
of  the  College  of  Physicians  in  the  examination, 
their  official  connexion  with  it  did  not  terminate 
till  two  years  later,  when  on  July  31,  1858,  the 
Board  was  informed  that  the  College  did  not 
intend  for  the  future  to  send  examiners  to  the 
degree  examinations.  The  Board  referred  this 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xi,  p.  37. 


292  MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

communication  to  the  Professors  of  the  School, 
who  replied  that  they  thought  '  that  the  system 
in  question  has  had  sufficient  trial,  without  pro- 
ducing the  beneficial  results  expected  from  it  V 
and  in  this  opinion  the  Board  concurred. 

On  August  2, 1858,  the  first  Medical  Act  received 
the  Royal  Assent.  The  General  Council  of  Medical 
Education  and  Registration  established  by  this 
Act  was  empowered  to  form  a  Register  of  all  duly 
qualified  medical  men.  The  qualifications  of  those 
entitled  to  be  entered  in  this  Register,  besides 
men  in  practice  before  August  i,  1815,  were  defined 
in  the  Schedule.  The  registrable  qualifications  in 
Ireland  were  the  Fellowship  and  Licence  of  the 
Colleges  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  the  Licence 
of  the  Apothecaries'  Hall,  as  well  as  the  degrees 
of  Doctor  and  Bachelor,  and  the  Licence  in 
Medicine  and  the  Mastership  of  Surgery  of  any 
University  in  the  United  Kingdom.  The  General 
Council  was  given  power  to  require  evidence  as 
to  the  course  of  study  of  persons  who  sought 
registration,  and  also  to  inspect  the  examinations 
of  those  bodies  who  were  authorized  by  the 
Schedule  to  issue  registrable  qualifications.  The 
Council  were  to  report  to  the  Privy  Council  any 
defects  which  they  might  thus  discover,  and 
the  Privy  Council  might  refuse  registration  to  the 
persons  qualified  by  the  defaulting  corporation. 
The  Act  also  empowered  the  Council  to  strike  off 
the  Register  persons  adjudged  guilty  of  conduct 
infamous  in  a  professional  respect.  Duly  qualified 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xi,  p.  256. 


MEDICAL  LEGISLATION  293 

persons  were  defined  as  persons  registered  under 
the  Act,  and  those  not  so  registered  were  deprived 
of  certain  privileges.  This  Act  remains  sub- 
stantially in  force  at  the  present  day,  though 
some  eleven  amending  Acts  have  since  been 
passed. 

By  one  of  these  amending  Acts,  passed  in  1860, 
the  licence  and  diploma  in  Surgery  of  any  Uni- 
versity of  Ireland  was  recognized  as  a  registrable 
qualification,  and  in  1876  a  further  amendment 
made  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Surgery  a  regis- 
trable qualification,  and  opened  the  Register  to 
women.  It  was  not  till  the  amending  Act  of  1886 
was  passed  that  a  triple  qualification  in  Medicine, 
Surgery,  and  Midwifery  was  made  an  essential 
condition  of  registration. 

Almost  immediately  after  the  passing  of  the 
Act,  on  October  n,  1858,  the  Board  again  modi- 
fied the  regulations  for  the  medical  degrees.  On 
that  date  a  decree  passed  the  Senate  modifying 
the  University  Statutes.1  Chapter  X  of  the  new 
Statutes  repealed  the  old  Statute,  De  gradibus  in 
medicina  capessendis,  and  replaced  it  by  one  which 
made  it  necessary  for  a  candidate  for  the  M.B. 
degree  to  be  a  graduate  in  Arts,  to  have  completed 
four  years'  study  of  Medicine,  and  on  examination 
by  the  medical  Professors  to  have  been  found 
idoneum.  In  order  to  proceed  to  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine  the  candidate  must  have  been 
qualified  to  take  his  M.B.  for  three  full  years. 
He  must  then  make  two  solemn  praelections 

1  Statutes,  vol.  ii,  p.  172. 
U3 


294  MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

before  the  Regius  Professor  of  Medicine  dealing 
with  some  medical  subject.    By  the  supplementary 
portion  of  this  decree,  the  rules  for  the  M.B.  were 
made  also  to  apply  to  the  degree  of  M.Ch.    These 
regulations  were  further  modified  by  the  Statute 
of  June  22,  1872,  the  chief  change  then  introduced 
being  the  granting  permission  to  hold  an  examina- 
tion before  the  Regius  Professor  for  the  M.D. 
degree,  if  that  course  seemed  good.1    On  July  18, 
1860,  the  Senate  decreed  that  a  licence  in  Medicine 
or  Surgery  might  be  granted  to  those  who  had 
completed  their  professional  courses  but  had  only 
taken  one  year  of  the  Arts  course,2  and  on  Decem- 
ber 12,  1863,  this  licence  was  made  free  to  those 
who  satisfied  the  requirements  of  the  Board,  even 
though  they  had  not  completed  one  year's  Arts.8 
Previous   to    1860,    medical    students    of   the 
University  had  only  been  subjected  to  one  exami- 
nation during  the  time  of  their  medical  study, 
viz.  the  degree  examination,  but  on  November  3  of 
that  year  the  Board  decided  that  in  future  there 
should  be  two.     The  first  or  '  previous  '  medical 
examination  was  to  be  held  at  the  end  of  the 
second  year,  '  the  other,  as  heretofore,  after  the 
full  curriculum  of  medical  study  is  completed.' 
At  the  previous  medical  examination  the  students 
were  to  be  examined  in  Anatomy  and  Physiology ; 
Botany  and  Materia  Medica  ;    Chemistry,   theo- 
retical and  practical,  with  Chemical  Physics.    This 
examination,  though  adopted  in  1860,  was  not 
to  become  compulsory  till  the  year   1863.     At 

1  Statutes,  vol.  ii,  p.  294.         *  Ibid.,  p.  208.        *  Ibid.,  p.  237. 


MEDICAL  LEGISLATION  295 

the  same  time  the  Board  decided  to  offer  for 
competition  two  medical  scholarships,  tenable  for 
two  years  at  twenty  pounds  per  annum.  The 
examination  for  these  scholarships  was  to  be  held 
at  the  end  of  the  second  year  of  medical  study; 
candidates  were  required  to  be  of  at  least  Senior 
Freshman  standing,  and  to  have  kept  one  Annus 
Medicus  in  the  School.1  The  first  of  these  scholar- 
ships was  awarded  in  June,  1861,  to  William 
Faussett  Smith,  there  being  no  '  qualified  candi- 
date for  the  second  *.2 

During  the  nineteenth  century  there  had  sprung 
up  in  Dublin  a  number  of  Medical  Schools  which, 
though  they  had  no  power  to  grant  licences  to 
their  students,  possessed  in  many  cases  complete 
teaching  staffs.  In  some  instances  these  private 
schools  had  only  an  ephemeral  existence,  depen- 
dent on  their  founder,  who,  if  a  good  teacher, 
was  quickly  absorbed  into  the  staff  either  of  the 
School  of  Physic  or  of  the  College  of  Surgeons. 
In  other  cases,  however,  the  schools  had  a  more 
permanent  existence.  The  Richmond  or  Car- 
michael  School  and  the  Ledwich  School  have  only 
recently  been  amalgamated  with  the  School  of 
the  College  of  Surgeons,  and  the  Catholic  Uni- 
versity School  has  become  the  medical  school  of 
the  National  University.  Beside  these  three,  the 
Park  Street  School  and  the  Steevens's  Hospital 
School  were  the  most  important.  The  former  was 
founded  in  1824  in  Park  Street,  or  Lincoln  Place 
as  it  is  now  called,  in  the  building  which  was 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xi,  p.  422.  *  Ibid.,  p.  449. 


296  MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

afterwards  used  for  St.  Mark's  Hospital.  The 
staff  consisted  of  such  men  as  James  William 
Cusack,  Sir  Henry  Marsh,  James  Apjohn,  and 
Arthur  Jacob.  This  school  continued  in  active 
existence  till  1849,  and  was  a  formidable  rival  to 
the  School  of  Physic.  In  that  year  the  principal 
proprietor,  Hugh  Carlyle,  formerly  one  of  Macart- 
ney's demonstrators,  was  appointed  Professor  of 
Anatomy  in  the  Queen's  College,  Belfast,  and  the 
school  was  closed.  The  Steevens's  Hospital  School, 
founded  in  1857  in  pursuance  of  the  report  of 
the  Dublin  Hospital  Commissioners,  continued  to 
attract  quite  a  large  class  of  students  till  it  was 
closed  by  order  of  the  Governors  twenty-three 
years  later. 

In  January  1859  the  negotiations  with  the 
Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  which  had  been  broken 
off  in  the  year  1850,  were  again  brought  forward, 
and  the  Board  decided  to  receive  the  certificates 
of  the  Professors  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons 
'  as  qualifications  for  all  students  applying  for  the 
Liceat  ad  examinandum,  provided  they  had  kept 
an  annus  medicus  in  the  School  of  Physic  and 
complied  with  the  other  regulations  in  the  Medical 
School'.1 

It  was  almost  essential  for  the  success  of  any 
private  school  that  its  certificates  should  be  recog- 
nized by  both  the  College  of  Surgeons  and  Trinity 
College.  On  February  4,  1859,  the  teachers  of 
the  private  schools  applied  for  such  recognition, 
offering  to  give  the  Board  the  right  of  inspection 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xi,  p.  315. 


MEDICAL  LEGISLATION  297 

of  the  schools,  and  also  a  veto  upon  the  election 
of  their  Professors.1  The  Medical  Professors  re- 
commended a  limited  recognition,  but  the  Board 
declined  to  recognize  '  any  Private  Schools  '.  To- 
wards the  end  of  this  year,  however,  other  counsels 
prevailed,  and  on  October  12,  1859,  recognition 
was  extended  to  Steevens's  Hospital  School,  the 
Carmichael  School,  and  the  Ledwich  School,  on 
'  condition  that  duly  certified  returns  of  atten- 
dance on  not  less  than  three-fourths  of  the  entire 
number  of  lectures  in  each  course  be  regularly 
furnished  to  the  Senior  Lecturer  '*  The  Board 
were  most  anxious  to  insist  on  a  bona  fide  atten- 
dance on  three-fourths  of  the  lectures  delivered, 
but  it  was  found  difficult  to  enforce  such  a  rule 
even  in  the  case  of  the  School  of  Physic,  and 
much  more  so  in  the  case  of  the  private  schools. 

In  1865  the  Board  again  insisted  on  the  rule, 
and  threatened  that  if  it  were  not  strictly  obeyed 
they  would  cease  to  recognize  these  lectures  alto- 
gether.3 

On  April  5,  1867,  the  School  of  Physic  Act 
Amendment  Act  became  law.  This  Act  contains 
the  only  alteration  which  has  been  made  in  the 
School  of  Physic  Act  of  1800,  and  although  by  it 
some  of  the  worst  features  of  the  former  Act  have 
been  repealed,  there  remains  much  that  could 
with  benefit  be  modified.  The  first  section  of  this 
Act  removed  the  religious  disabilities  of  the  Pro- 
fessors of  the  School  of  Physic  and  opened  these 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xi,  p.  324.  *  Ibid.,  p.  368. 

*  Reg.,  vol.  xii,  p.  158. 


298  MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

offices  to  persons  of  all  nations,  whether  they  held 
a  medical  degree  from  any  University  or  not. 
The  second  section  repealed  that  part  of  the  former 
Act  which  governed  the  election  of  the  King's 
Professors,  placing  that  election  in  the  hands 
of  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  College  of 
Physicians,  and  permitting  the  Fellows  to  become 
candidates  for  the  Professorships.  The  Professors 
of  Chemistry  and  Botany  were  relieved  from  their 
duties  as  clinical  lecturers  in  Sir  Patrick  Dun's 
Hospital,  these  duties  being  assigned  instead 
to  the  Professor  of  Surgery  and  the  University 
Anatomist.  If  either  the  University  Professors  or 
the  King's  Professors  neglected  their  duties  at  the 
Hospital,  then  it  was  to  be  competent  for  their 
respective  Colleges  to  appoint  a  deputy  to  deliver 
the  clinical  lectures.  Section  XXXI  of  the  former 
Act,  which  regulated  the  time  of  the  systematic 
lectures  in  the  School,  was  repealed  and  the 
Colleges  were  empowered  to  make  regulations 
governing  these  lectures.  A  King's  Professor  of 
Midwifery  was  to  be  appointed  on  an  equal  footing 
with  the  other  King's  Professors,  and  was  to  give 
instruction  in  the  subject  at  Sir  Patrick  Dun's 
Hospital.  Section  VII  altered  the  arrangements 
made  in  the  former  Act  concerning  the  Library, 
and  set  aside  from  the  funds  of  the  estate  £70  as 
a  salary  for  the  Librarian,  £30  for  the  purchase 
of  books,  and  £6  6s.  for  a  library  porter.  The 
purchase  of  books  and  the  management  of  the 
library  were  also  entrusted  to  the  College  of 
Physicians.  The  King's  Professors,  who  by  the 


MEDICAL  LEGISLATION  299 

former  Act  had  on  their  appointment  to  resign 
their  Fellowships,  were  relieved  of  this  disability. 
This  Act  is  commonly  known  as  '  Haughton's 
Act ',  since  it  was  mainly  due  to  the  energy 
of  Dr.  Samuel  Haughton,  then  Registrar  of  the 
School  of  Physic,  that  it  was  placed  on  the  Statute 
book. 

On  May  28,  1870,  the  Board  by  decree  decided 
to  establish  a  diploma  in  State  Medicine  and  sanc- 
tioned the  curriculum  for  this  diploma  that  had 
been  recommended  by  the  Professors  of  the  School 
of  Physic.  The  establishment  of  this  diploma,  the 
first  of  the  kind  in  the  United  Kingdom,  was  due 
to  the  initiative  of  William  Stokes,  Regius  Pro- 
fessor of  Medicine.  It  was  not  till  1875  that  the 
Universities  of  Cambridge  and  Edinburgh  followed 
the  lead  given  them  by  Dublin  University,1  so 
that  in  this  important  department  of  medical 
study  Trinity  College  has  shown  the  way  to  every 
other  licensing  body  in  the  kingdom.  By  the 
Medical  Act  of  1886  this  diploma  was  made  a 
registrable  qualification. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  Board  decided  to 
institute  a  diploma  of  State  Medicine,  the  Pro- 
fessors of  the  School  recommended  that  a  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Surgery  should  be  established. 
Since  the  establishment  in  1858  of  the  Master's 
degree  in  Surgery  it  had  been  on  a  similar  footing 
to  the  degree  of  M.B.,  but  since  the  institution 
in  1872  of  the  Bachelor's  degree,  that  of  Master 
has  come  to  be  looked  on  as  a  higher  qualification. 

1  Rivington,  p.  399. 


300  MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

In  1876  an  amending  Medical  Act  was  passed 
which  made  the  Bachelor's  degree  in  Surgery 
a  registrable  qualification. 

In  1876  the  Board  established  the  degree  of 
Master  in  Obstetrics  on  a  similar  footing  to  the 
original  degree  of  Master  in  Surgery.1  In  1887 
they  added  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Obstetrics, 
thus  completing  the  medical  curriculum  in  its 
present  form. 

A  new  departure  of  great  importance  to  the 
School  of  Physic  was  made  by  the  Board  on 
June  30,  1863,  in  the  appointment  of  Samuel 
Haughton  as  Registrar  of  the  School.2  Haughton 
had  graduated  in  Arts  and  been  elected  a  Fellow 
in  1844,  in  1851  had  been  elected  Professor  of 
Geology.  In  the  following  year  he  took  his  M.A. 
degree,  and  in  1862  was  admitted  M.B.  and  M.D. 

During  the  fifteen  years  that  Haughton  acted 
as  Registrar  he  was  closely  identified  with  every 
movement  for  reform  in  the  School  of  Physic,  and 
it  was  mainly  due  to  his  influence  that  the  School 
of  Physic  Act  of  1800  was  amended  by  the  Act 
of  1867.  With  the  appointment  of  a  Medical 
Registrar  there  also  came  into  being  the  Medical 
School  Committee,  consisting  of  the  Professors  of 
the  School  with  the  Registrar  as  Secretary.  This 
Committee  met  frequently,  and  considered  all 
matters  connected  with  the  School  and  made 
recommendations  to  the  Board.  Though  at  times 
there  were  differences  of  opinion,  and  the  Com- 
mittee resented  the  authority  assumed  by  the 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiii,  p.  327.  *  Reg.,  vol.  xii,  p.  67. 


MEDICAL  LEGISLATION  301 

Registrar,  yet  on  the  whole  they  worked  most 
harmoniously  and  loyally  for  the  good  of  the 
School.  The  Board  had  the  advantage  of  the 
advice  of  this  Committee  on  all  matters  of  impor- 
tance in  the  School,  and  it  was  no  longer  possible, 
as  it  was  in  the  closing  years  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  for  one  man,  through  his  influence  with 
the  Board,  to  direct  the  fortunes  of  the  School 
into  those  channels  which  seemed  most  suitable 
to  his  own  ideas. 

