RCPSG Heritage
@rcpsgheritage.bsky.social
News, events and stories from the library, archive and museum at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
https://heritage.rcpsg.ac.uk/ #histmed #libraries #archives #museums
https://heritage.rcpsg.ac.uk/ #histmed #libraries #archives #museums
Tomorrow marks the 426th anniversary of the foundation of our College founded by surgeon Peter Lowe to improve standards of healthcare. The charter, granted by King James VI, brought together physicians and surgeons, and covered pharmacy and medical jurisprudence.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKo4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKo4...
The Founding of the College
YouTube video by Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Tomorrow marks the 426th anniversary of the foundation of our College founded by surgeon Peter Lowe to improve standards of healthcare. The charter, granted by King James VI, brought together physicians and surgeons, and covered pharmacy and medical jurisprudence.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKo4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKo4...
Amputation knife (c.1800) of William Beatty, surgeon on HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. The curved blade was a popular style in the late 1700s/early 1800s. These were replaced by straighter blades in the mid-1800s to ensure more accurate incisions
November 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Amputation knife (c.1800) of William Beatty, surgeon on HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. The curved blade was a popular style in the late 1700s/early 1800s. These were replaced by straighter blades in the mid-1800s to ensure more accurate incisions
Reposted by RCPSG Heritage
The original visitors book from Rottenrow.
Lots of famous signatures in here inc this one - Ernest Hemingway's father - Clarence Edmonds Hemingway. 'Ed' was a GP with an interest in obstetrics who invented spinal forceps.
The book will be on display during our Rottenrow exhibtion, opening 2026.
Lots of famous signatures in here inc this one - Ernest Hemingway's father - Clarence Edmonds Hemingway. 'Ed' was a GP with an interest in obstetrics who invented spinal forceps.
The book will be on display during our Rottenrow exhibtion, opening 2026.
November 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The original visitors book from Rottenrow.
Lots of famous signatures in here inc this one - Ernest Hemingway's father - Clarence Edmonds Hemingway. 'Ed' was a GP with an interest in obstetrics who invented spinal forceps.
The book will be on display during our Rottenrow exhibtion, opening 2026.
Lots of famous signatures in here inc this one - Ernest Hemingway's father - Clarence Edmonds Hemingway. 'Ed' was a GP with an interest in obstetrics who invented spinal forceps.
The book will be on display during our Rottenrow exhibtion, opening 2026.
Suffering from the sniffles? Here's a recipe to make a "fine tablet for the cough and coold" from our 18th century herbal notebook.
November 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Suffering from the sniffles? Here's a recipe to make a "fine tablet for the cough and coold" from our 18th century herbal notebook.
Born #OTD 1915 former president of our College, Tom Gibson, pioneer of #plasticsurgery. He made an outstanding contribution to 20th Century medicine by developing a hypothesis that laid the scientific foundation of tissue and organ transplantation heritageblog.rcpsg.ac.uk/2015/11/24/p...
November 24, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Born #OTD 1915 former president of our College, Tom Gibson, pioneer of #plasticsurgery. He made an outstanding contribution to 20th Century medicine by developing a hypothesis that laid the scientific foundation of tissue and organ transplantation heritageblog.rcpsg.ac.uk/2015/11/24/p...
On the origin of species by Charles Darwin was published #OnThisDay 1859. We're lucky enough to have a first edition in our collection 😊
November 24, 2025 at 11:33 AM
On the origin of species by Charles Darwin was published #OnThisDay 1859. We're lucky enough to have a first edition in our collection 😊
Love the design on the case for this 19th century set of ophthalmology instruments 😍. The set contains two spuds (to removing foreign bodies), two lens hooks and two capsulotomy knives for cataract surgery.
November 21, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Love the design on the case for this 19th century set of ophthalmology instruments 😍. The set contains two spuds (to removing foreign bodies), two lens hooks and two capsulotomy knives for cataract surgery.
