A1nnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (I977) vol 59
The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences The first 25
years,
1951-76
Cyril Long MA BSC DPhil FRSE Jack Cotton Professor of Biochemistry
INTRODUCTION The year I976 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary (the Silver Jubilee) of the formation of the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (see photograph on p I83). Its present status is well recognized both in this country and abroad. It is regarded as being the most important centre in England, and probably in the world, for the systematic teaching of basic medical sciences to postgraduate students who aspire to higher qualifications in surgery, anaesthesia, dentistry, or obstetrics and gynae-
cology. In addition, it is an institution for research in the disciplines of anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and biochemistry. The formation of the Institute occurred very largely as a result of the simultaneoius need of the British Postgraduate Medical Federation for medical postgraduate tuition on the one hand and the development of the existing facilities within the Royal College of Surgeons of England on the other.
HISTORICAL ASPECTS Royal College of Surgeons of England The history of surgical organization in London goes back more than six centuries. The Company of Barbers, some members of which practised surgery, was old when it received its first Charter in I 462; and so was the unincorporated Fellowship or Guild olf Surgeons when its ordinances were codified in 1435. The two bodies were joined by Act of Parliament in I540, becoming the United Company of Barbers and Surgeons. This BarberSurgeons' Company, as it was usually called, controlled surgery in London until 1745, when the surgeons seceded from it. Their new Company of Surgeons built a hall in Old Bailev, from which it moved in I796 to No 41 Lincoln's Inn Fields. Procedural irregularities on this occasion led to the dissolution of the Company, which was reborn by Royal Charter in I8oo as the Royal College of Surgeons of London. A new Charter in 1843, which embodied some important alterations in its constitution and administration, resulted in a
change of name to the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Examining functions The College and its predecessors had for long been responsible for examining both civil and military surgeons for fitness to practise. They could also grant a higher diploma, which after I843 was that of Fellowship. The examinations, first held in I844, were in anatomy, physiology, surgery, pathology, and therapeutics. Probably very little distinction was made between what are now regarded as basic sciences and clinical applications. In I867 the examination was divided into two parts, the first, consisting of anatomy and physiology only, being referred to as the Primary Examination. The Final Examination then became a test of clinical knowledge. In I944 pathology was added to the Primary Examination. The Faculty of Dental Surgery (founded in 1947) and the Faculty of Anaesthetists (founded in 1948) instituted analogous Primary and Final Examinations for their Fellowship.
I82
Cyril
Lo)i a
Teaching activities The Barber-Surgeons' Human and Comparative Pathology (I 943) Company and the Surgeons' Company were and of Human and Comparative Anatomy always intent on teaching their members and (I945). The successful endowment of these apprentices by a system of lectures, outside Chairs was in great measure due to the efforts lecturers often being recruited for this pur- of the President. By 1946 the Council of the pose. The Royal College of Surgeons, howCollege was able to resolve that 'the College ever, depended mostly on its own Fellows. should initiate special courses in anatomy, It is appropriate to mention here the part applied physiology, and pathology for the played in these courses of lectures by the Primary Fellowship Examination'. In all, 68 Hunterian Collection of anatomical and lectures ancl demonstrations were givcn in the pathological specimens. After the death of first course. John Hunter in 1793 his specimens were purand research John Hunter's colchased by the Treasury and in December 1799 Museums lection was not only made for tcaching the Surgeons' Company was given custody of the changes in disease. anatomy and exploring the collection. One of the conditions of the He investigator too, justly was an experimental transfer was that lectures had to be given from of scientific surgery. described as the founder time to time on the significance of the speciwith his ideas, especially His museum grew mens. In this way, during the second decade on of structure to function in the adaptation of the nineteenth century, John Abernethy's all living things. lectures became famous. It was he who proDuring the nineteenth century successive moted the cult of John Hunter and to whose of the Hunterian Collection Conservators foresight the College owes its magnificent library of works on surgery. Around the same (William Clift, Richard Owen, Thomas Henry period Sir Astley Cooper gave his well-known Quekett, William Henry Howes, Charles series of lectures on anatomy. During the next Stewart) greatly increased its size and scope hundred years and more the College continued and thereby compelled