On  January  n,  1879,  Haughton  resigned 1  the 
Registrarship,  and  was  nominated  by  the  Board 
as  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  his  place  as  Regis- 
trar being  filled  on  January  25  by  the  appointment 
of  the  present  holder  of  the  office,  Mr.  Henry  W. 
Mackintosh.  Many  honours  fell  to  the  lot  of 
Haughton  during  his  long  and  brilliant  career. 
In  1858  he  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal 
Society,  in  1868  he  was  created  D.C.L.  of  Oxford, 
in  1880  he  was  granted  the  LL.D.  of  Cambridge, 
in  1881  he  was  elected  a  Senior  Fellow  of  Trinity 
College,  and  in  1884  he  was  made  LL.D.  of  Edin- 
burgh. He  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy  in  1877,  and  was  a  member 
of  many  of  the  learned  and  scientific  bodies  of 
the  kingdom. 

In  the  management  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's 
Hospital  he  took  an  active  interest,  and  it  was 
due  to  his  influence  that  in  1864  the  Hospital  was 
opened  to  surgical  as  well  as  medical  patients. 
He  was  also  the  active  agent  in  establishing  in 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  50. 


302  MEDICAL  LEGISLATION 

the  Hospital  the  modern  system  of  trained  nursing. 
In  the  Hospital  his  memory  is  honoured  by  the 
presentation  each  year  of  a  silver  Medal  in  Clinical 
Medicine  and  Surgery.  From  1869  till  his  death 
in  October,  1897,  Haughton  presented  these  medals 
himself,  and  since  then  they  are  provided  by  a 
fund  which  he  bequeathed  to  the  Hospital  for  the 
purpose. 


CHAPTER  XVI 
THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

WHILE  the  changes  detailed  in  the  last  chapter 
were  in  progress,  the  personnel  of  the  teaching 
staff  in  the  School  underwent  considerable  altera- 
tion. The  first  notable  change  occurred  in  June 
1840,  on  the  death  of  John  Crampton,  who  had 
been  King's  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  since 
1804. 

Having  graduated  M.D.  at  Edinburgh  in  1793, 
with  a  thesis  De  Amaurosi,  Crampton  returned  to 
Dublin,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  was  in  1800  per- 
mitted by  the  Board  to  deliver  clinical  lectures  to 
the  students  of  the  School  in  Steevens's  Hospital. 
He  was  at  that  time  Assistant  Physician  to  the 
Hospital,  and  nineteen  years  later  he  succeeded 
William  Harvey  as  full  Physician  ;  he  also  held 
the  post  of  Physician  to  the  House  of  Industry 
Hospitals,  and  to  Swift's  Asylum.  As  a  lecturer 
in  Materia  Medica  Crampton  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  a  great  success.  Writing  of  him  in 
the  London  Medical  Gazette,1  '  Eblanensis  '  says  : 

'  He  goes  through  the  business  of  lecturing  like  one  who 
is  bound  to  the  performance  of  a  heavy  task. .  . .  His  mode 
of  delivery,  which  is  generally  cold  and  spiritless,  is 
occasionally  varied  by  being  dry  and  sour.  With  chemical 

1  Vol.  i,  p.  533,  1828. 


304  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

experiments  he  would  seem  to  have  nothing  whatever 
to  do ;  he  seems  to  have  a  great  contempt  for  that  science 
in  general :  it  is  evidently  too  troublesome  and  too 
productive  of  dirt  and  annoyance  to  be  permitted  to 
interfere  with  his  concerns. . . .  The  samples  and  specimens 
which  he  daily  sends  round  by  way  of  illustration  are 
already  venerable  specimens  of  the  antique,  worthy  of 
a  distinguished  niche  in  some  great  national  museum 
of  the  curious  relics  of  former  times.  They  are  the  very 
same  musty  articles  which  he  has  been  exhibiting  for  the 
last  twenty  years,  and  it  is  not  a  little  laughable  to  hear 
him  reiterating  every  session  his  eternal  apologies  for 
their  imperfections.' 

On  the  death  of  Crampton  in  1840,  Jonathan 
Osborne  succeeded  him,  and  occupied  the  Chair 
of  Materia  Medica  with  credit  and  distinction  for 
twenty-four  years.  He  was  a  good  scholar,  an 
energetic  worker,  and  the  author  of  many  papers 
on  both  medical  and  historical  subjects.  In  1862 
he  described  an  instrument  which  he  called 
'  an  animal  heat  thermometer  Y  with  which  he 
proposed  to  estimate  the  effect  of  different 
atmospheric  conditions  on  the  human  body  by 
the  length  of  time  that  it  took  the  thermometer 
to  cool  from  the  body  temperature  to  that  of 
the  air.  This  time  varied  with  the  temperature, 
moisture,  and  movement  of  the  air,  and  the 
quicker  the  cooling  took  place  the  more  effect  the 
change  had  on  the  human  body.  The  instrument 
was  ingenious,  but  the  results  obtained  from  it 
were  not  sufficiently  practical  to  be  of  much  value. 
Osborne  died  on  January  26,  1864,  at  the  age  of 

1  Dub.  Quar.  Journ.  Med.  Science,  vol.  xxxiii,  p.  273. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  305 

seventy  years.  Aquilla  Smith,  who  succeeded  him, 
had  been  a  Licentiate  of  the  College  of  Physicians 
since  1833,  and  was  one  of  the  six  men  selected 
by  the  College  in  1839  to  receive  the  degree  of 
M.D.  honoris  causa  from  the  University.  Smith 
was  associated  with  his  colleague,  James  Apjohn, 
in  the  preparation  of  the  Dublin  Pharmacopoeia, 
which  was  published  in  1850.  His  writings  on 
medical  subjects  were  not  numerous,  but  he  wrote 
many  papers  on  the  history  of  Irish  medicine, 
to  which  frequent  reference  has  been  made  in 
these  pages.  For  twenty-nine  years  he  acted  as 
Representative  of  the  College  of  Physicians  on 
the  General  Medical  Council,  where,  with  William 
Stokes  and  James  Apjohn,  he  watched  over  the 
interests  of  the  School  of  Physic.  His  lectures, 
though  models  of  careful  preparation,  in  later  life 
were  not  altogether  successful,  and  during  the 
summer  session  of  1881  the  disturbance  in  his 
class  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Board.  The 
students  complained  that  the  lectures  were  in- 
audible to  the  majority  of  the  members  of  the 
class,  and  the  Board  requested  him  to  appoint 
a  locum  tenens  for  the  remainder  of  the  session. 
Order  was  restored  and  Smith  continued  to  lec- 
ture till  the  end  of  the  session,  but  resigned  his 
appointment  on  the  ist  July  following.  His  son, 
Dr.  Walter  George  Smith,  the  present  occupant 
of  the  chair,  was  elected  in  his  place.  Aquilla 
Smith  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  on  March  23, 
1890. 

Robert  Law,   who  had  on  October  12,   1841, 

x 


306  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

succeeded  Graves  as  Professor  of  the  Institutes 
of  Medicine,  was  a  distinguished  graduate  of 
Trinity  College,  having  been  elected  Scholar  in 
1817  and  admitted  M.B.  in  1822.  He  continued 
in  office  till  the  close  of  1873,  when,  owing  to 
serious  illness,  which  resulted  in  a  complete  loss 
of  voice,  he  was  compelled  to  resign.  He  was 
succeeded  in  February  of  the  following  year  by 
John  Mallet  Purser,  who  had  graduated  B.A.  in 
1860  and  M.B.  in  1863.  In  1869  Purser  had  been 
appointed  lecturer  in  ophthalmology  at  Steevens's 
Hospital,  and  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Physio- 
logy in  the  Carmichael  School.  We  have  not  been 
able  to  identify  accurately  what  interpretation 
the  previous  Professors  put  on  the  term  Institutes 
of  Medicine,  but  it  was  not  Physiology  as  we  now 
understand  it.  Law  for  many  years  had  lectured 
on  Pathology  and  the  Practice  of  Medicine.1  The 
term  Institutiones  Medicinae  had  been  in  common 
use  at  all  events  since  the  end  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  when  Joh.  Heurius  published  at  Ley  den 
in  1592  his  Institutiones  medicinae,  ace.  Modus 
ratioque  Studendi  eorum  qui  medicinae  operam 
dicarunt?  In  the  School  of  Physic  it  was  cus- 
tomary for  the  Professor  of  Anatomy  to  include 
Physiology  in  his  lectures,  and  as  late  as  1879  it 
was  considered  the  duty  of  that  Professor  to  sign 
the  certificates  of  students  '  in  Anatomia  et  Physio- 
logia '.  Purser,  however,  from  the  very  start 
lectured  in  Physiology,  and  at  the  beginning  of 

1  Med.  Press  and  Circular,  November  4,  1872,  p.  402. 
1  Haller,  vol.  ii,  p.  272. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  307 

the  winter  session  of  1874,  on  the  recommendation 
of  the  Professors,  the  Board  and  the  College  of 
Physicians  decided  that  a  three  months'  course 
of  lectures  on  Animal  Histology,  given  by  the 
Professor  of  the  Institutes  of  Medicine,  should  be 
compulsory  on  all  candidates  for  the  M.B.  degree. 
At  the  same  time  the  Board  authorized  the 
expenditure  of  £110  for  the  purchase  of  instru- 
ments for  teaching  this  subject.1  In  1878  it  was 
decided  that  Institutes  of  Medicine,  Physiology, 
should  be  a  winter  course,  and  Institutes  of  Medi- 
cine, Practical  Histology,  a  summer  course.2  The 
establishing  of  such  courses  was  not  of  much  use 
so  long  as  the  Professor  had  no  satisfactory 
accommodation  for  lecturing,  and  consequently 
on  June  28,  1879,  Haughton,  as  Chairman  of  the 
Medical  Committee,  laid  before  the  Board  a  recom- 
mendation that  a  Histological  Laboratory  should 
be  built.3  In  this  recommendation  it  was  stated 
that  there  were  at  the  time  '  sixty-eight  medical 
students  in  Trinity  College  studying  Histology 
with  very  imperfect  appliances  for  the  purpose  '. 
It  was  further  urged  that,  as  a  new  laboratory 
had  recently  been  built  for  the  Carmichael  School, 
unless  such  accommodation  were  supplied  in 
Trinity  College  students  would  be  drawn  away 
from  the  School.  The  Board  resolved  '  that  the 
Bursar  be  authorized  to  obtain  tenders  for  the 
erection  of  the  proposed  Histological  Laboratory 
in  accordance  with  the  plans  and  specifications  of 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiii,  p.  195.  !  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  33. 

8  Ibid.,  p.  84. 


308  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

the  College  Architect',  and  an  expenditure  of 
£2,700  was  subsequently  authorized  for  this  pur- 
pose.1 At  the  beginning  of  the  winter  session 
of  1881  the  Board  further  granted  the  sum  of 
£225  xos.  for  appliances  for  the  new  laboratory, 
and  an  annual  grant  of  £100  for  maintenance, 
Dr.  Purser  intimating  to  them  that  he  intended 
'  to  transfer  the  whole  contents  of  his  private 
laboratory  to  the  new  institute  '.2  On  December 
17,  1881,  the  Board  accepted  with  thanks  the 
proposal  made  by  Dr.  Purser  that  he  should  give 
an  extra  course  of  lectures  on  Pathology  to  those 
students  who  had  entered  for  his  course  in  His- 
tology.3 Thus  was  begun  that  splendid  course  of 
lectures  on  Practical  Pathology  which  was  con- 
tinued uninterruptedly  by  Dr.  Purser  till,  in  1895, 
the  Board  appointed  a  special  lecturer  in  the  sub- 
ject. On  the  resignation  of  Professor  Purser  in  1901, 
Dr.  William  H.  Thompson,  the  present  holder  of  the 
chair,  was  appointed  by  the  College  of  Physicians 
as  King's  Professor  of  the  Institutes  of  Medicine. 

Charles  Richard  Lendrick,  King's  Professor  of 
the  Practice  of  Medicine,  whose  dispute  about  the 
hour  of  lecturing  led  to  Macartney's  resignation 
of  the  Professorship  of  Anatomy,  died  in  1841, 
and  was  succeeded,  on  the  7th  of  October,  by 
George  Greene.  Greene  had  originally  intended 
to  devote  himself  to  Surgery,  and  in  1823  had 
graduated  B.A.  and  been  admitted  a  Licentiate  of 
the  College  of  Surgeons.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
demonstrators  of  Anatomy  appointed  on  the 

'  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  90.  *  Ibid.,  p.  143.         '  Ibid.,  p.  213. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  309 

opening  of  the  Park  Street  Medical  School,  where 
he  showed  great  aptitude  for  teaching.  In  1828  he 
met  with  a  gun  accident,  which  resulted  in  the 
loss  of  his  right  hand  at  the  wrist-joint,  and  in 
consequence  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  Ana- 
tomy and  Surgery.  In  1829  he  graduated  M.B., 
and  the  following  year  was  admitted  a  Licentiate 
of  the  College  of  Physicians,  being  elected  Fellow 
on  St.  Luke's  Day,  1832.  In  1831  he  was  elected 
Lecturer  in  Medicine  in  the  Carmichael  School, 
and  just  before  his  election  to  the  King's  Professor- 
ship he  was  appointed  Physician  to  the  House  of 
Industry  Hospitals.  Greene  did  not  live  long  to 
enjoy  his  Professorship,  for  on  April  5,  1846,  he 
died  of  typhus  fever  at  his  home  in  Fitzwilliam 
Square.  He  was  succeeded  by  John  Creery  Fer- 
guson, who  had  been  Professor  of  Medicine  in  the 
Apothecaries'  Hall  from  1837.  Ferguson  resigned 
the  Professorship  in  1849,  being  appointed  Pro- 
fessor of  Medicine  in  Queen's  College,  Belfast, 
which  position  he  filled  till  his  death  on  June  24, 
1865.  He  was  succeeded  on  December  18,  1849, 
by  John  Thomas  Banks,  who  occupied  the  chair 
for  twenty  years  till  his  resignation  in  1869. 

On  February  i,  1868,  the  Board  of  Trinity 
College  adopted  the  following  resolution  : l  f  That 
in  future  no  University  Professor  of  the  School 
of  Physic  shall  be  allowed  to  hold  an  appoint- 
ment to  any  clinical  hospital  other  than  that  of 
Sir  Patrick  Dun.  This  resolution  not  to  apply 
to  existing  arrangements.'  On  February  21  the 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xii,  p.  296. 

X3 


310  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

College  of  Physicians  adopted  a  similar  resolution 
with  regard  to  the  King's  Professors,  and  Banks, 
who  had  been  appointed  Physician  to  the  House 
of  Industry  Hospitals  on  December  2,  1843, 
felt  that  he  could  not,  in  accordance  with  the 
wishes  of  the  College,  hold  both  appointments, 
and  consequently  resigned  his  Professorship.  Pre- 
vious to  this  time  it  was  usual  for  teachers  to  hold 
appointments  in  two  or  more  clinical  hospitals, 
a  practice  which  both  the  Board  and  the  College 
of  Physicians  felt  was  detrimental  to  the  best 
interests  of  the  School.  It  was  easier,  however, 
to  condemn  the  practice  than  to  end  it,  and  an 
effort  to  enforce  the  rule  led,  as  we  shall  see,  to 
serious  difficulties  with  the  Professor  of  Anatomy. 
The  Board  steadily  declined  to  recognize  the 
clinical  teaching  of  other  hospitals  on  the  same 
footing  as  that  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  till  that 
hospital  secured  the  exclusive  services  of  its  staff, 
and  eventually,  when  existing  interests  had  gradu- 
ally died  out,  the  rule  became  general  that  no 
physician  or  surgeon  should  be  on  the  staff  of 
more  than  one  clinical  hospital. 

On  the  resignation  of  William  Stokes  the  Board, 
on  February  16,  1878,  elected  Alfred  Hudson 
Regius  Professor  of  Medicine.1  Hudson,  the  son 
of  a  Congregational  clergyman  in  Staffordshire, 
was  born  in  1808,  and  began  his  medical  educa- 
tion as  an  apprentice  to  a  general  practitioner  in 
his  native  town.2  As  a  student  it  was  his  ambition 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  10. 

*  Dub.  Journ.  Med.  Science,  July  1882. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  311 

to  become  a  Fellow  of  the  London  College  of 
Physicians,  for  which  a  necessary  qualification  was 
that  he  should  be  a  Doctor  of  Medicine  of  either 
Oxford,  Cambridge,  or  Dublin  University.  Being 
a  Nonconformist  the  English  Universities  were 
closed  to  him,  so  in  1830  he  entered  Trinity 
College.  There  he  graduated  M.B.  in  1834  and 
M.D.  in  1861.  After  taking  his  degree  he  studied 
for  a  winter  session  in  Edinburgh,  and  then 
returned  to  his  native  town,  where  he  engaged 
in  practice  for  a  short  time,  during  which  he  be- 
came a  Member  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons, 
England.  In  1836  Dr.  Gilroy,  of  Navan,  whose 
daughter  Hudson  was  about  to  marry,  had  a  stroke 
of  paralysis,  which  incapacitated  him  from  further 
practice,  and  Hudson  decided  to  settle  in  Navan 
and  take  up  his  work.  Shortly  after  he  was 
appointed  Physician  to  the  Fever  Hospital  in  the 
town,  and  he  continued  to  practise  there  till 
the  death  of  Dr.  Gilroy  nineteen  years  later.  This 
event,  coupled  with  his  failure  to  secure  the 
appointment  as  Surgeon  to  the  County  Infirmary, 
decided  Hudson  to  come  to  Dublin,  where,  in 
1854,  he  started  practice,  taking  a  large  house 
in  Merrion  Square.  In  1856  he  was  appointed 
Physician  to  the  Adelaide  Hospital,  a  post  which 
he  resigned  in  1861  on  his  appointment  to  the 
Meath  Hospital.  There  he  worked  as  the  colleague 
of  Stokes  till  1871,  when  increasing  private  practice 
compelled  him  to  resign  his  hospital  duties.  In 
this  year  he  was  elected  President  of  the  College 
of  Physicians,  to  which  he  had  been  admitted  a 


3i2  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

Fellow  in  1857.  In  1878  he  was  appointed  Physi- 
cian in  Ordinary  to  the  Queen  in  Ireland,  as  well 
as  Regius  Professor,  and  Crown  Representative  on 
the  General  Medical  Council.  On  September  29, 
1880,  he  resigned  the  Regius  Professorship,1  and 
died  on  the  2Qth  of  the  following  November. 

