Record of Cases taken in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Preparations from the Pharmacopeia of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and Baffin Voyage Journal
- Reference:GB 237 Coll-891
- Dates of Creation:1820-1824
- Language of Material:Latin English
- Physical Description:1 manuscript volume in 3 parts.
Scope and Content
The manuscriptCases taken in the Royal Infirmaryis by no means unique. A range of student copies of Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) casebooks have survived. Some contain copies of remedies from pharmacopoeias of either the RIE or the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE). This casebook is from 1820-1821.
The mansucript also contains a copy of preparations from the pharmacopoeia of the RCPE.
The 'Baffin' voyage journal contains a record of the experiences of a young ship's surgeon on board the last voyage of the 'Baffin' while captained by William Scoresby (1789-1857).
These three separate strand in one manuscript volume might point at the medical career of one individual in the early-1820s - but then again, maybe not.
Administrative / Biographical History
The original Edinburgh Infirmary, Hospital for the Sick Poor, Physicians' Hospital, or Little House was located at the head of Robertson's Close, in Edinburgh. A town house was rented from the Town Council and patients were admitted to the four beds then available from 6 August 1729. In 1936 a Royal Charter was obtained under the name The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. A 228-bed purpose-built hospital designed by William Adam soon followed, and the first patients were admitted to it in 1741. It was located between what are now Infirmary Street and Drummond Street, Edinburgh. Two further surgical hospital buildings were added in 1832 and 1853. Due to overcrowding throughout this so-called High School Yards site, David Bryce was commissioned to design a new hospital and in 1879 the Infirmary moved to Lauriston Place, its main building conforming to the pavilion style of surgical and medial ward arrangement. Concern over the Lauriston site began to be expressed first in 1946, when it was felt that the current Royal Infirmary buildings were insufficient to meet the needs of the new National Health Service. Various plans were put forward, including demolition and rebuilding of the existing site, and construction of a brand new Royal Infirmary on a greenfield site, along with another new southern general hospital. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s a number of options were discussed, but the decision was eventually made to rebuild at Lauriston in a series of phases which aimed to minimise disruption to patients and staff. Work was repeatedly delayed however, due in part to financial issues and also to the fact that the Secretary of State for Scotland declared that the listed buildings could not be demolished, and it was not until 1981 that the first phase of rebuilding was completed. Again however this plan did not come to fruition, and in the late 1990s work was begun on a new Royal Infirmary at Little France which would also replace the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, the Princess Margaret Rose Orthopaedic Hospital (PMR) and the City Hospital. Full completion occurred in 2003, although the first patients moved in in January 2002 as the PMR closed.
Instrumental in the founding of the RIE in 1729 was the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, itself founded some 90 years earlier. In the seventeenth century, Edinburgh physicians had started holding meetings in their own homes to discuss medical practice and standards and their regulation and improvement. Sir Robert Sibbald, an eminent physician and noted historian, was a member of this group. Sibbald had the opportunity of petitioning King Charles II, who granted the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh its Royal Charter in 1681. Thus it is that Sir Robert is generally accepted to be the founder of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
The 'Baffin' was built to the design of William Scoresby (1789-1857). The ship was the first whaler to be built in Liverpool and was launched on 15th February 1820, having a successful first voyage and in 1822, Scoresby mapped the East coast of Greenland.
Access Information
Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance
Acquisition Information
Accession no. E2003.27.
Other Finding Aids
Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.
Archivist's Note
Compiled by Graeme D. Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.
Accruals
Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.
Related Material
The local Indexes show various references to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and William Scoresby. Furthermore the Archives Hub displays descriptions of the Papers of William Scoresby (1789-1857) and to a huge range of collections placed on the Hub by the Lothian Health Services Archive.
Subjects