successive extensions and to be a centre for the dissemination of know- rebuildings of the College. While Sir Arthur ledge in surgery, anatomy, physiology, and Keith was Conservator (i 908-34) numerous pathology, and this activity was aided by the further additions were made to what became establishment of named lectures and demon- an unrivalled collection of material for work strations, such as those of Hunter, Arris and on human and comparative anatomy and pathology. At the outbreak of war in I939 Gale, Erasmus Wilson, and Arnott. it was impossible to evacuate or protect the In spite of the pioneer work of the College whole of this material. The incendiary and in this sphere, an assessment in 1940 led to high explosive bombs that fell on the College the general conclusion that facilities for higher on IO- ith May 194I destroyed two of the surgical training in England were scattered and Museum rooms, uinroofed another, and caused inadequate. Furthermore, few undergraduate much damage in the remaining two,. After medical schools had made any provision for the var the depleted Hunterian Collectioin teaching postgraduate students. So far as the was separately rehoused and teaching material teaching of basic medical sciences was con- was gathered into the Wellcome Museums of cerned, this probably resulted from the ap- Anatomy and Pathology. preciation that different approaches to the subWhile Lord Moynihan was President (I 92 6jects were needed for undergraduates and post- 3') the College had decided to foster and graduates. undertake experimental research. The BuckCertain notable changes occurred in the College during the Second World War that Her Majesty Quieen Elizabeth the Oueen Mother, Chancellor of the Universitv of Lonwere to have an important bearing on the evolution of the Institute. While Sir Alfred (later don, with the President of the College. Sir Lord) Webb-Johnson was President of the Rodney Smith, at the reception to mark the College three Chairs were endowed-namely, Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Institute the Bernhard Baron Research Professorship of Basic Medical Sciences (1951 1976), (I94I) and the Sir William Collins Chairs of i6th Nov7ember I976.
,wW\iX:@
The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences The first 25
years,
1951-76
Cyril Long MA BSC DPhil FRSE Jack Cotton Professor of Biochemistry
INTRODUCTION The year I976 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary (the Silver Jubilee) of the formation of the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (see photograph on p I83). Its present status is well recognized both in this country and abroad. It is regarded as being the most important centre in England, and probably in the world, for the systematic teaching of basic medical sciences to postgraduate students who aspire to higher qualifications in surgery, anaesthesia, dentistry, or obstetrics and gynae-
cology. In addition, it is an institution for research in the disciplines of anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and biochemistry. The formation of the Institute occurred very largely as a result of the simultaneoius need of the British Postgraduate Medical Federation for medical postgraduate tuition on the one hand and the development of the existing facilities within the Royal College of Surgeons of England on the other.
HISTORICAL ASPECTS Royal College of Surgeons of England The history of surgical organization in London goes back more than six centuries. The Company of Barbers, some members of which practised surgery, was old when it received its first Charter in I 462; and so was the unincorporated Fellowship or Guild olf Surgeons when its ordinances were codified in 1435. The two bodies were joined by Act of Parliament in I540, becoming the United Company of Barbers and Surgeons. This BarberSurgeons' Company, as it was usually called, controlled surgery in London until 1745, when the surgeons seceded from it. Their new Company of Surgeons built a hall in Old Bailev, from which it moved in I796 to No 41 Lincoln's Inn Fields. Procedural irregularities on this occasion led to the dissolution of the Company, which was reborn by Royal Charter in I8oo as the Royal College of Surgeons of London. A new Charter in 1843, which embodied some important alterations in its constitution and administration, resulted in a
change of name to the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Examining functions The College and its predecessors had for long been responsible for examining both civil and military surgeons for fitness to practise. They could also grant a higher diploma, which after I843 was that of Fellowship. The examinations, first held in I844, were in anatomy, physiology, surgery, pathology, and therapeutics. Probably very little distinction was made between what are now regarded as basic sciences and clinical applications. In I867 the examination was divided into two parts, the first, consisting of anatomy and physiology only, being referred to as the Primary Examination. The Final Examination then became a test of clinical knowledge. In I944 pathology was added to the Primary Examination. The Faculty of Dental Surgery (founded in 1947) and the Faculty of Anaesthetists (founded in 1948) instituted analogous Primary and Final Examinations for their Fellowship.