On  November  13,  1880,  John  Thomas  Banks 
was  elected  Regius  Professor,  a  position  which  he 
filled  with  honour  and  credit  to  himself  and  to 
the  University  till  failing  health  compelled  him 
to  resign  in  1898.  During  his  long  life  Banks  was 
the  recipient  of  many  honours.  Born  in  1815,  he 
graduated  B.A.  and  M.B.  in  1837,  and,  having 
become  a  Candidate  of  the  College  of  Surgeons 
the  previous  year,  he  was  admitted  a  Licentiate 
of  the  College  of  Physicians  in  1841,  and  elected 
a  Fellow  three  years  later.  In  1869  and  1870  he 
was  President  of  the  College,  and  in  1889  was  made 
a  K.C.B.  On  several  occasions  Banks  was  offered  a 
knighthood,  but  this  title  he  always  refused,  and 
on  one  of  these  occasions  Punch  attributed  to  him 
the  following  telegraphic  correspondence  : 

'  Nolo  Equescopari.' 
'  To  Dr.  Banks — 

Wilt  join  the  ranks 

Of  Knights  ?  ' 
'  From  Banks — 

'  Declined  with  Thanks.' 

Translation. — I  will  not  be  made  a  Knight.     This  is 
canine-ical  and  not  canonical  Latin.2 

He  died  on  July  16,  1908. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  142. 

1  Punch,  July  28,  1883  ;   Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  567. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  313 

Banks  was  succeeded  in  the  King's  Professor- 
ship of  the  Practice  of  Medicine  by  William  Moore, 
who  had  in  1861  been  appointed  Lecturer  in 
Medicine  at  the  Ledwich  School.  He  in  turn  was 
succeeded  in  1882  by  Dr.  John  Magee  Finny, 
who  held  the  office  till  his  resignation  in  1910, 
when  Dr.  James  Craig,  the  present  Professor,  was 
appointed. 

The  first  occupant  of  the  Chair  of  Midwifery, 
established  by  the  College  of  Physicians  in  1827, 
was  William  Fetherston-H.  Montgomery.  He  had 
been  elected  a  Scholar  of  Trinity  College  in  1820, 
and  had  graduated  B.A.  in  1822  and  M.B.  in 
1825,  in  which  year  he  was  admitted  a  Licentiate 
of  the  College  of  Physicians.  All  through  his  long 
career  as  Professor,  till  his  resignation  in  1856, 
Montgomery  was  a  most  active  member  of  the 
School  staff,  and  took  a  keen  interest  in  every- 
thing that  affected  the  welfare  of  the  School.  It 
was  mainly  due  to  his  exertions  that  the  Chair  of 
Midwifery  was  established,  and  it  may  be  safely 
said  that  it  was  never  filled  by  a  more  brilliant 
occupant.  In  1837  he  published  his  classic  work 
entitled  An  exposition  of  the  Signs  and  Symptoms 
of  Pregnancy,  the  Period  of  Human  Gestation, 
and  the  Signs  of  Delivery?  which  reached  a 
second  edition  in  1856.  On  December  21,  1859, 
Montgomery  died,  leaving  behind  him,  as  Dr. 
Arneth,  of  Vienna,  said,  a  name  which  '  is  known 
and  honoured  wherever  Midwifery  is  practised  \z 

1  Lond.,  1837. 

*  Med.  Times  and  Gazette,  December  31,  1859. 


3I4  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

He  had  collected  a  valuable  museum  of  obstetrics, 
gynaecology,  and  embryology,  which  he  sold 
shortly  before  his  death  to  the  Queen's  College, 
Galway,  where  it  is  still  preserved. 

Fleetwood  Churchill,  who  succeeded  Mont- 
gomery in  1856,  was  a  graduate  of  Edinburgh, 
and  M.D.  honoris  causa  of  Dublin.  He  was 
a  voluminous  writer,  and  published  many  works 
dealing  with  obstetrics,  gynaecology,  and  the 
diseases  of  children.  He  resigned  the  Chair  in 
1867,  and  shortly  afterwards  retired  to  his  home 
at  Ardtree  in  Co.  Tyrone,  where  he  died  on 
January  31,  1879. 

In  1867  the  Chair  of  Midwifery  was,  by  the 
School  of  Physic  Act  Amendment  Act,  raised  to  the 
dignity  of  a  King's  Professorship,  and  in  that  year 
Edward  Burrowes  Sinclair  succeeded  Churchill. 
In  1869  Sinclair  started  in  Dun's  Hospital  an 
institution  for  training  soldiers'  wives  as  mid- 
wives,  and  in  recognition  of  this  service  he  was 
knighted  on  December  16,  iSSo.1  On  his  death, 
which  took  place  on  March  24,  1882,  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  John  Rutherfoord  Kirkpatrick,  who 
was  in  turn  succeeded  in  1889  by  Arthur  Vernon 
Macan. 

Francis  Barker,  who  had  been  appointed  Pro- 
fessor of  Chemistry  in  1809,  continued  to  hold 
office  till  the  expiration  of  his  sixth  term  of  seven 
years,  when  he  was  retired  on  a  pension  of  £150 
per  annum,  which  he  enjoyed  till  his  death,  at 
eighty-six  years  of  age,  on  October  8,  1859.  On 

1  Knights,  vol.  ii,  p.  372. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  315 

June  8,  1850,  James  Apjohn,  Vice-President  of 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy  and  Fellow  of  the 
College  of  Physicians,  was  elected  Professor  of 
Chemistry.  In  1844  Apjohn  had  been  appointed 
Professor  of  Applied  Chemistry,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  Professor  of  Mineralogy,  chairs  which 
were  connected  with  the  Engineering  rather  than 
with  the  Medical  School.  Apjohn  had  started 
originally  as  a  science  lecturer  in  the  Cork  Institu- 
tion, and  afterwards  was  Lecturer  in  Chemistry 
in  the  Park  Street  School.  In  1828  he  had  been 
elected  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  College  of 
Surgeons  School,  and  in  1832  he  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  City  of  Dublin  Hospital.  On  the 
passing  of  the  Medical  Act  of  1858,  he  was  ap- 
pointed the  Representative  of  the  University  on 
the  General  Medical  Council,  and  he  continued  to 
serve  in  that  capacity  for  twenty  years. 

On  the  resignation  of  Apjohn,  Dr.  James  Emer- 
son Reynolds  was  appointed  Professor.  Reynolds 
had  been  for  some  time  Professor  of  Analytical 
Chemistry  in  the  Royal  Dublin  Society,  and  in 
1873  had  been  appointed  to  the  Chair  of  Chemistry 
in  the  College  of  Surgeons  School.  In  1880  he 
published  a  text-book  of  Experimental  Chemistry, 
which  for  many  years  satisfied  the  requirements 
of  the  students  of  the  School.  It  was  during 
Apjohn's  tenure  of  the  chair  that  the  Professors  of 
Chemistry  and  Botany  were  relieved  by  the  Act  of 
1867  of  their  duties  in  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital, 
and  Reynolds  never  lectured  there.  On  his  resigna- 
tion in  1903  Dr.  Sydney  Young  was  elected. 


3i6  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

William  Allman,  who  had  been  appointed  Pro- 
fessor of  Botany  in  the  same  year  as  Barker 
had  been  appointed  to  the  Chair  in  Chemistry, 
resigned  in  1844,  and  was  succeeded  by  William 
James  Allman.  In  1854  Allman  the  younger  was 
elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society,1  and  in 
1855  he  was  appointed  Regius  Professor  of  Natural 
History  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  which 
chair  he  held  till  1870,  when  he  retired  and 
devoted  himself  to  original  work  on  Zoology. 
Allman's  work  on  the  Hydrozoa  is  '  the  most 
important  systematic  work  dealing  with  the  group 
of  Coelenterata  that  has  ever  been  produced  *.2 
He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  on  November  24, 
1898.  When  Allman  was  promoted  to  Edinburgh, 
his  place  in  the  School  of  Physic  was  filled  by  the 
appointment,  in  1856,  of  William  Henry  Harvey, 
M.D.,  who  had  been  Colonial  Treasurer 3  in  Cape- 
town from  1836  to  1842.  He  was  chiefly  noted 
for  his  work  on  the  Algae,  and  is  memorable  in 
the  School  as  the  founder  of  the  Herbarium.  In 
1866  he  was  succeeded  by  Alexander  Dickson, 
who  in  1868  was  appointed  Professor  of  Botany 
in  Glasgow  University,  and  in  1879  transferred  to 
Edinburgh,  where  he  was  also  Regius  Keeper  of 
the  Botanic  Garden  till  his  death  in  1887.  Dickson 
was  succeeded  in  1869  by  Edward  Perceval  Wright, 
who  in  1858  had  been  elected  Professor  of  Zoology. 
Wright  held  the  Chair  of  Botany  till  1904,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Henry  Horatio  Dixon, 
the  present  Professor.  Though  Wright  resigned 

1  D.  N.  B.  •  Obit.  Roy.  Soc.,  1901,  p.  14.  »  D.  N.  B. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  317 

the  Professorship  in  1904,  he  continued  as  keeper 
of  the  Herbarium  till  his  death  on  March  4,  1910. 
Many  graduates  of  the  University  remember  the 
kindness  of  '  Botany  Wright ',  a  quality  which 
never  seemed  to  desert  him  except  during  the 
stress  of  the  '  Previous  Medical  Examination  in 
Botany  and  Zoology  '.  His  work  is  so  well  known 
and  has  been  so  recently  described  that  it  is 
unnecessary  to  mention  it  here. 

Robert  Harrison,  who  had  succeeded  Macartney 
in  the  Chair  of  Anatomy  and  Chirurgery,  had 
previous  to  his  election  in  Trinity  College  been 
Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery  in  the  College 
of  Surgeons,  and  while  there  had  published  his 
works  on  The  Surgical  Anatomy  of  the  Arteries  and 
The  Dublin  Dissector,  both  of  which  had  reached 
a  second  edition  in  1829.  These  works  enjoyed 
considerable  reputation,  and  the  latter  continued 
as  the  anatomical  text-book  of  the  Dublin  School 
for  over  fifty  years.  It  was  also  issued  as  A  Text- 
book of  Anatomy  by  Robert  Watts,  M.D.,  in  New 
York  in  1848,  and  was  the  favourite  students' 
manual  in  the  American  schools  for  many  years. 
Professor  Macalister,  writing  of  this  work,  describes 
it  as  '  that  dreary  book  compiled  from  Cruveilhier 
and  Cloquet ',  and  states  that  the  knowledge  of 
the  author  '  never  rose  even  to  the  level  of  his 
text-book  '.*  Others,  however,  speak  of  the  book 
and  its  writer  more  highly,  and  bear  testimony  to 
his  ability  as  a  teacher.  Harrison  died  suddenly 
on  April  23,  1858,  having  on  the  previous  day 

1  Macalister,  Macartney,  p.  256. 


3i8  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

attended  to  his  duties  as  usual,  and  on  October  9 
the  Board  elected  Benjamin  George  M'Dowel  as 
his  successor. 

M'Dowel  was  perhaps  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
men  who  held  the  Chair  of  Anatomy  in  Trinity 
College,  but  he  has  left  little  mark  on  the  sands 
of  time  to  testify  to  his  great  abilities.  At  the 
time  of  his  appointment  to  the  Professorship  he 
was  Physician  to  the  House  of  Industry  Hospitals, 
having  been  appointed  there  on  April  13,  1846. 
Sir  Charles  Cameron l  tells  us  that  Chief  Justice 
Doherty  had  interested  himself  to  obtain  an  ap- 
pointment for  M'Dowel  from  the  Lord  Lieutenant, 
and  by  mistake  M'Dowel  had  been  gazetted 
to  a  lucrative  ecclesiastical  position.  When  the 
mistake  was  discovered  the  Lord  Lieutenant  ap- 
pointed him  to  the  House  of  Industry  Hospitals 
instead.  As  a  teacher  M'Dowel  showed  extra- 
ordinary ability,  but  his  attendance  to  his  College 
duties  was  very  irregular.  He  seems,  indeed,  to 
have  had  an  extraordinary  facility  for  forgetting 
his  engagements,  and  many  stories  are  still  current 
of  how  his  coachman  used  to  insist  on  his  visiting 
his  various  patients  before  he  returned  home  each 
day.  In  the  School,  too,  he  often  completely 
forgot  that  he  was  due  to  lecture,  and  many  com- 
plaints were  made  to  the  Board  of  the  neglect  of 
his  duties.  His  extraordinary  personality,  how- 
ever, surmounted  all  difficulties,  and  no  matter 
how  serious  the  complaint  he  was  always  able  to 
give  an  explanation  which  seemed  to  satisfy  every 

1  Cameron,  Hist.,  p.  624. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  319 

one.  With  his  duties  as  Professor  in  the  School 
and  Physician  to  the  Whitworth  Hospital,  together 
with  an  exceptionally  large  private  practice,  we 
cannot  wonder  that  his  attendance  at  Sir  Patrick 
Dun's  was  irregular,  and  it  was  this  that  first 
caused  serious  trouble.  Previous  to  the  election 
of  M 'Dowel  for  the  second  septennial  period,  the 
Board  wished  to  make  it  a  condition  of  the  elec- 
tion that  the  Professor  would  give  up  private 
practice.  This  he  would  not  do,  but  suggested 
new  regulations  for  the  management  of  the  dis- 
secting room  which  the  Board  finally  agreed  to. 
On  July  16,  1867,  the  Board  decided  formally  to 
'  admonish  '  1  the  Professor  for  neglect,  but  in 
spite  of  this,  at  the  opening  of  the  following  winter 
session  the  dissecting  room  was  found  to  be  wholly 
unprovided  with  subjects.  As  usual,  however,  a 
satisfactory  explanation  was  forthcoming  and  was 
accepted.  On  February  i,  1868,  the  Board  passed 
the  resolution  already  referred  to  with  reference  to 
the  Professors  holding  appointments  in  hospitals 
other  than  Sir  Patrick  Dun's,  and  at  the  same 
time  decided  that  the  University  Anatomist  was  to 
receive  the  fees  for  dissections,  and  lodge  them 
to  the  credit  of  the  Bursar,  who  had  undertaken 
to  distribute  them.2  This  latter  regulation  had 
been  suggested  by  Haughton,  but  was  strongly 
objected  to  by  the  Professor  and  the  University 
Anatomist,  who  complained  that  they  had  not 
been  consulted  before  its  adoption.  Under  the 
circumstances  the  Board  in  the  following  month 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xii,  p.  272.  *  Ibid.,  p.  294. 