We had a lovely day yesterday with Helen Kellock and all those who came along to our #BookWeekScotland event. Lots of fun making paper birds inspired by our beautiful copies of JJ Audubon's Birds of America
@scottishbooktrust.bsky.social
@scottishbooktrust.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 10:59 AM
We had a lovely day yesterday with Helen Kellock and all those who came along to our #BookWeekScotland event. Lots of fun making paper birds inspired by our beautiful copies of JJ Audubon's Birds of America
@scottishbooktrust.bsky.social
@scottishbooktrust.bsky.social
Reposted by RCPSG Heritage
Book Week Scotland is friendship woven through words. ❤📚
Whatever you are doing to celebrate, from going along to one of hundreds of events to reading a brilliant book at home, we wish you a happy Book Week Scotland! 📚🥳
Whatever you are doing to celebrate, from going along to one of hundreds of events to reading a brilliant book at home, we wish you a happy Book Week Scotland! 📚🥳
November 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Book Week Scotland is friendship woven through words. ❤📚
Whatever you are doing to celebrate, from going along to one of hundreds of events to reading a brilliant book at home, we wish you a happy Book Week Scotland! 📚🥳
Whatever you are doing to celebrate, from going along to one of hundreds of events to reading a brilliant book at home, we wish you a happy Book Week Scotland! 📚🥳
Today is #WorldDiabetesDay. In the Middle Ages, Ibn Sina (Avicenna) gave an account of diabetes mellitus in his Canon of Medicine. He described a number of clinical features relating to diabetes, most notably the sweetness of the urine produced by diabetic patients
November 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Today is #WorldDiabetesDay. In the Middle Ages, Ibn Sina (Avicenna) gave an account of diabetes mellitus in his Canon of Medicine. He described a number of clinical features relating to diabetes, most notably the sweetness of the urine produced by diabetic patients
Reposted by RCPSG Heritage
17th century birthing stool, with handgrips for the mother to grasp during contractions and a 'cloth round the ring to keep out the aire'. Similar stools can be found described in the Bible and in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs
November 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
17th century birthing stool, with handgrips for the mother to grasp during contractions and a 'cloth round the ring to keep out the aire'. Similar stools can be found described in the Bible and in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs
A view of St Vincent Street looking west towards our College buildings. We relocated to St Vincent Street in 1862. The artwork is by Glasgow artist, Muirhead Bone and dates from 1911. The rain soaked pavements seem particularly appropriate today!☔️
November 13, 2025 at 3:44 PM
A view of St Vincent Street looking west towards our College buildings. We relocated to St Vincent Street in 1862. The artwork is by Glasgow artist, Muirhead Bone and dates from 1911. The rain soaked pavements seem particularly appropriate today!☔️
Born #OnThisDay 1774, Charles Bell, Scottish surgeon, anatomist and talented artist. This stunning illustration by Bell was based on his own dissection work. Bell is perhaps best remembered for describing "Bell's Palsy".
#OTD #anatomy #histmed
#OTD #anatomy #histmed
November 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Born #OnThisDay 1774, Charles Bell, Scottish surgeon, anatomist and talented artist. This stunning illustration by Bell was based on his own dissection work. Bell is perhaps best remembered for describing "Bell's Palsy".
#OTD #anatomy #histmed
#OTD #anatomy #histmed
Nurse Annie Allan stands beside the grave of her colleague, Sister Burt. Scottish Women's Hospitals, Salonika, 1916. #ArmisticeDay #Remembrance
November 11, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Nurse Annie Allan stands beside the grave of her colleague, Sister Burt. Scottish Women's Hospitals, Salonika, 1916. #ArmisticeDay #Remembrance
Reposted by RCPSG Heritage
Re-upping for #RemembranceDay
#OTD 1867, Marie Curie was born.
During WWI, Curie created a vehicle that contained a hospital bed, a generator, an X-ray machine and photographic darkroom equipment. These “petite Curies" (below) could be driven right up to the Front. Curie also helped train 150 women as radiology technicians.
During WWI, Curie created a vehicle that contained a hospital bed, a generator, an X-ray machine and photographic darkroom equipment. These “petite Curies" (below) could be driven right up to the Front. Curie also helped train 150 women as radiology technicians.
November 11, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Re-upping for #RemembranceDay
Born #OTD 1873, Dr Archibald Young, pioneer in the operative treatment of fractures and in the study of methods of relieving pain. During #WWI he acted as a neurological expert focusing on nerve injuries. Young was President of our College from 1935-37
#onthisday #histmed
#onthisday #histmed
November 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Born #OTD 1873, Dr Archibald Young, pioneer in the operative treatment of fractures and in the study of methods of relieving pain. During #WWI he acted as a neurological expert focusing on nerve injuries. Young was President of our College from 1935-37
#onthisday #histmed
#onthisday #histmed
Today's #Museum30 is all about a #box. This lovely gavel casket in our collection was made using timber from the former Lister Ward at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
The box was presented to the College to remember Andrew and William Brown who were instrument makers for Joseph Lister and William Macewen.