320  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

withdrew  the  regulation.  On  May  22,  1869,  the 
Board  again  requested  the  Professor  to  explain 
his  irregularity  in  attending  to  his  duties  in  the 
School,  but  contented  themselves  with  saying 
that  '  they  could  not  consider  his  explanation 
satisfactory  V  In  the  following  September  the 
Governors  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital  wrote 
to  the  Board  complaining  of  the  irregularity  of 
M'Dowel's  attendance  at  the  Hospital,  and  the 
Board  offered  to  nominate  a  surgeon  to  take  his 
place  there  if  the  Governors  wished.  M'Dowel 
demanded  an  inquiry,  but  this  demand  the  Board 
ignored,  and  on  October  30,  1869,  Thomas  Evelyn 
Little  was  appointed  Surgeon  to  the  Hospital  in 
his  place.2  This  matter  created  considerable  stir 
in  Dublin  at  the  time,  and  much  sympathy  was 
felt  with  M'Dowel.  The  students  held  a  meeting 
at  which  they  decided  to  present  him  with  an 
address.  This,  however,  was  contrary  to  the 
Statutes  of  the  College,  and  the  Board  would 
not  allow  the  matter  to  be  proceeded  with.  On 
October  24,  1872,  the  Board  decided  to  appoint 
a  Professor  of  Comparative  Anatomy,  who  should 
lecture  on  that  subject  instead  of  the  Professor  of 
Anatomy.  This  new  Professor  was  to  attend  the 
dissecting  room  daily,  and  besides  his  salary  of 
£100  a  year  was  to  receive  half  the  fees  derived 
from  the  dissecting  room.  Two  days  later  Dr. 
M'Dowel  was  re-elected  Professor  of  Anatomy, 
and  Edward  Hallaran  Bennett  University  Ana- 
tomist. The  Board  wrote  to  M'Dowel,  pointing 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xii,  p.  355.  '  Ibid.,   p.  370. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  321 

out  that  it  would  be  necessary  for  him,  in  com- 
pliance with  their  resolution,  to  resign  his  post 
as  Physician  to  the  Whitworth  Hospital.  M'Dowel 
replied  by  resigning  into  the  hands  of  the  Board 
the  post  of  Clinical  Surgeon  to  Dun's,  but  this  the 
Board  would  not  accept,  and  refused  to  allow  him 
to  be  sworn  into  the  Professorship  till  he  resigned 
his  other  post.  M'Dowel  appealed  to  the  Visitors, 
and  the  matter  came  to  trial  in  February  1873, 
before  the  Vice-Chancellor,  Sir  Thomas  Napier, 
and  George  Battersby,  acting  for  the  Archbishop 
of  Dublin.  There  were  two  counts  in  the  trial : 
first,  as  to  the  legality  of  the  resolution  of  the 
Board  calling  on  M'Dowel  to  resign  his  post 
as  Physician  to  the  Whitworth  Hospital,  and, 
secondly,  as  to  the  power  of  the  Board  to  divide, 
as  they  had  done,  the  fees  of  the  dissecting  room. 
The  Visitors  decided  against  the  Board  on  the 
first  count,  and  in  their  favour  on  the  second. 
The  Board  then  resolved  that  during  the  present 
term  of  office  the  Professor  might  continue  as 
Physician  to  the  Whitworth  Hospital,  but  he  must 
also  act  as  Surgeon  to  Dun's.  In  1879,  when  the 
term  of  office  was  drawing  to  a  close,  M'Dowel  wrote, 
stating  that  if  the  conditions  of  appointment  for 
the  future  were  to  be  the  same  as  they  had  been 
he  would  not  seek  re-election.  The  Board  replied 
that  the  conditions  would  be  the  same,  and  that 
they  accepted  his  intimation  as  a  resignation  of 
the  Professorship.  On  October  14,  1879,  Dr. 
Alexander  Macalister  was  appointed  Professor  on 
the  condition  that  he  should  not  take  private 

Y 


322  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

practice,  that  he  should  resign  all  the  posts  which 
he  held  in  the  College  with  the  exception  of  the 
Professorship  of  Comparative  Anatomy,  and  that 
he  would  agree  to  devote  his  whole  time  to  his 
duties  in  Trinity  College.  On  October  15,  1881, 
Macalister  was  '  relieved  from  duty  at  Sir  Patrick 
Dun's  ',  and  Charles  Bent  Ball  was  appointed  as 
his  locum  tenens.1  Since  then  the  Professor  of 
Anatomy  has  never  been  asked  to  undertake  the 
duties  of  a  clinical  lecturer.  In  1883  Macalister 
left  Dublin  on  his  appointment  to  the  Professor- 
ship of  Anatomy  in  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
a  position  which  he  still  adorns.  On  the  resigna- 
tion of  Macalister,  Daniel  John  Cunningham  was 
appointed  his  successor  on  September  29,  i883,2 
and  continued  in  office  for  twenty  years,  till 
in  1903  he  was  appointed  Professor  of  Anatomy  in 
the  University  of  Edinburgh.  The  splendid  work 
which  Cunningham  did  for  the  University  and  for 
the  School  of  Physic  are  well  remembered,  and  the 
unveiling  of  a  bronze  bust  of  him  in  the  School 
of  Physic  will  form  an  important  part  of  the 
bicentenary  celebrations.  In  1903  Dr.  Andrew 
Francis  Dixon,  the  present  occupant  of  the  chair, 
succeeded  Cunningham. 

The  office  of  University  Anatomist,  which  had 
been  in  abeyance  since  the  appointment  of 
Cleghorn  to  the  Professorship  in  1761,  was  revived, 
though  not  directly  in  name,  by  the  appointment 
on  May  18,  1861,  of  Dr.  John  Kellock  Barton  as 
University  Lecturer  in  Practical  Anatomy.8  In 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  197.      *  Ibid.,  p.  300.       *  Ibid.,  vol.  xi,  p.  445. 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  323 

1864  Barton  resigned  this  appointment,  and  on 
October  29  of  that  year  Edward  Hallaran  Bennett 
was,  on  the  nomination  of  M'Dowel,  appointed 
his  successor.  In  1865  the  office  was  definitely 
referred  to  as  that  of  the  University  Anatomist, 
and  in  the  School  of  Physic  Act  Amendment  Act 
of  1867  this  title  is  used.  Bennett  continued 
as  University  Anatomist  until  his  appointment  as 
Professor  of  Surgery  on  November  8,  1873,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Evelyn  Little.  Little 
held  the  post  till  his  death  in  1891,  when  Henry 
St.  John  Brooks,  Senior  Demonstrator^  was  ap- 
pointed. Brooks  resigned  in  1895,  and  Mr.  Charles 
Bent  Ball  was  appointed.  With  this  latter 
appointment  all  functions  of  the  University  Ana- 
tomist, except  the  surgeoncy  to  Dun's  Hospital, 
disappeared,  and  since  that  time  the  Professor  of 
Anatomy  has  had  the  undivided  control  of  the 
Anatomical  Department. 

With  regard  to  the  Chair  of  Surgery,  there  is 
little  to  add  to  what  has  already  been  told.  On 
March  3,  1849,  the  Board  decided  to  establish 
a  Professorship  of  Surgery,  and  on  October  13 
Robert  William  Smith  was  elected.1  Smith  was 
a  prolific  writer,  and  his  works  on  Fractures  in 
the  vicinity  of  Joints  *  and  Neuroma 3  are  still 
consulted  with  profit.  He  died  on  October  28, 
1873,  and  early  in  the  following  November, 
Edward  Hallaran  Bennett,  the  University  Ana- 
tomist, was  appointed  as  his  successor.  It  is  to 

1  Statutes  T.  C.  D.,  vol.  ii,  p.  231. 

2  Dublin,  1847.  *  Ibid.,  1849. 


324  THE  SCHOOL  STAFF 

his  exertions  that  the  University  owes  the  splendid 
museum  of  surgical  pathology  in  which  is  pre- 
served one  of  the  finest  collections  of  fractures  to 
be  seen  in  the  kingdom.  In  1904  failing  health 
compelled  Bennett  to  ask  for  help  in  the  delivery 
of  his  lectures,  and  Mr.  Edward  H.  Taylor  was 
appointed  his  deputy.  On  Bennett's  resignation 
in  1906  Taylor  succeeded  to  the  chair.  Bennett 
died  on  June  21,  1907. 

On  January  24,  1852,  the  Board  decided  to 
create  a  new  Professorship  of  Surgery,  to  be  called 
the  University  Professorship  of  Surgery.  The  first 
Professor  was  James  William  Cusack.  His  duties 
were  mainly  connected  with  the  examinations  in 
Surgery,  and  he  never  seems  to  have  been  called 
on  to  lecture.  Cusack  died  on  September  25, 
1 86 1,  and  on  October  26  following  Robert  Adams 
was  appointed.  By  a  Queen's  letter  dated  Sep- 
tember 8,  1868,  this  Professorship  was  raised 
to  the  same  rank  as  the  Regius  Professorship  of 
Medicine,  and  Adams  was  nominated  the  first 
Regius  Professor.  He  died  on  January  16,  1875, 
and  in  the  following  March  William  Colles,  son 
of  the  more  distinguished  Abraham  Colles,  was 
elected.  In  1891  William  Porter  succeeded  Colles, 
and  in  1895  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  the  present 
Regius  Professor  and  University  Anatomist,  Sir 
Charles  Bent  Ball. 

After  the  opening  of  beds  in  Dun's  Hospital 
for  the  treatment  of  surgical  patients,  Haughton 
suggested  to  the  Board  that  they  should  appoint 
a  special  teacher  in  Surgery  at  the  Hospital.  He 


THE  SCHOOL  STAFF  325 

had  at  the  same  time  succeeded  in  inducing 
Richard  George  Butcher,  then  Surgeon  to  Mercer's 
Hospital,  to  offer  himself  as  a  candidate  for  the 
post.  Butcher  was  at  the  time  one  of  the  leading 
surgeons  in  Dublin,  having  been  in  1866  elected 
President  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons.  On 
February  29,  1868,  the  Board  appointed  him 
*  teacher  in  operative  and  practical  surgery  at  Sir 
Patrick  Dun's  Hospital '  at  a  salary  of  £100  per 
annum.1  This  position  he  continued  to  hold  till 
1884,  but,  though  appointed  by  the  Board,  his 
duties  were  confined  to  the  teaching  at  Dun's 
Hospital,  and  he  did  not  lecture  in  the  School 
of  Physic. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  299. 


CHAPTER  XVII 
MODERN  DEVELOPMENT 

DURING  the  past  twenty  years  the  course  of  the 
School  has  been  one  of  steady  progress  in  all 
departments.  The  buildings  erected  in  the  time 
of  Macartney  have  been  almost  entirely  replaced, 
there  being  only  a  small  portion  of  his  School 
left,  at  present  occupied  by  the  Bone  Room  and 
part  of  the  Chemical  Laboratories.  As  early  as 
February  20,  1864,  the  Board  decided  to  procure 
estimates  for  new  buildings  to  provide  additional 
accommodation  for  teaching  Anatomy,  and  in 
June  following  £700  was  voted  for  this  purpose. 
This  sum  was  added  to  in  October  in  order  to 
provide  for  a  porch  and  additional  lighting  and 
heating. 

On  April  7,  1866,  the  College  Architect,  Mr. 
M'Curdy,  was  directed  to  prepare  plans  and  esti- 
mates for  new  buildings  in  connexion  with  the 
School  of  Chemistry.  In  December  1873,  the 
Board  approved  the  plans  for  the  new  Anatomical 
Museum,1  which  was  to  be  erected  between  the 
Park  and  the  Medical  School  buildings,  and  on 
January  16,  1874,  a  sum  of  £500  was  voted  to 
buy  the  osteological  collection  of  Robert  Smith, 
late  Professor  of  Surgery,  for  this  museum.2  On 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiii,  p.  153.  *  Ibid.,  p.  160. 


MODERN  DEVELOPMENT  327 

March  28, 1874,  an  estimate  of  £8,300  was  accepted 
from  Messrs.  W.  &  A.  Roberts  for  this  building. 
These  contractors,  however,  afterwards  declined 
to  undertake  the  contract,  and  in  the  following 
May  it  was  given  to  Thomas  Pemberton,  of  East 
Hanover  Street,1  the  sum  being  fixed  at  £8,276, 
the  contractor  agreeing  to  a  fine  of  £25  a  week  if 
the  building  were  not  finished  within  two  years. 
This  contract  was  subsequently  amended,  the  sum 
being  fixed  at  £8,386,  and  on  October  12,  1876,  it 
was  reported  that  the  museum  was  '  completed 
and  ready  for  occupation ',  the  builders  being 
stated  to  be  Messrs.  J.  &  W.  Beckett.2  This  hand- 
some building,  looking  west,  with  a  frontage  of 
150  feet,  and  a  depth  of  42  feet,  is  one  of  the 
most  ornamental  of  the  School  buildings.  In  it 
are  lodged  the  Zoological  collections,  and  it  also 
contains  rooms  for  the  Professor  of  Comparative 
Anatomy  and  Zoology.  At  the  northern  end  of 
the  building  is  the  Anthropometric  Laboratory, 
fitted  up  some  years  later  by  means  of  a  grant 
from  the  Royal  Irish  Academy.  Running  east- 
ward, at  a  right  angle  to  the  northern  extremity 
of  the  museum,  is  the  laboratory  for  Histology, 
built  in  the  year  1880.  Originally  this  building 
was  separated  from  the  museum,  but  a  few  years 
ago  the  two  were  joined  by  a  new  building,  and 
an  entrance  to  the  lecture-room  opened  through 
the  door  at  the  north  end  of  the  museum. 

In  1885  the  Board  embarked  on  a  most  exten- 
sive scheme  for  increasing  the  accommodation  in 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiii,  p.  178.  *  Ibid.,  p.  324. 


328  MODERN  DEVELOPMENT 

the  Medical  School,  and  on  igth  September  of 
that  year  accepted  the  estimate  of  George  Moyers 
for  new  buildings  at  the  cost  of  £9,050.*  The 
plans  for  these  buildings  were  made  by  Mr. 
M 'Curdy,  the  College  Architect,  but  on  his  death 
in  the  following  year  the  supervision  of  the  work 
was  entrusted  to  Mr.  Thomas  Drew.  The  plans 
and  estimates  were  subsequently  modified  in 
various  ways,  chiefly  with  a  view  to  enlarging 
and  improving  the  dissecting-room.  The  old  wall, 
which  had  shut  off  the  Medical  School  from  the 
College  Park  since  the  time  of  Macartney,  was 
removed  by  an  order  of  the  Board  on  October  29, 
1887,  and  on  November  I,  Professor  Haughton 
delivered  in  the  Chemical  Theatre  an  address  in 
honour  of  the  formal  opening  of  the  new  build- 
ings. Beside  an  almost  complete  renovation  of  the 
apartments  for  Anatomy  and  Chemistry,  the  new 
buildings  contained  on  the  ground  floor  rooms  for 
the  Professors  and  Registrar,  as  well  as  two  rooms 
for  the  students.  The  second  floor  was  occupied 
by  two  new  lecture  theatres,  and  a  laboratory 
and  museum  for  the  Professor  of  Materia  Medica. 
On  the  top  story  were  placed  the  rooms  of  the 
Professor  of  Surgery,  as  well  as  the  museum  of 
Surgical  Pathology. 

In  1895  the  School  buildings  were  again  added 
to,  the  Board,  on  November  23,  accepting  an 
estimate  for  building  a  Pathological  laboratory  at 
the  cost  of  £9,000.  The  Medical  School  Committee 
had  suggested  that  the  old  Physiology  laboratory 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xv,  p.  8. 


MODERN  DEVELOPMENT  329 

should  be  devoted  to  Pathology  and  a  new  labora- 
tory built  for  Physiology,  but  this  suggestion  was 
not  adopted. 

In  1903  an  appeal  was  issued  by  the  heads  of 
the  University  asking  for  subscriptions  to  erect 
and  to  equip  Science  laboratories  in  Trinity 
College.  A  very  liberal  response  was  made,  and 
Lord  Iveagh,  a  graduate  of  the  University,  and 
now  Chancellor,  undertook  to  provide  funds  to 
build  and  to  furnish  all  or  any  of  those  labora- 
tories for  the  endowment  of  which  the  friends  of 
the  College  subscribed  the  necessary  funds.  As 
a  result  of  this  generous  offer  the  new  Physics 
laboratory  was  erected  in  1905,  at  a  cost  of  £16,500, 
and  two  years  later  the  new  Botanical  laboratory 
was  completed  at  a  cost  of  £8,000.  These  two 
laboratories  form  a  notable  addition  to  the  Medical 
School  buildings,  and  afford  the  accommodation 
so  much  needed  for  the  development  of  research 
work  in  these  subjects.  Beside  this  valuable  asset 
which  the  College  obtained  in  these  new  buildings 
a  sum  of  nearly  £19,000  was  subscribed  as  an 
endowment  fund,  the  interest  on  which  is  to  be 
spent  annually  on  these  departments.1 

While  the  housing  of  the  School  was  being  thus 
cared  for,  close  attention  was  also  paid  to  what 
was  more  important,  the  development  of  its  teach- 
ing functions.  In  1895  Mr.  Alexander  Charles 
O 'Sullivan,  one  of  the  Fellows  of  Trinity  College, 
was  appointed  Lecturer  in  Pathology,  and  the 
department  over  which  he  presides  is  now  one  of 

1  B.  M.  Journ.,  October  26,  1907. 


330  MODERN  DEVELOPMENT 

the  most  important  in  the  School.  The  establish- 
ment of  a  School  of  Tropical  Medicine  in  con- 
nexion with  this  department  is  at  present  under 
consideration,  and  it  is  hoped  that  in  the  near 
future  facilities  will  be  afforded  in  the  School  for 
the  study  of  this  important  branch  of  medicine. 

In  June  1903,  the  Senate  of  the  University 
decided  by  a  large  majority  to  admit  women  to 
Trinity  College,  and  in  the  winter  session,  1904-5, 
the  first  woman  student  entered  for  the  medical 
classes  in  the  School  of  Physic.  The  Board  pro- 
vided a  special  dissecting-room  for  women,  but 
they  were  admitted  to  the  same  lectures  with  the 
men  students.  In  spite  of  many  prophecies  to 
the  contrary  the  plan  has  worked  well,  and  though 
the  women  students  are  not  yet  numerous,  the 
numbers  are  increasing  year  by  year,  and  are 
likely  to  increase  more  quickly  in  the  future. 

As  early  as  1888  the  School  authorities  began  to 
recognize  the  claims  of  dental  students,  but  for 
many  years  there  were  no  applicants  for  a  licence 
in  dentistry  from  the  University.  In  1904  the 
Board  decided  to  establish  degrees  in  this  subject 
open  to  those  students  who  had  graduated  in  Arts. 
In  1910  a  complete  dental  school  was  established, 
and  special  lecturers  have  been  appointed  by 
the  Board,  to  teach  those  subjects  not  already 
included  in  the  medical  curriculum. 

One  of  the  most  important  features  of  the 
School  at  the  present  day  is  the  students'  society, 
the  Dublin  University  Biological  Association.  We 
have  seen  that  as  early  as  May  2,  1801,  the  Board 


MODERN  DEVELOPMENT  331 

decided,  '  that  a  medical  society  under  the  control 
of  the  Board  may  be  permitted  to  meet  in  the 
College.'  *  I  have  not  been  able  to  trace  any 
records  of  the  work  or  constitution  of  this  society, 
and  do  not  know  how  long  it  continued  in  exist- 
ence. Shortly  after  Macartney  was  appointed 
Professor  of  Anatomy  the  Board  again  extended 
privileges  to  a  medical  society,  and  on  November  26, 
1814,  the  following  minute  was  made  : — '  A  Society 
for  Medical  Students  (under  the  sanction  of  the 
Professor)  having  applied  for  permission  to  hold 
their  meetings  in  the  Lecture  Room  in  No.  22. 
The  Terms  were  granted  to  them  during  pleasure.' 2 
On  January  18,  1822,  this  permission  was  with- 
drawn, though  in  the  minutes  no  reason  is  assigned 
for  the  change.3  In  spite  of  this  decision  of  the 
Board  the  society  seems  to  have  lived  some  years 
longer.  Dr.  Macalister  4  tells  us  that  it  continued 
in  active  existence  for  fourteen  years,  and  only 
gradually  died  out  during  the  troubles  which  came 
on  Macartney  during  the  later  years  of  his  pro- 
fessorship. There  is,  however,  no  further  mention 
of  the  society  in  the  Register  of  the  Board.  In 
January  1853,  Robert  Ball,  then  Curator  of  the 
Zoological  Museum,  founded  in  Trinity  College, 
under  the  patronage  of  the  Provost  and  Senior 
Fellows,  a  society  which  was  originally  restricted 
to  the  study  of  Zoology.  Shortly  afterwards  its 
scope  was  enlarged,  and  it  was  called  the  '  Dublin 
University  Zoological  and  Botanical  Association  '. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  v,  p.  371.  *  Reg.,  vol.  vi,  p.  144. 

*  Ibid.,  p.  336.  *  Macalister,  Macartney,  p.  104. 


332  MODERN  DEVELOPMENT 

The  object  of  this  society  was  '  the  advancement 
and  diffusion  of  Zoological  and  Botanical  Science 
in  general,  and  to  encourage  and  promote  the 
study  of  Natural  History  among  the  Students  of 
the  University  V  The  ordinary  members  were  to 
be  graduates  of  Dublin,  Oxford,  or  Cambridge, 
and  undergraduates  of  Trinity  College  who  had 
their  names  on  the  College  books.  The  subscrip- 
tion for  members  over  the  standing  of  M.A.  was 
£i,  and  for  others  half  a  guinea  a  year.  The  meet- 
ings were  to  be  held  on  the  third  Friday  of  each 
month  during  term  in  the  rooms  of  the  Association 
in  No.  5,  Trinity  College.  This  society  can  scarcely 
be  looked  on  as  a  revival  of  the  Medical  Students' 
Society  of  1814.  It  was  really  a  new  society,  and 
though  its  membership  roll  contained  the  names 
of  some  undergraduates,  they  were  very  few  as 
compared  with  the  graduates.  Most  of  the  papers, 
too,  were  read  by  graduates.  In  1859  the  associa- 
tion published  the  first  and  only  volume  of  its 
Proceedings,  an  octavo  volume  of  some  three 
hundred  pages,  '  with  thirty-one  lithographic 
Plates  '.  Of  the  sixty-six  ordinary  members  on 
the  roll  in  1859,  seven  only  were  undergraduates, 
and  nineteen  were  medical  men. 

William  Stokes,  Regius  Professor  of  Medicine, 
delivered  an  opening  address  to  this  Association 
on  January  24,  1862,  in  which  he  gives  a  most 
interesting  history  of  the  study  of  natural  science 
in  the  University.2  The  Association  does  not 
seem  to  have  flourished,  and  no  further  volumes 

1  Rules,  1859.  *  Medical  Press,  March  26,  1862. 


MODERN  DEVELOPMENT  333 

of  Proceedings  were  published.  On  November  9, 
1867,  '  Dr.  Haughton  recommended  that  the  Board 
would  accede  to  the  request  of  the  Medical  Students 
to  be  permitted  to  meet  for  the  discussion  of 
Medical  Questions  ',  which  recommendation  the 
Board  agreed  to,  '  the  regulation  of  such  meetings 
to  be  previously  submitted  to  the  Board  for  their 
approbation.' x  A  week  later,  on  the  application 
of  Dr.  Bennett,  the  Board  granted  the  sum  of 
£50  to  the  medical  library.  Subsequently  the 
Board  made  a  similar  grant  to  this  library,  but 
on  January  26,  1878,  they  ordered  the  reading- 
room  to  be  closed  on  account  of  some  misuse  of 
it  by  the  students.2  In  December  1879,  the  room 
was  again  opened  to  the  students  on  the  applica- 
tion of  Professor  Bennett. 

Four  societies  devoted  to  the  study  of  Medicine 
had  long  existed  in  Dublin,  of  which  the  oldest 
was  the  Surgical  Society  established  by  the  College 
of  Surgeons  in  1831.  The  Medical  Society  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  was  originally  started  in 
1816,  but  after  a  time  it  came  to  an  end,  and 
was  not  revived  till  1864.  The  Pathological  and 
Obstetrical  Societies  were  both  established  in 
1838,  and  to  the  former  of  these  students  were 
admitted. 

On  January  6,  1872,  a  number  of  men  met 
together  in  No.  30,  Trinity  College,  and  decided 
to  form  a  scientific  club.  This,  the  Biological  Club, 
contained  on  its  membership  roll  the  names  of 
several  men  intimately  connected  with  the  School 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xii,  p.  280.  *  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  5. 


334  MODERN  DEVELOPMENT 

of  Physic.  For  three  sessions  this  Club  met  in  the 
College,  and  then  moved  to  a  room  in  Brunswick 
Street,  where  it  continued  to  meet  till,  in  December 
1881,  it  moved  to  its  present  quarters  in  the  Royal 
College  of  Physicians.1 

On  March  14,  1874,  the  Board  granted  permis- 
sion to  the  University  Medical  Society  to  meet  on 
alternate  Wednesdays  in  one  of  the  lecture-rooms 
of  the  new  building,  '  provided  that  Dr.  Bennett 
becomes  responsible  for  the  proper  use  of  the 
room.' 2  It  is  from  the  permission  thus  granted 
that  the  Dublin  University  Biological  Association 
dates  its  birth,  or  as  the  early  notices  state,  '  this 
Society  was  established  in  1874  to  encourage  the 
study  of  Biology  in  all  its  Branches/ 3  From  the 
very  beginning  this  was  essentially  a  students' 
association,  the  subscription  being  fixed  at  the 
modest  sum  of  55.  a  year.  The  early  records 
of  the  Association  have  disappeared,  and  conse- 
quently it  is  not  possible  to  give  its  history  in 
detail.  In  1876  Samuel  Haughton  was  President, 
and  in  the  following  year  he  was  succeeded  by 
Dr.  Alexander  Macalister,  who  held  office  for  four 
years,  and  under  his  fostering  care  the  Association 
developed  considerably.  Later,  between  the  years 
1890  and  1892,  the  Association  declined  greatly, 
and  in  the  latter  year  it  seemed  doomed  to  imme- 
diate extinction.  From  that  year  on,  however, 
its  fortunes  began  to  mend  and  now  the  average 
attendance  at  its  meetings  exceeds  that  of  any 
other  society  in  the  College. 

1  Foot.          '  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  170.  *  Medical  Directory. 


MODERN  DEVELOPMENT  335 

The  prizes  for  students  in  the  School  of  Physic 
are  neither  so  numerous  nor  so  valuable  as  one 
could  wish.  On  October  20,  1860,  the  Board 
resolved  to  establish  two  medical  Scholarships, 
'  tenable  for  two  years  with  a  Salary  of  £20  per 
annum  '.*  They  were  to  be  awarded  at  the 
examination  held  at  the  end  of  the  second  year  of 
medical  study,  on  the  condition  that  the  scholars 
proceeded  regularly  with  their  medical  studies  in 
the  University.  The  subjects  of  this  examination 
were  Anatomy  and  Physiology ;  Botany  and 
Materia  Medica  ;  Chemistry,  Theoretical  and  Prac- 
tical, with  Chemical  Physics.  It  was  later  decided 
that  the  candidates  for  these  prizes  must  be  at 
least  of  Senior  Freshman  standing,  and  have  kept 
one  annus  medicus  in  the  School  of  Physic.  In 
March  1880  the  regulations  were  modified,  one 
Scholarship  being  given  for  Physics,  Chemistry, 
Botany,  and  Materia  Medica,  and  the  other  for 
Anatomy  and  the  Institutes  of  Medicine.  In  1884 
Comparative  Anatomy  took  the  place  of  Materia 
Medica,  to  give  place  in  turn  in  1893  to  Zoology. 
At  the  present  time  students  may  not  compete 
for  the  Scholarship  in  Anatomy  and  the  Institutes 
of  Medicine  after  the  completion  of  their  third 
year,  or  for  the  other  Scholarship  after  the  com- 
pletion of  their  second  year,  and  no  student  may 
hold  the  two  Scholarships  at  the  same  time. 

In  1884  a  sum  of  money  was  bequeathed  to  the 
College  by  Henry  Hutchinson  Stewart  to  found 
Scholarships  in  Literature  and  Medicine.  These 

1  Reg,,  vol.  xi,  p.  420. 


336  MODERN  DEVELOPMENT 

Scholarships  of  the  value  of  £10  per  annum  are 
awarded  from  time  to  time  to  the  second  best 
answerers  in  the  Medical  Scholarship  Examina- 
tion. A  Scholarship  in  Mental  Disease  of  the 
value  of  about  £50  per  annum,  tenable  for  three 
years,  is  also  awarded  from  this  fund  from  time 
to  time.  A  bronze  medal,  founded  by  the  past 
pupils  of  John  Mallet  Purser,  in  commemoration 
of  his  twenty-five  years'  tenure  of  the  Professor- 
ship of  the  Institutes  of  Medicine,  is  awarded 
annually  to  the  student  who  obtains  the  highest 
marks  in  Physiology  and  Histology  at  part  one 
of  the  Intermediate  Medical  Examination  held  in 
June.  A  similar  medal,  founded  as  a  memorial 
of  the  late  Professor  Daniel  John  Cunningham, 
is  awarded  under  similar  conditions  to  the 
candidate  who  obtains  the  highest  marks  in 
Anatomy. 

On  March  20,  1869,  the  Board  decided  to  award 
two  prizes  of  £50  each,  '  one  to  the  best  answerer 
in  practical  medicine,  and  the  other  to  the  best 
answerer  in  practical  surgery.' 1  By  this  resolu- 
tion the  Board  founded  the  two  most  important 
prizes  in  the  School,  the  Medical  and  Surgical 
Travelling  Prizes.  In  1878  these  two  prizes  were 
joined  together,  one  prize  of  £100  being  awarded 
each  year,  alternately  in  Medicine  and  Surgery.2 
The  winner  of  this  prize  must  spend  three  months 
in  the  study  of  Medicine  or  Surgery  in  Berlin, 
Paris,  or  Vienna,  and  must  satisfy  the  Senior 
Lecturer  that  he  '  possesses  sufficient  knowledge 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xii,  p.  345.  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  6. 


MODERN  DEVELOPMENT  337 

of  a  Continental  Language  to  derive  benefit  from 
same  V 

In  connexion  with  the  Travelling  Prizes  two 
medals  were  founded  in  1907.  The  Banks  Medal, 
founded  by  Sir  John  Thomas  Banks,  formerly 
King's  Professor  of  Medicine,  and  for  eighteen 
years  Regius  Professor  of  Medicine,  is  awarded  to 
the  winner  of  the  Medical  Travelling  Prize,  a  sum 
of  £15  being  given  to  the  second  best  candidate. 
The  Edward  Hallaran  Bennett  Medal  was  founded 
by  the  past  pupils  of  Professor  Bennett,  who  was 
for  nine  years  University  Anatomist  and  for  thirty- 
three  years  Professor  of  Surgery.  This  medal  is 
awarded  to  the  winner  of  the  Surgical  Travelling 
Prize,  a  money  prize  being  given  to  the  second 
best  candidate. 

In  1892  Mrs.  Fitzpatrick  presented  to  the  Board 
the  sum  of  £1,000  to  found  a  Scholarship  in  the 
Medical  School  in  memory  of  her  husband,  Thomas 
Fitzpatrick,  M.D.  The  interest  derived  from  this 
sum  is  given  as  a  prize  annually  to  the  student  who 
obtains  the  highest  aggregate  marks  at  Part  II 
of  the  Intermediate,  and  Parts  I  and  II  of  the 
final  examination.  This  Scholarship  has  been 
awarded  regularly  since  1902. 

In  1905  the  Board  received  the  bequest  of 
William  Chapman  Begley  and  Mrs.  Jane  Begley, 
amounting  to  £5,655  us.  8^.,  for  the  endowment 
of  four  Medical  Studentships.  The  sum  available 
from  this  bequest  is  about  £148  per  annum,  and 
the  Studentships  are  open  to  all  Undergraduates 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  298. 
Z 


338  MODERN  DEVELOPMENT 

who  have  completed  the  final  examination  of  their 
Senior  Freshman  year,  irrespective  of  the  time  at 
which  they  entered  the  Medical  School. 

It  is  a  matter  of  much  regret  that  there  are  no 
Scholarships  for  endowing  research  work  in  the 
School  of  Physic,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  some 
prizes  of  this  kind  may  be  founded  in  the  near 
future.  In  no  way  is  the  vitality  of  the  Medical 
School  more  surely  gauged  than  by  the  quantity 
and  quality  of  the  original  work  done  in  its 
laboratories. 

While  the  College  was  lavishly  spending  money 
for  the  housing  of  the  School  of  Physic  it  was 
at  the  same  time  assuming  more  and  more 
control  of  its  affairs.  Prior  to  the  passing  of  the 
School  of  Physic  Act  Amendment  Act  in  1867, 
the  advertisements  of  the  School  Lectures  were 
paid  for  out  of  Dun's  estate,  and  the  notices 
published  annually  were  signed  by  the  Registrar 
of  the  College  of  Physicians.  That  Act,  however, 
contained  no  permission  for  such  expenditure,  and 
the  College  of  Physicians  ceased  to  issue  the  School 
notices.  Subsequently  these  were  issued  by  Trinity 
College,  and  from  1875  were  signed  by  the  Regis- 
trar of  the  Medical  School,  an  officer  appointed  by 
Trinity  College.  At  the  same  time  the  internal 
management  of  the  School  passed  more  and  more 
into  the  hands  of  the  members  of  the  Medical 
School  Committee,  who  were  responsible  to  the 
Board  but  not  to  the  College  of  Physicians. 

On  February  4,  1888,  the  Board  decided  that  in 
future  Medical  Jurisprudence  should  be  taught  in 


MODERN  DEVELOPMENT  339 

the  School  by  a  Lecturer  appointed  by  the  Board.1 
On  the  death  of  Robert  Travers,  who  had  held 
the  chair  since  1864,  Dr.  Henry  Theodore  Bewley 
was,  on  April  7,  1888,  elected  the  first  University 
Lecturer  in  that  subject.  In  this  arrangement 
the  College  of  Physicians  fully  acquiesced. 

The  establishment  by  the  Colleges  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  in  1886  of  the  Conjoint  Board  for  the 
purpose  of  examining  students  seeking  registra- 
tion in  virtue  of  the  licences  of  the  Colleges,  gave 
to  the  College  of  Physicians  a  greater  interest  in 
the  School  of  the  College  of  Surgeons  than  in  the 
School  of  Physic.  Thus  in  the  course  of  develop- 
ment the  functions  of  the  College  of  Physicians  in 
the  School  of  Physic  have  one  by  one  lapsed  into 
the  hands  of  the  University  authorities,  and  the 
School  has  almost  become,  in  everything  except  in 
name,  the  Medical  School  of  Trinity  College.  The 
change  has  been  effected  so  gradually  and  so 
naturally  that  it  has  produced  no  resentment 
among  those  thus  deprived  of  their  authority,  and 
the  relations  between  the  Colleges  are  now  as 
cordial  as  they  have  been  at  any  time  during  their 
long  connexion.  Whatever  changes  the  future  may 
bring  forth,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  these  friendly 
relations  will  continue,  and  that  these  great  cor- 
porations will  continue  to  work  harmoniously  for 
the  advancement  of  Science  and  for  the  welfare  of 
their  country. 

1  Reg.,  vol.  xv,  p.  177. 


APPENDIX  I 
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Dublin,  1900. 

Acland,  Mem.  A  Treatise  on  the  Diagnosis  and  Treatment 
of  Diseases  of  the  Chest.  By  William  Stokes.  Edited 
by  Alfred  Hudson,  M.D.  With  a  Memoir  by  Dr.  Acland. 