The box was presented to the College to remember Andrew and William Brown who were instrument makers for Joseph Lister and William Macewen.
November 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Marie Curie was born #OnThisDay 1867.
Madame Curie visited Glasgow in 1929, being hosted by Professor Archibald Young and Mrs Anna Young.
Here is a photo of Irene Curie, Madame Curie, and Mrs Young enjoying the fresh Scottish air at Loch Fyne 😅
#heritage #mariecurie
Madame Curie visited Glasgow in 1929, being hosted by Professor Archibald Young and Mrs Anna Young.
Here is a photo of Irene Curie, Madame Curie, and Mrs Young enjoying the fresh Scottish air at Loch Fyne 😅
#heritage #mariecurie
November 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Marie Curie was born #OnThisDay 1867.
Madame Curie visited Glasgow in 1929, being hosted by Professor Archibald Young and Mrs Anna Young.
Here is a photo of Irene Curie, Madame Curie, and Mrs Young enjoying the fresh Scottish air at Loch Fyne 😅
#heritage #mariecurie
Madame Curie visited Glasgow in 1929, being hosted by Professor Archibald Young and Mrs Anna Young.
Here is a photo of Irene Curie, Madame Curie, and Mrs Young enjoying the fresh Scottish air at Loch Fyne 😅
#heritage #mariecurie
Reposted by RCPSG Heritage
A pewter syringe (1711) recovered from the shipwreck of the Queen Anne's Revenge, famed Pirate Black Beard's stolen flagship. The urethral syringe contained mercury, which most likely treated pirates aboard ailing from syphilis. More info: www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning...
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM
A pewter syringe (1711) recovered from the shipwreck of the Queen Anne's Revenge, famed Pirate Black Beard's stolen flagship. The urethral syringe contained mercury, which most likely treated pirates aboard ailing from syphilis. More info: www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning...
Reposted by RCPSG Heritage
The first scientific evidence corroborating the medieval presence of the "Black Death" in Edinburgh has been identified in DNA present in the plaque on the teeth of a skeleton unearthed during archaeological excavations under St Giles Cathedral in 1981.
Story here 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Story here 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 4, 2025 at 10:55 AM
The first scientific evidence corroborating the medieval presence of the "Black Death" in Edinburgh has been identified in DNA present in the plaque on the teeth of a skeleton unearthed during archaeological excavations under St Giles Cathedral in 1981.
Story here 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Story here 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We have lots of student notebooks containing sketches on anatomy, diseases etc, however, this one is by far our favourite. It shows Joseph Lister, father of antiseptic surgery, disappearing through a trapdoor after his lecture in Glasgow in 1868. Now that's how to make an exit!
#Museum30 #Sketchbook
#Museum30 #Sketchbook
November 4, 2025 at 12:02 PM
We have lots of student notebooks containing sketches on anatomy, diseases etc, however, this one is by far our favourite. It shows Joseph Lister, father of antiseptic surgery, disappearing through a trapdoor after his lecture in Glasgow in 1868. Now that's how to make an exit!
#Museum30 #Sketchbook
#Museum30 #Sketchbook
Reposted by RCPSG Heritage
This set of 6 instruments belonged to William Walker, the first Ophthalmic Surgeon to be appointed to the Royal Infirmary and held the appointment of Surgeon Oculist to Queen Victoria. The case includes some corneal splitting knives and an iris hook.
November 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
This set of 6 instruments belonged to William Walker, the first Ophthalmic Surgeon to be appointed to the Royal Infirmary and held the appointment of Surgeon Oculist to Queen Victoria. The case includes some corneal splitting knives and an iris hook.
Reposted by RCPSG Heritage
A plate from “Engravings, Explaining the Anatomy of the Bones, Muscles, and Joints” by Scottish surgeon-anatomist John Bell FRCSEd, published in 1794. Bell illustrated his own works based on dissections he carried out in his Edinburgh anatomy school.
October 31, 2025 at 11:49 AM
A plate from “Engravings, Explaining the Anatomy of the Bones, Muscles, and Joints” by Scottish surgeon-anatomist John Bell FRCSEd, published in 1794. Bell illustrated his own works based on dissections he carried out in his Edinburgh anatomy school.