London,  New  Sydenham  Society,  1882. 
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Belcher.  Records  of  the  King  and  Queen's  College  of  Physi- 
cians in  Ireland  :  Including  a  Memoir  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun ; 
a  Memoir  of  Dr.  Stearne  ;  The  Register  of  the  College 
of  1866 ;  The  Two  Charters  ;  and  other  important  Docu- 
ments concerning  the  Profession  of  Physic  in  Ireland. 
By  T.  W.  Belcher,  M.D. 

Dublin,  1866. 

Berkeley.  The  Works  of  George  Berkeley,  D.D.,  with  An 
Account  of  his  Life.  Vols.  i  and  ii. 

Dublin,  1784. 

Bolton,  Statutes.  A  translation  of  the  Charter  and  Statutes 
of  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  By  Robert  Bolton. 

Dublin,  1749. 

Brehon  Laws.  Ancient  Laws  and  Institutions  of  Ireland. 
Vol.  i-vi. 

Dublin,  1865-1901. 


REFERENCES  341 

Brodrick,  Merlon.  Memorials  of  Merton  College.  By  the 
Rt.  Hon.  George  C.  Brodrick. 

Oxford,  1885. 

Cameron,  Hist.  History  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  in 
Ireland,  and  of  the  Irish  Schools  of  Medicine.  By  Sir 
Charles  A.  Cameron. 

Dublin,  1886. 

Campbell.  A  Philosophical  Survey  of  the  South  of  Ireland  in 
a  series  of  Letters  to  John  Wilkinson,  M.D. 

Dublin,  1778. 

C.A.R.  Calendar  of  the  Ancient  Records  of  Dublin.  Edited 
by  John  T.  Gilbert.  Vol.  i-xiv. 

Dublin,  1889-1909. 

Celsus.  Aur.  Cor.  Celsi,  De  Medicina,  Libri  octo.  Cura  et 
Studio  Th.  J.  ab  Almeloveen. 

Patavii,  1722. 

Chambers,  Scotsmen.  Lives  of  illustrious  and  distinguished 
Scotsmen.  By  Robert  Chambers. 

Glasgow,  1836. 

Collins.  A  Short  Sketch  of  the  Life  and  Writings  of  Joseph 
Clarke,  M.D.  By  Robert  Collins,  M.D. 

London,  1849. 
Col.  P.  Minutes.     The  Minutes  of  the  King  and  Queen's 

(Royal)  College  of  Physicians  in  (of)  Ireland.    MSS. 
Craik.    The    Life    of    Jonathan    Swift.    By    Henry    Craik. 
2nd  Edition.    Vol.  i-ii. 

London,  1894. 

C.  S.  P.    Calendar  of  State  Papers,  Ireland. 
Cunningham,   Magrath.    The   Skeleton   of  the   Irish   Giant 
Cornelius  Magrath.     Transactions  of  the   Royal   Irish 
Academy.     Vol.  xxix.     Part  xvi. 

Dublin,  1891. 

Dickson's  Letter.  A  Letter  from  Dr.  Dickson  to  his  Medical 
Brethren  relative  to  the  School  of  Physic  in  this  Kingdom. 

Dublin,  1795. 

Diseases  of  the  Chest.    A  Treatise  on  the  Diagnosis  and  Treat- 
ment of  Diseases  of  the  Chest.    By  William  Stokes. 
Dublin,  1837. 

Z3 


342  REFERENCES 

Dix.  Books  printed  in  Dublin  in  the  Seventeenth  Century. 
List  compiled  by  E.  R.  M'C.  Dix,  with  Introduction  and 
Notes  by  C.  W.  Dugan.  Parts  i-iv. 

Dublin,  1898-1905. 

D.  N.  B.    Dictionary  of   National  Biography.     Edited  by 
Sidney  Lee.    Reissue. 
London,  1908-9. 
Dunton.    The  Life  and  Errors  of  John  Dunton.    Vol.  i-ii. 

London,  1818. 
Ed.    Med.    Com.    The    Edinburgh    Medical    Commentaries. 

London  and  Edinburgh,  1774-95. 

Evans.  The  History  of  the  Dublin  Hospitals  and  Infirmaries 
from  1188  to  the  Present  Time.  By  Edward  Evans. 

Irish  Builder.    Dublin,  1896-7. 

Foot.    Reminiscences  of  the  Biological  Club.     By  Arthur 
Wynne  Foot,  M.D. 
Dublin,  1892. 
G.  E.  C.    Complete  Baronetage.    Edited  by  G.  E.  C. 

Exeter,  1906. 

Gilbert,  Hist.  A  History  of  the  City  of  Dublin.  By  J.  T. 
Gilbert.  Vol.  i-iii. 

Dublin,  1854-9. 

Gilborne,  Med.  Rev.  The  Medical  Review,  A  Poem.  Being 
a  Panegyric  on  the  Faculty  of  Dublin  ;  Physicians, 
Surgeons,  and  Apothecaries,  marching  in  Procession  to 
the  Temple  of  Fame.  By  John  Gilborne,  M.D. 

Dublin,  1775. 

Graves,  Lectures,  1864.  Clinical  Lectures  on  the  Practice  of 
Medicine.  By  Robert  James  Graves.  Reprinted  from 
the  2nd  Edition.  Edited  by  the  late  John  Moore 
Neligan. 

Dublin,  1864. 

Guide  to  Dublin.  An  Historical  Guide  to  Ancient  and  Modern 
Dublin.  By  G.  N.  Wright. 

London,  1821. 

Harris,  Hist,  of  Dublin.    The  History  and  Antiquities  of  the 
City  of  Dublin.     By  Walter  Harris. 
Dublin,  1766. 


REFERENCES  343 

Heart  and  Aorta.  Diseases  of  the  Heart  and  Aorta.  By 
William  Stokes. 

Dublin,  1854. 

Hill's  Address  I.  An  Address  to  the  Students  of  Physic 
relative  to  the  Present  State  of  the  School  of  Physic  in 
this  Kingdom.  By  Edward  Hill,  M.D. 

Dublin,  1803. 

Hill's  Address  2.  An  Address  to  the  President  and  Fellows  of 
the  King  and  Queen's  College  of  Physicians  in  Ireland. 
By  Edward  Hill,  M.D. 

Dublin,  1805. 

Hurry.  A  History  of  the  Reading  Pathological  Society.  By 
Jamieson  B.  Hurry,  M.D. 

London,  1909. 

Irvine.  A  Concise  View  of  the  Military  Medical  Literature  in  this 
Country,  being  a  Chronological  Arrangement  of  Authors  with 
Critical  Remarks  on  their  Works.  By  James  Irvine,  M.D. 

Edinburgh  Med.  and  Surg.  Journal,  vol.  Ixiii,  1845. 
Johns.    The  Oldest  Code  of  Laws  in  the  World.    The  Code 
of  Laws  Promulgated  by  Hammurabi,  King  of  Babylon, 
B.C.  2285-2242.    Translated  by  C.  H.  Johns,  M.A. 

Edinburgh,  1903. 

Joyce.    A  Social  History  of  Ancient  Ireland.    By  P.  W.  Joyce, 
M.R.I.A.    Vol.  i-ii. 
London,  1903. 

Kennedy  Address.    Introductory  Address  delivered  at  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Dublin  Obstetrical  Society  in  the  Rotunda, 
November  14,  1838.    By  Evory  Kennedy,  M.D. 
Dublin  Journ.  Med.  Science,  vol.  xv,  1839. 
Knights.    The  Knights  of  England.     By  William  A.  Shaw. 
Incorporating  a  complete  list  of  the  Knights  Bachelors 
dubbed  in  Ireland.    By  G.  D.  Burtchall.    Vol.  i-ii. 

London,  1906. 

Liber  Mun.    Liber  Munerum  Publicorum  Hiberniae,  Ab  An. 
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344  REFERENCES 

Lettsom,  Fothergill.  Some  Account  of  the  late  John  Fothergill, 
M.D.  By  John  Coakley  Lettsom. 

London,  1783. 

Another  Edition.    London,  1786. 

Macalister,  Hist,  of  Anat.  A  Sketch  of  the  History  of  Anatomy 
in  Ireland.  By  A.  Macalister,  M.D.,  F.R.S. 

Dublin  Journ.  Med.  Science,  vol.  Ixxvii,  1884. 
Macalister,  Macartney.    James  Macartney,  M.D.    A  Memoir. 
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London,  1900. 

Mackintosh.  An  Ancient  Gaelic  Medical  MS.  No.  21  of  the 
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Caledonian   Medical   Journal,  vol.  vii.      Glasgow, 

1907-8. 

M'Clintock,  Dublin  School  of  Midwifery.    On  the  Rise  of  the 

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Dublin  Quarterly  Journal  of  Medical  Science,  vol. 

xxv.    1858. 

Mahaffy,  Epoch.  An  Epoch  in  Irish  History.  Trinity  College, 
Dublin  ;  its  foundation  and  early  fortunes,  1591-1660. 
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London,  1903. 

Med.  Obs.  Medical  Observations  and  Enquiries  by  a  Society 
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London,  1769. 

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Moore,  Med.  in  Ireland.  An  Essay  on  the  History  of  Medicine 
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Munk's  Roll.  The  Roll  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  London. 
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London,  1873. 

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O'Donoghue,  Irish  Ability.  A  Geographical  Distribution  of 
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London,  1898. 

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Dublin,  1889. 

Studies  in  Physiology.  Studies  in  Physiology  and  Medicine. 
By  the  late  Robert  James  Graves,  F.R.S.  Edited  by 
William  Stokes. 

London,  1863. 

Swift's  Letters.  Letters  of  Jonathan  Swift,  D.D.  By  John 
Hawksworth.  A  new  Edition. 

London,  1769. 
Toiler.    The  Lucubrations  of  Isaac  Bickerstaff,  Esq.  Vol.  i-iv. 

London,  1741. 

Taylor,  Hist.  T.  C.  D.  History  of  the  University  of  Dublin. 
By  W.  B.  S.  Taylor. 

Dublin  (1848). 

T.  C.  D.  Calendar.  The  Dublin  University  Calendar.  Vol.  iii, 
1906-7. 

Dublin,  1907. 

T.  C.  D.  Case  and  Conduct.  Brief  Memorials  of  the  Case  and 
Conduct  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  1686-90.  By  the 
Ven.  Arthur  Blennerhassett  Rowan,  D.D. 

Dublin,  1858. 

T.  C.  D.  Statutes.    Chartae  et  Statuta  Collegii  Sacrosanctae  et 
Individuae  Trinitatis  Reginae  Elizabethae  Juxta  Dublin. 
Vol.i.  Edited  by  H.  H.  G.  MacDonnell.  Dublin,i844. 
Vol.  ii.    Edited  by  G.  F.  Shaw.    Dublin,  1898. 
Todd's  Roll.    A  Catalogue  of  Graduates  who  have  proceeded 
to  Degrees  in  the  University  of  Dublin  from  the  earliest 
recorded   Commencements   to    July   1866.     Edited   by 
James  H.  Todd,  D.D. 
Dublin,  1869. 


348  REFERENCES 

Trans.  Coll.  P.  Transactions  of  the  Association  of  Fellows 
and  Licentiates  of  the  College  of  Physicians  in  Ireland. 
Vol.  i-v. 

Dublin,  1817-28. 

Walsh.  Makers  of  Modern  Medicine.  By  James  J.  Walsh, 
M.D. 

New  York,  1907. 

Ware.  The  Whole  Works  of  Sir  James  Ware  concerning 
Ireland  revised  and  improved.  By  Walter  Harris. 
Vol.  i-ii. 

Dublin,  1739. 

Ware,  De  Hibern.  De  Hiberniae  et  Antiquitatibus  ejus, 
Disquisitiones.  Authore  Jacobo  Waraeo. 

London,  1654. 
Webb.    A  Compendium  of  Irish  Biography.    By  Alfred  Webb. 

Dublin,  1878. 

Whitelaw  and  Walsh.  History  of  the  City  of  Dublin.  By 
J.  Warburton,  J.  Whitelaw,  and  Robert  Walsh.  Vol.  i-ii. 

London,  1818. 

Wilde,  Census.  The  Irish  Census.  Report  upon  the  Tables 
of  Deaths.  By  William  R.  Wilde. 

Dublin,  1841. 
Ibid.,  Dublin,  1851. 

Wills,  Irishmen.  Lives  of  illustrious  and  distinguished  Irish- 
men. Edited  by  James  Wills.  Vol.  i-vi. 

Dublin,  1847. 

Wolfe  Tone.  The  Autobiography  of  Theodore  Wolfe  Tone, 
1763-1798.  Edited  by  R.  Barry  O'Brien.  Vol.  i-ii. 

London,  1893. 

Wood,  Athenae.  Athenae  Oxonienses.  By  Anthony  Wood. 
Vol.  i-ii. 

London, 1691-2. 

Wood's  Cramond.   The  Ancient  and  Modern  state  of  the  Parish 
of  Cramond.    By  John  Philip  Wood. 
Edinburgh,  1794. 


APPENDIX  II 

THE  MEDICAL  STAFF  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE  AND 
OF  THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  IN  IRELAND 

'  MEDICUS '. 

John  Temple,  M.A.    Elected  October  24,  1618. 

Thomas  Beere,  MA.    Elected  December  6,  1620. 

John  Steame,  M.D.    President  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  Fellow  October  22, 1651.    Resigned  November  17, 

1659.    Reappointed  by  King's  Letter,  December  29, 1660. 

Not  mentioned  as  '  Medicus  ',  but  given  the  privileges. 
George  Walker.    Elected  November  25,  1669.    Died  1670. 
William  Palliser,  D.D.    Elected  October  29,  1670. 
George  Mercer,    M.D.      Fellow   of   College    of    Physicians. 

Elected  September  9,  1671.   Vice-Provost.    Dispossessed 

of  Fellowship  on  account  of  marriage,  June  8,  1687. 
Owen  Lloyd.    Elected  June  10,  1687. 
Jeremiah  Allen,  M.A.    Election  as  '  Medicus  '  not  given,  but 

it  is  stated  on  September  18, 1688,  that  Mr.  Allen '  resigned 

the  place  of  Medicus  '. 
Arthur  Blennerhassett,  B.D.    Elected  September  18,  1688. 

Died  July  4,  1696. 
William  Carr,  M.B.    Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

May  12,  1693.    Died  January  16,  1698/9. 
John  Dennis,  D.D.    Elected  January  21,  1698/9.    Resigned 

June  8,  1700. 
Anthony  Raymond,  D.D.    Elected  June  8,  1700.    Resigned 

1702. 
William  Lloyd,  D.D.     Election  not  stated,  probably  1702. 

Resigned  '  Medicus  '  January  28,  1706/7. 
Richard  Helsham,  M.D.     Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected   January   28,    1706/7.     Resigned   January   16, 

1729/30. 


350    MEDICAL  STAFF  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

Edward  Hudson,  B.D.  Elected  January  26,  1729/30.  Re- 
signed February  8,  1730/1. 

Edward  Molloy,  M.A.  Elected  February  8, 1730/1.  Resigned 
May  28,  1733. 

William  Clements,  M.D.,  Vice-Provost.  Elected  May  28, 
1733.  Died  January  15,  1782. 

Whitley  Stokes,  M.D.  Hon.  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  July  18,  1789.  Resigned  June  22,  1816. 

John  Toleken,  M.D.  Elected  July  I,  1837.  Resigned  May  i, 
1880.  Died  December  13,  1887. 

REGIUS  PROFESSORS  OF  PHYSIC 

John  Stearne,  M.D.,  President  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  November  24,  1656.    Resigned  November  17, 

1659.    Re-elected  June  3,   1662.    Died  November  18, 

1669. 
Thomas  Margetson,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  successor  to  Stearne,   but  date  not  recorded. 

Died  1674. 
Ralph  Howard,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

April  2,  1674.    Died  1710. 
Richard   Steevens,  M.D.,  Fellow  of   College   of   Physicians. 

Elected  September  19,  1710.    Died  December  15,  1710. 
Thomas  Molyneux,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  January  22,  1711.     Died  October  19,  1733. 
Richard  Helsham,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College  and  of 

College    of    Physicians.     Elected    November    10,    1733- 

Died  August,  1738. 
Henry  Cope,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

successor  to  Helsham,  date  not  recorded.    Died  January, 

I742/3- 
Francis  Foreside,    M.D.,    Fellow  of   College   of   Physicians. 

Elected  February  2,  1742/3.     Died  1745. 
Bryan   Robinson,    M.D.,    Fellow   of   College   of   Physicians. 

Elected  June  12,  1745.     Died  January,  1754. 
Edward  Barry,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

January  28,  1754.     Resigned  February  12,  1761. 


AND  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  IN  IRELAND    351 

William  Clements,  M.D.,  Vice-Provost  of  Trinity  College  and 

Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected  February  21, 

1761.     Resigned  November  15,  1781. 
Edward  Hill,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

November  15,  1781.    Died  October  31,  1830. 
Whitley  Stokes,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College  and  Hon. 

Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected  November  13, 

1830.    Resigned  October  12,  1840. 
William  Stokes,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 

October  12,  1840.    Died  January  6,  1878. 
Alfred  Hudson,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

February  16,  1878.    Resigned  September  29,  1880. 
John  Thomas  Banks,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  November  13,  1880.     Resigned  October  15,  1898. 
James  Little,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

December  16, 


REGIUS  PROFESSORS  OF  SURGERY 

James  William  Cusack,   M.D.    Elected  January  24,   1852. 

Died  September  25,  1861. 
Robert    Adams,    M.D.    Elected    October    26,    1861.    Died 

January  16,  T.875-1 
William  Colles,  M.D.     Elected  March  6,  1875.      Resigned 

April  18,  1891. 
George  Hornidge  Porter,  M.D.    Elected  October  14,  1891. 

Died  June  16,  1895. 
Charles  Bent  Ball,  M.D.    Elected  November  20,  1895. 

LECTURERS  IN  ANATOMY  AND  CHIRURGERY 

Richard  Hoyle,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

August  1711.     Discontinued  1716. 
Bryan   Robinson,    M.D.,    Fellow   of   College   of    Physicians. 

Elected  September  8,  1716.     Dismissed  June  17,  1717. 
Richard   Hoyle,    M.D.    Re-elected    June    17,    1717.      Died 

August  1730. 

1  The  Professorship  was  raised  to  the  dignity  of  Regius  by 
Letters  Patent  dated  September  29,  1868. 


352  MEDICAL  STAFF  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

Thomas  Madden,   M.D.,   Fellow  of  College  of   Physicians. 

Elected  October  i,  1730.    Probably  died  1734. 
Francis  Foreside,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  May  21,  1734.    Resigned  January  n,  1741/2. 
Robert  Robinson,   M.D.,   Fellow  of  College  of   Physicians. 

Elected  January  16,  1741/2.    Dismissed  June  29,  1761. 
George  Cleghorn,  M.D.,  Hon.  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  June  29,  1761.    Continued  Professor  by  Act  25, 

Geo.  Ill,  1785. 

PROFESSORS  OF  ANATOMY  AND  CHIRURGERY 

George  Cleghorn,   M.D.    Elected  Lecturer   June  29,   1761, 

created  Professor  by  Act   25,   Geo.   Ill,   1785.     Died 

December  22,  1789. 
James   Cleghorn,    M.D.,    Fellow   of   College   of    Physicians. 

Elected  April  16,  1790.    Resigned  July  24,  1802. 
William  Hartigan,  M.D.    Elected  November  6,  1802.    Died 

December  15,  1812. 
James  Macartney,  M.D.    Elected  June  21,  1813.    Resigned 

July  13,  1837. 
Robert  Harrison,   M.D.    Elected  October  24,   1837.     Died 

April  23,  1858. 
Benjamin  George  McDowel,  M.D.    Elected  October  8,  1858. 

Resigned  June  22,  1879. 
Alexander   Macalister,    M.D.      Elected    October    14,    1879. 

Resigned  June  16,  1883. 
Daniel  John  Cunningham,  M.D.    Elected  September  29,  1883. 

Resigned  February  14,  1903. 
Andrew  Francis  Dixon,  Sc.D.    Elected  June  20,  1903. 

UNIVERSITY  ANATOMISTS 
William  Green,  Surgeon.    Elected  September  8,  1716.    Died 

I732/3. 
Vessy  Shaw,  Surgeon.     Elected  October  22,  1733.     Resigned 

June  14,  1743. 
George   Whittingham,    Surgeon.    Elected    June    14,    1743- 

Resigned  September  10,  1753. 


AND  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  IN  IRELAND    353 

George  Cleghorn,  M.D.  Elected  September  10, 1753.  Resigned 
on  appointment  as  Lecturer  in  Anatomy  June  29,  1761. 

John  Kellock  Barton,  M.D.  Elected  May  18,  1861.  Resigned 
October  22,  1864. 

Edward  Hallaran  Bennett,  M.D.  Elected  October  29,  1864. 
Resigned  on  election  as  Professor  of  Surgery  November  8, 

1873- 
Thomas  Evelyn  Little,  M.D.    Elected  November  15,  1873. 

Died  November  1891. 
Henry  St.  John  Brooks,  M.D.    Elected  November  14,  1891. 

Resigned  March  31,  1895. 
Charles  Bent  Ball,  M.D.    Elected  April  19,  1895. 

LECTURERS  IN  CHEMISTRY 

Robert  Griffith,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
August  1711.  Vacated  on  appointment  as  Dun's  Pro- 
fessor of  Medicine  August  29,  1717. 

William  Smith,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
December  17,  1717.  Died  1732. 

William  Stephens,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  February  17,  1732/3.  Died  1760. 

Francis  Hutcheson,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  July  12,  1760.  Resigned  November  3,  1767. 

James  Span,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
November  12, 1767.  Died  1773. 

James  Thornton,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  September  25,  1773.  Died  May  17,  1783. 

Robert  Perceval,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  May  17,  1783.  Continued  as  Professor  by  Act  25, 
Geo.  Ill,  1785. 

PROFESSORS  OF  CHEMISTRY 

Robert  Perceval,  M.D.  Elected  Lecturer  May  17,  1783,  and 
continued  as  Professor  by  Act  25,  Geo.  Ill,  1785.  Re- 
signed February  6,  1809. 

Francis  Barker,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 
May  16,  1809.    Superannuated  February  4,  1850. 
A  a 


354    MEDICAL  STAFF  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

James  Apjohn,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

June  8,  1850.    Resigned  October  3,  1874. 
James  Emerson  Reynolds,  M.D.    Elected  February  6,  1875. 

Resigned  June  18,  1903. 
Sydney  Young,  Sc.D.    Elected  October  20,  1903. 

LECTURERS  IN  BOTANY 
Henry  Nicholson,  M.D.    Elected  August  1711.    Probably  died 

1732/3. 
Charles  Chemeys,  or  Kemeys,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of 

Physicians.     Elected  March  4,  1732/3.    Probably  died 

same  year. 
William  Clements,  M.D.,  Vice-Provost.    Elected  September  13, 

1733.    Resigned  1763. 
James  Span,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

February  12,  1763.    Died  1773. 
Edward  Hill,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

September  25,  1773.    Continued  as  Professor  by  Act  25, 

Geo.  Ill,  1785. 

PROFESSORS  OF  BOTANY 

Edward  Hill,  M.D.    Continued  as  Professor  by  Act  25,  Geo.  Ill, 

1785.     Resigned  August  n,  1800. 

Robert  Scott,  M.D.    Elected  November  24,  1800.    Died  1808. 
William  Allman,  M.D.,  Hon.  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  January  16, 1809.    Superannuated  March  4, 1844. 
George    James    Allman,    M.D.    Elected    March    26,    1844. 

Resigned  on  appointment  to  Edinburgh  January  1856. 
William  Henry  Harvey,  M.D.    Elected  May  3,  1856.    Died 

May  15,  1866. 
Alexander    Dickson,    M.D.    Elected    December    22,    1866. 

Resigned  on  appointment  as  Professor  at  Glasgow  1868. 
Edward  Perceval  Wright,  M.D.     Elected  January  23,  1869. 

Resigned  1904. 
Henry  Horatio  Dixon,  Sc.D.    Elected  April  16,  1904. 


AND  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  IN  IRELAND    355 

PROFESSORS  OF  SURGERY 

Robert  William  Smith,  M.D.    Elected  October  13, 1849.   Died 

October  28,  1873. 
Edward  Hallaran  Bennett,  M.D.    Elected  November  8,  1873. 

Resigned  active  work  October  29,  1904.    Died  June  21, 

1907. 
Edward  Henry  Taylor,  M.D.    Elected  December  i,  1906.    He 

had  been  elected  Deputy  for  Professor  October  29,  1904. 

LECTURERS  IN  ZOOLOGY 

Robert  Harrison,  M.D.    Elected  November  29,  1856.    Died 

April  23,  1858. 
Edward   Perceval   Wright,  M.D.    Elected   March   7,   1868. 

Resigned    on    appointment    as    Professor    of    Botany, 

January  6,  1869. 

Alexander  Macalister,  M.D.    Elected  July  3,  1869! 
William  Henry  Mackintosh,   M.A.    Elected  November  29, 

1879. 

PROFESSORS  OF  COMPARATIVE  ANATOMY 

Alexander  Macalister,  M.D.  Elected  January  n,  1872. 
Resigned  June  16,  1883. 

William  Henry  Mackintosh,  M.A.  Elected  December  22, 
1883.  Continued  as  Professor  of  Zoology  and  Com- 
parative Anatomy. 

PROFESSOR  OF  ZOOLOGY  AND  COMPARATIVE 
ANATOMY2 

William  Henry  Mackintosh,  M.A.    Elected  March  13,  1895. 

1  On  December  9,  1871,  this  Lectureship  was  raised  to  the 
rank  of  a  Professorship. 

1  The  Professorships  of  Zoology  and  Comparative  Anatomy 
were  united  into  one  Professorship  by  a  Decree  of  the  Board  on 
March  13,  1895. 


A  a  2 


356    MEDICAL  STAFF  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

LECTURERS  IN  MEDICAL  JURISPRUDENCE 

Thomas  Brady,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.     Elected 

July  22,  1839.    Died  March  16,  1864. 
Robert  Travers,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.   Elected 

April  i,  1864.    Died  1888. 
Henry  Theodore  Bewley,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  April  7,  I888.1 

LECTURER  IN  PATHOLOGY 

Alexander  Charles  O'Sullivan,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College 
and  the  College  of  Physicians.  Elected  June  22,  1895. 

KING'S  PROFESSORS 
PROFESSORS  OF  THE  PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE 

Robert  Griffith,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
August  29,  1717.  Died  1719. 

James  Grattan,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
1719.  Died  1747. 

Henry  Quin,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
November  4,  1749.  Died  February  n,  1791. 

Edward  Brereton,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  April  5,  1786.  Died  December  10,  1791. 

Stephen  Dickson,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  April  13,  1792.  Deprived  after  being  '  admon- 
ished '  December  4,  1797. 

Whitley  Stokes,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College  and  Hon. 
Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected  February  8, 
1798.  Discontinued  October  28,  1811. 

Martin  Tuomy,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
February  6,  1812.  Discontinued  May  5,  1828. 

Richard  Grattan,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  June  10,  1828.  Discontinued  by  Visitors  Decem- 
ber 16,  1828. 

1  Both  Dr.  Brady  and  Dr.  Travers  were  elected  by  the  College 
of  Physicians,  Dr.  Bewley  by  the  Board  of  Trinity  College. 


AND  SCHOOL  OF  PHYSIC  IN  IRELAND    357 

John  James  Leahy,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  May  26,  1829.  Died  September  1832. 

Charles  Richard  Alexander  Lendrick,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College 
of  Physicians.  Elected  December  18,  1832.  Died  1841. 

George  Greene,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
October  7,  1841.  Died  April  2,  1846. 

John  Creery  Ferguson,  M.B.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  July  23,  1846.  Resigned  on  appointment  as  Pro- 
fessor of  Medicine  to  the  Queen's  College,  Belfast,  1849. 

John  Thomas  Banks,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  December  14,  1849.  Resigned  April  13,  1868. 

William  Moore,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
July  24,  1868.  Resigned  April  28,  1882. 

John  Magee  Finny,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  July  7,  1882.  Resigned  July  8,  1910. 

James  Craig,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
July  8,  1910. 

PROFESSORS  OF  THE  INSTITUTES  OF  MEDICINE 

Stephen  Dickson,   M.D.,   Fellow  of   College   of   Physicians. 

Elected  April  5,  1786.    Resigned  March  27,  1792. 
John  William  Boyton,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  July  10,  1792.    Died  1826. 
William  Stack,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

October  17,  1826.    Died  1827. 
Robert  James  Graves,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  October  2,  1827.    Resigned  February  6,  1841. 
Robert  Law,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

October  12,  1841.    Resigned  November  1873. 
John  Mallet  Purser,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  February  13, 1874.     Resigned  September  27, 1901. 
William  Henry  Thompson,  M.D.     Elected  January  10,  1902. 

PROFESSORS  OF  MATERIA  MEDICA  AND 
PHARMACY 

Constantine  Barbor,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  November  4,  1749.  Died  March  13,  1783. 


358    MEDICAL  STAFF  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE 

Edmund  Cullen,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 

April  5, 1786.    Died  1804. 
John  Crampton,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 

July  21,  1804.    Died  1840. 
Jonathan  Osborne,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  October  13,  1840.    Died  January  23,  1864. 
Aquilla  Smith,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.    Elected 

May  14,  1864.    Resigned  July  I,  1881. 
Walter  George  Smith,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 

Elected  October  18,  1881. 

PROFESSOR  OF  CHIRURGERY  AND  MIDWIFERY 

Nathaniel  Barry,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  November  4,  1749.  Died  March  1785. 

PROFESSORS  OF  MIDWIFERY 

William  Fetherston-H.  Montgomery,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College 
of  Physicians.  Elected  October  18,  1827.  Resigned 
October  4,  1856. 

Fleetwood  Churchill,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  November  5,  1856.  Resigned  July  29,  1864. 

Edward  Burrowes  Sinclair,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physi- 
cians. Elected  July  29,  1864.  Died  March  24,  T.882.1 

John  Rutherfoord  Kirkpatrick,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of 
Physicians.  Elected  July  7,  1882.  Died  April  16,  1889. 

Arthur  Vernon  Macan,  M.A.O.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  July  24,  1889.  Died  September  26,  1908. 

Henry  Jellett,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians.  Elected 
October  18,  1909.  Resigned  December  2,  1910. 

Henry  Thomas  Wilson,  Fellow  of  College  of  Physicians. 
Elected  March  10,  1911. 

1  By  Act  of  Parliament  in  1867  this  Professorship  was  raised 
to  the  rank  of  a  King's  Professorship. 


INDEX 

Heavier  type  denotes  the  pages  on  which  biographical 
notices  appear. 


Acton,  Richard,  64. 

Adams,  Robert,  289,  324,  351. 

Allen,  Jeremy,  63,  64. 

Allman,  Wm.,  210,  224,  256, 
275.  3i6,  354. 

George  J.,  275,  276,  354. 

Wm.  James,  316. 

Altamont,  Earl  of,  189,  191. 

Anatomical  material,  the  pro- 
curing of,  244-247. 

Museum,    new   building, 

326,  327. 

Anderson,  John,  105,  106. 
Andrews,  Francis,  119. 
Anthropometric      Laboratory, 

3.27- 
Apjohn,  James,  296,  305,  315, 

354- 
Archer,  John,  44. 

Baldwin,  Richard,  105, 106, 119. 
Ball,  Robert,  243,  276,  331. 
Sir  Charles  B.,  277,  322— 

324,  351,  353- 
Banks,  Sir  John  T.,  309,  310, 

312,  313,  337,  351,  357. 
Barber  -  Surgeons    in    Dublin, 

Guild  of,  14. 
Barbor,  Constantino,  105-107, 

115,  116,  149,  155,  156,  160, 

177.  357- 
Barker,  Francis,  211-213,  224, 

258,  3M.  3i6,  353. 
Barry,  Sir  Edward,  in,   112, 

114,  115,  123,  127,  128,  350. 
Matthew,  45. 

Sir  Nathaniel,    105-107, 

114,115,1 16,154-1 56, 177,358. 

Barton,  John,  Dean  of  Armagh, 
65,  66. 

John  K.,  322,  323,  353. 

Battersby,  George,  321. 
Beatty,  Dr.,  129. 


Bedell,  Wm.,  D.D.,  22,  23,  27- 

29,  3i- 

Bedford,  Duke  of,  135. 
Beere,  Thomas,  25,  49,  349. 
Begley,  Wm.  C.,  337. 

Mrs.  Jane,  337. 

Belcher,  Dr.,  73. 

Bell,  John,  127. 

Bennett,  Edward  H.,  320,  323, 

324.  333.  334.  337.  353.  355- 
Beresford,  Lord  Primate,  289. 
Berkeley,  Bishop,  79,  129. 
Bernardus  de  Gordon,  12,  16. 
Bewley,  Henry  T.,  339,  356. 
Biological  Association,  330, 333, 

334- 

Blennerhasset,  Arthur,  63,  349. 

Book  of  Aicill,  6. 

Botanical  Laboratory  com- 
pleted, 329. 

'  Botany  Bay  ',  205. 

' Garden  ',  148,  153,  182, 

204-210. 

Boyton,  John  Wm.,  161,  224, 
236,  257,  258,  357. 

Brady,  Thomas,  272,  273,  356. 

Bramhall,  Dr.,  44. 

Brehon  Laws,  5-12. 

Brereton,  Edward,  161,  162, 
163,  229,  356. 

Bridewell,  Dublin,  32-35. 

Brooks,  H.  St.  J.,  323,  353. 

Browne,  Dr.,  227. 

Bryan,  Daniel,  199. 

Butcher,  Richard  G.,  325. 

Carlyle,  Hugh,  296. 
Carmichael   School,    295,    297, 

3°7.  309- 

Carr,  Wm.,  67,  68,  72,  349. 
Cartwright,  Dr.,  99. 
Catholic  University  School,  295. 
Chemical  Laboratory,  211-213. 


360 


INDEX 


Chemistry,  School  of,  326. 
Chemys,  Charles,  98,  354. 
Cheyne,  John,  232,  283. 
Churchill,  Fleetwood,  314,  358. 
City  of  Dublin  Hospital,  315. 
Clare,  Lord,  189,  225,  226. 
Clark,  Wm.,  skeleton  of,   127, 

128. 

Clarke,  Joseph,  137-141. 
Clearke,  John,  44. 
Cleghorn,  George,  126-148,  151, 

152,  162,  166,  170,  322,  352, 

353- 

James,  136,  140-143,  162, 

176-179,  182,  183,  200-203, 
352. 

Thomas,  136,  142. 

William,  136,  137. 


Clements,   Wm.f   95,   99,   100, 
106,  123,  145,  165,  204,  350, 

35L  354- 

Cockburn,  David,  94. 
College  of  Physicians,  168-186, 

207. 
and  estate  of  Sir  Patrick 

Dun,  190-199,  298. 
become  ex  officio  examiners 

for  degrees,  290. 

desire  to  join  Concordat 

with  Universities,  285. 

—  early  history  of,  49-75. 

its  privileges,  117-125. 

new  charter  granted,  66. 

petition     for     complete 
School  of  Physic  in  Ireland, 

ISO- 
College    of    Physicians,    Edin- 
burgh, 153. 

College   of   Surgeons   founded, 
150. 

negotiations  with,  296. 

and    Board    of    Medical 

School,  286-292. 

Colles,  Abraham,  266,  324. 

-  Wm.,  324,  351. 
Collins,  Robert,  272. 
Conchobar,  4,  5. 
Conjoint  Board  for  examining 

students  established,  339. 
Connor,  Dr.,  59. 
Cope,  Henry,  96,  1 1 1,  350. 
Coulter,  Dr.,  275. 
Cowley,  Joshua,  40. 


Craig,  James,  313,  357. 
Crampton,  John,  213-215,  224, 

236,  257-259,  303,  304,  358. 
Crosby,  Dr.,  55,  60-63. 
Cullen,  Edmund,  152,  161,  162, 

163,  179,  191,  358. 
Cuming,  Dr.,  132,  133,  135. 
Cumyng,  Dr.,  64. 
Cunningham,    Daniel   J.,   322, 

336,  352. 
Cusack,  James  Wm.,  203,  289, 

296,  324,  351. 
Cusacke,  Johannes,  44. 

Dabzac,  Henry,  66, 99, 154, 173. 

Degree  of  Bachelor  of  Surgery 
established,  299. 

Degrees    in    Obstetrics    estab- 
lished, 300. 

Degrees,  268-274,  286-302. 

Course    of    study    for, 

lengthened,  252-256. 

Medical,  new  regulations, 


184-187. 
Delany,  Dr.,  80. 
de  Laune,  Dr.,  27. 
Dennis,  John,  68,  72,  349. 
Denou6's  wax  models,  131. 
Dental  School  established,  330. 
Diancecht,  3. 
Dickson,  Alex.,  316,  354. 

Stephen,   161,   162,   179, 

229,  356,  357. 

Diploma    in    State    Medicine 

established,  299. 
Dixon,  Andrew  F.,  322,  352. 

-  Henry  H.,  316,  354. 
D'Olin's  book,  54. 
Donegall,  Lord,  79. 
Doyle,  Bernard,  61,  62. 
Dublin  Society,  grant  of  ^5,000 

by  Irish  House  of  Commons 

to,  206. 

Duigenan,  Dr.,  225. 
Dun,  Sir  Patrick,  59,  64,  65, 

73-75,  89-92,  115. 

estate  of,   101-104,   150, 

151,  156,  175,  177,  179,  182, 
190-199,  206,  207,  298,  338. 

-  Lady,  92,  93. 

's  Hospital,  186,  195,  215, 

236.  248,  258,  259,  271,  274, 
298,  309,  31°.  320,  325. 


INDEX 


361 


Dun's  Hospital  opened  to  surgi- 
cal patients,  301,  324. 

,  institution  for  train- 
ing soldiers'  wives  as  mid  wives 
started,  314. 

library,  104,  298. 


Duncan,  Andrew,  183. 

Egan,  Thomas,  232. 
Ekenhead,  Miss  Mary,  217,  218. 
Ellington,  Thomas,  225,  237. 

Ferguson,    John   Creery,    309, 

357- 

Finny,  John  Magee,  313,  357. 
Fitzpatrick,  Thomas,  337. 

—  Mrs.  Thomas,  337. 
Fleury,  John  Charles,  161. 
Foreside,  Francis,  96,  350,  352. 

General    Council    of    Medical 

Education  and  Registration 

established,  292. 
Gilbert,  Claud,  79. 
Gilborne,  John,  115,  145. 
Gilroy,  Dr.,  311. 
Goughman,  Lamb,  44. 
Grattan,  James,  92,  103,    104, 

356. 

Richard,  356. 

Graves,    Robert  J.,   215,   233, 

267,  277-281,  282,  306,  357. 
Green,  Arthur,  61. 

Wm.,  93,  94,  126,  352. 

Greene,  George,  308,  309,  357. 

Herries,  232. 

Griffith,  Robert,  78,  86,  88,  92, 

353,  356. 
Guilds,    Medical,    in    Ireland, 

14.  IS- 
Gwither,  Dr.,  87,  88. 

Hall,  John,  Vice-Provost,  64. 
Halle,  Dr.,  44. 
Halliday,  Dr.,  139,  210. 
Harcourt,  Lord,  100. 
Harris,  Richard,  161. 
Harrison,    Robert,    266,    267, 

274.  317.  352,  355- 
Hartigan,  Edward,  200. 
Wm.,  183,  200-204,  216, 

2l8,  220,  223,   352. 

Edward,  jun.,  203. 


Harty,  Dr.,  210. 

Harvey,  Wm.,   153,   191,   199, 

207,  303. 
Wm.    Henry,    275,    276, 

3i6,  354. 
Haughton,    Samuel,    300-302, 

307,  319.  328,  333,  334. 
Helsham,  Richard,  73,  78,  79, 

79-82,  92,  95,  349,  35<>- 
Herbarium,  the,  additions  to, 

276,  277. 
Hill,  Sir  John,  74. 

Edward,    146-149,    153, 


162,  163,  164,  165,  169,  170, 

174,  182,  205,  207,  208,  224, 

236,  256,  351,  354. 
Hippocrates,  i,  2,  9,  n,  30. 
Histological  Laboratory  built, 

307,  308,  327. 
Holmes,  Matthias,  20. 
Hopkins,     Francis,     161,     169, 

191,  221,  238. 

Hospital,  City  of  Dublin,  315. 
House  of  Industry,  303, 

318. 

Meath,  214,  215,  281. 

Mercer's,  13,  63,  153,  169, 

181,  189. 

St.  Mark's,  296. 

of  St.  Stephen,  Dublin,  13, 


in. 


Waterford,  13. 


—  Steevens's,  12,  153,  213, 
215,  295-297. 

Sir    Patrick    Dun's,    see 


Dun. 
House  of   Industry  Hospitals, 

303,  3i8. 
Howard,  Ralph,  49-51,  67,  69, 

350- 
Robert,  Bishop  of  Elphin, 

50. 
Hoyle,  Nathaniel,  40. 

Richard,78,86,93,  95,  351. 

Hudson,  Edward,  95,  350. 

—  Alfred,  310-312,  351. 
Hunter,  Dr.,  133. 
Hutcheson,  Francis,  123,  143— 

145,  149,  154.  353- 
Hutchinson,    Rt.    Hon.    John 

Hely-,  99,  100,  136,  150,  154, 

175- 
Hykie,  Nicholas,  9. 


362 


INDEX 


Iveagh,  Lord,  329. 

Jacob,  Arthur,  238,  296. 
Jellett,  Henry,  358. 
Josina,  King  of  Scotland,  5. 

Kearney,  Rev.  Dr.,  154. 
Kelly,  Sir  — ,  24. 
Kennedy,  Evory,  272. 
Kirkpatrick,  John  R.,  314,  358. 

Laud,  Archbp.,  24. 

Law,  Robert,  305,  306,  357. 

Leahy,  John  J.,  210,  221,  357. 

Ledwich  School,  295,  297. 

Leland,  Dr.,  99. 

Lendrick,  Charles  R.  A.,  260, 

261,  308,  357. 

Leper  Hospitals  in  Ireland,  13. 
Little,  James,  351. 

Thomas  E.,  320,  323,  353. 

Litton,  Dr.,  210. 
Lloyd,  Dr.,  239. 

Owen,  349. 

Thomas,  105,  106. 

—  Wm.,  63,  72,  73,  79,  349. 
Loftus,  Archbp.,  19,  20. 

Macan,  Arthur  Vernon,  314, 358. 
Macalister,  Alex.,  321,  322,  334, 

352,  355- 

Macartney,  James,  216-221, 
222,  223,  225,  234,  235,  238, 
239,  241-243,  245-247,  257- 
267,  296,  308,  317,  326,  328, 
331,  352. 

M'Dowel,  Benjamin  G.,  318, 
319,  320,  321,  323,  352. 

Machonchy,  Dr.,  137. 

Mackay,  James  T.,  210. 

Mackintosh,  Wm.  H.,  301,  355. 

M'Loughlin,  Peter  Edward,  223. 

M'Michan,  John,  105. 

Madden,  John,  56,  95,  96, 
-  Thomas,  95,  352. 

—  Samuel,  96. 
Magrath,  Cornelius,  128-130. 
Margetson,  Thomas,  49-51,  54, 

350. 
Marsh,  Narcissus,  54. 

—  Sir  Henry,  282,  296. 
Massey,  Samuel,  69. 


Meath  Hospital,  214,  215,  281. 
Medical  Act  of  1858,  283,  292. 

amending  Acts,  1860  and 

1876,  293,  300. 

Library,  333. 

Scholarships,    295,    335, 


336. 


School  Committee,   300, 
328,  338. 

—  School,   New   Buildings, 
241,  328. 

—  Schools,  Private,  in  Ire- 
land, established,  295,  297. 

Society  of  Coll.  of  Phy- 


sicians, 333. 
—   Students'   Society,   331- 


334- 
Mercer,  George,  49,  57,  63,  349. 

Mrs.  Mary,  97. 

's  Hospital,    13,   63,    153, 

169,  181,  189. 
Midwifery,  Chair  of,  established, 

313.  3M- 
Mitchell,  Dr.,  88. 
Mollan,  John,  272. 
Molloy,  Edward,  95,  99,  350. 
Molyneux,  Daniel,  83. 

Samuel,  83. 

Thomas,  78,  79,  80,  83-86, 

88,  92,  94,  350. 

Wm.,  54,  69,  83,  84. 


Monro,  Alexander,  132. 
Montgomery,  Wm.  F.  H.,  267, 

285,  313,  314,  358. 
Moore,  Norman,  n,  12. 

Wm.,  313,  357. 

Morgan,  Thomas,  no. 
Moriarty,  Sir  Thomas,  222,  223. 
Mosse,  Bartholomew,  124. 
Mullin,  Allen,  57-59. 
Murray,  Provost,  206. 

Napier,  Sir  Thomas,  321. 
Natural     History,     Chair     of, 

established,  231. 
Nicholson,  Henry,  56,  87,  98, 

354- 

O'Callenans  of  Desmond,  9. 
O'Cassidys  of  Fermanagh,  9. 
O'Hickeys,  The,  9. 

Book  of  the,  12. 

O'Lees  of  Connaught,  9. 


INDEX 


363 


O'Meara,  Dermod,  29,  30. 
Osborne,   Jonathan,   215,  304, 

358. 

O'Sullivan,  Alex.  C.,  329,  356. 
Ould,    Sir    Fielding,    119-122, 

123-125,  134. 

Palliser,  Wm.,  49,  349. 
Parsons,  Widow,  76. 
Pathological  Society  founded, 

276. 
and  Obstetrical  Societies, 

333- 

Pendarvis,  Mrs.,  80,  81. 
Pentland,  Dr.,  238. 
Perceval,  Robert,  146-148,  162, 

163,  165-167,  171-173,  175, 

178-183,  190,  207,  211,  212, 

213,  218,  353. 
Petty,  Sir  Wm.,  54,  57. 
Phipps,  Dr.,  223,  239. 
Plunket,  Patrick,  161,  191,  199. 
Porter,  George  H.,  351. 

Wm.,  324. 

Pratt,  Benjamin,  67,  92. 

Prior,  Dr.,  223. 

Prizes    for    medical    students, 

335-337- 

Purcell,  Dr.,  135,  137. 
Purser,  John  Mallet,  306-308, 

336,  357- 

Quin,  Charles,  161,  169,  177. 

Henry,    105,    106,     107, 

113,  114,  116,  154,  156,  356. 

Raymond,  Anthony,  72,  349. 
Reader,  Archdeacon,  106. 
Rehlan,  Anthony,  105. 
Reid,  Robert,  272. 
Religious    disabilities    of    pro- 
fessors removed,  297,  298. 
Reynolds,  James  Emerson,  315, 

354- 
Robinson,   Bryan,   82,   93,   95, 

105,  106,  109-112,  122,  126, 

350,  351. 

—  Robert,  105,  106, 112, 113, 

122,  129,  352. 
Ryan,  Richard,  223. 

St.  Mark's  Hospital,  296. 
St.  Patrick's  Well,  240. 


Sandes,  Launcelot,  45. 

Stephen,  Bishop  of  Cashel, 


262. 

Saunders,  Arthur,  161. 

School  of  Physic  Acts,  297,  300, 
323,  338. 

School  of  Surgery,  establish- 
ment of,  288,  289. 

Science    laboratories    erected, 

329- 

Scott,  Robert,  208-210,  354. 
Shaw,  Nathaniel,  65. 

Vessy,  96,  127,  352. 


Shelbourne,  Earl  of,  131. 

Sheridan,  Dr.,  80. 

Sinclair,  Edward  B.,  314,  358. 

Sirr,  Rev.  J.  D.,  275. 

Smith,  Aquilla,  272,  305,  358. 

Erasmus,  79. 

Robert  Wm.,   274,   286, 

323,  326,  355. 

Thomas,  Mayor  of  Dublin, 


18,  19. 
—  Walter  G.,  305,  358. 
Wm.  F.,  295. 


Smyth,  Henry,  116. 

William,  92,  96,  353. 

William,  Jun.,  96,  97. 


Span,  James,  145, 146,  205,  353, 

354- 

Stack,  Wm.,  357. 
Stearne,  John,  22,  35,  36-48,  49, 

51.  65,  349,  350. 
Steevens,  Dr.  Richard,  50,  70, 

85.  151,  350. 
Steevens's    Hospital,   12,   153, 

213,  215. 

School,  295-297. 

Stephens,   Wm.,   97,    98,    105, 

106,  123,  143,  353. 
Stokes,     Whitley,     214,     215, 

224-233,  256,  281,  350,  351, 

356. 
Wm.,  215,  232,  272,  277, 

280-284,  285,  305,  310,  311, 

332,  351. 

Styles,  Henry,  22. 
Surgery,  274,  323,  324. 
Surgical  Pathology,  Museum  of, 

328. 

Society  established,  333. 

Swift,  Dean,  80,  81,  88,  131. 
's  Asylum,  303. 


364 


INDEX 


Tailor,  John,  44. 

Tassie,  James,  114. 

Taylor,  Edward  H.,  324,  355. 

Temple,  Sir  John,  24,  25,  52,  53, 

64,  349- 

Sir  Wm.,  22. 

Thewles,  George,  64. 
'  Thingmote,  The,'  240. 
Thompson,  Wm.,  78. 

-  Prof.,  Glasgow,  281. 

-  Wm.  H.,  308,  357. 
Thornton,  James,  146, 166,  353. 
Todderick,  Dr.,  221. 
Toleken,  John,  256,  350. 
Tone,  Wolfe,  226,  227. 
Travers,  Robert,  339,  356. 
Tuomy,  Martin,  224,  229,  236, 

257.  258,  356. 

United   Irishmen,    Society   of, 

217,  218,  225. 
Usher,    James,    Archbishop   of 

Armagh,  27. 
—  Robert,  37. 
Ussher,  Henry,  149,  152. 

Van  Helmont,   John    Baptist, 
30,  31- 

Wade,  Robert  W.,  114. 
—  Dr.,  210. 


Walker,  George,  49. 

John,  230,  280,  349. 

Waller,  Robert,  54,  55. 
Ward,  Dr.,  Cambridge,  28,  29, 

38. 
'  Wax-works '  in  Medical  School, 

130,  237. 
Whittingham,  George,  106, 127, 

131.  134.  352. 
Wilde,  Sir  Wm.,  55. 
Williamson,  Caesar,  40. 
Willoughby,  Charles,  54,  55. 
Wilmot,  Samuel,  204,  220,  222, 

223. 

Wilson,  Henry  T.,  358. 

Thomas,  149. 

—  Dr.,  239. 

Winter,  Samuel,  38,  47. 

Women  admitted  to  registra- 
tion,  293. 

Trinity  College, 

330. 

Wright,  Edward  Perceval,  316, 

354.  355- 

Yarner,  Sir  Abraham,  51,  52. 
Young,  Sydney,  315,  354. 

Zoological  Museum,  276,  327. 

and  Botanical  Association, 

277.  331- 


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