I82
Cyril
Lo)i a
Teaching activities The Barber-Surgeons' Human and Comparative Pathology (I 943) Company and the Surgeons' Company were and of Human and Comparative Anatomy always intent on teaching their members and (I945). The successful endowment of these apprentices by a system of lectures, outside Chairs was in great measure due to the efforts lecturers often being recruited for this pur- of the President. By 1946 the Council of the pose. The Royal College of Surgeons, howCollege was able to resolve that 'the College ever, depended mostly on its own Fellows. should initiate special courses in anatomy, It is appropriate to mention here the part applied physiology, and pathology for the played in these courses of lectures by the Primary Fellowship Examination'. In all, 68 Hunterian Collection of anatomical and lectures ancl demonstrations were givcn in the pathological specimens. After the death of first course. John Hunter in 1793 his specimens were purand research John Hunter's colchased by the Treasury and in December 1799 Museums lection was not only made for tcaching the Surgeons' Company was given custody of the changes in disease. anatomy and exploring the collection. One of the conditions of the He investigator too, justly was an experimental transfer was that lectures had to be given from of scientific surgery. described as the founder time to time on the significance of the speciwith his ideas, especially His museum grew mens. In this way, during the second decade on of structure to function in the adaptation of the nineteenth century, John Abernethy's all living things. lectures became famous. It was he who proDuring the nineteenth century successive moted the cult of John Hunter and to whose of the Hunterian Collection Conservators foresight the College owes its magnificent library of works on surgery. Around the same (William Clift, Richard Owen, Thomas Henry period Sir Astley Cooper gave his well-known Quekett, William Henry Howes, Charles series of lectures on anatomy. During the next Stewart) greatly increased its size and scope hundred years and more the College continued and thereby compelled successive extensions and to be a centre for the dissemination of know- rebuildings of the College. While Sir Arthur ledge in surgery, anatomy, physiology, and Keith was Conservator (i 908-34) numerous pathology, and this activity was aided by the further additions were made to what became establishment of named lectures and demon- an unrivalled collection of material for work strations, such as those of Hunter, Arris and on human and comparative anatomy and pathology. At the outbreak of war in I939 Gale, Erasmus Wilson, and Arnott. it was impossible to evacuate or protect the In spite of the pioneer work of the College whole of this material. The incendiary and in this sphere, an assessment in 1940 led to high explosive bombs that fell on the College the general conclusion that facilities for higher on IO- ith May 194I destroyed two of the surgical training in England were scattered and Museum rooms, uinroofed another, and caused inadequate. Furthermore, few undergraduate much damage in the remaining two,. After medical schools had made any provision for the var the depleted Hunterian Collectioin teaching postgraduate students. So far as the was separately rehoused and teaching material teaching of basic medical sciences was con- was gathered into the Wellcome Museums of cerned, this probably resulted from the ap- Anatomy and Pathology. preciation that different approaches to the subWhile Lord Moynihan was President (I 92 6jects were needed for undergraduates and post- 3') the College had decided to foster and graduates. undertake experimental research. The BuckCertain notable changes occurred in the College during the Second World War that Her Majesty Quieen Elizabeth the Oueen Mother, Chancellor of the Universitv of Lonwere to have an important bearing on the evolution of the Institute. While Sir Alfred (later don, with the President of the College. Sir Lord) Webb-Johnson was President of the Rodney Smith, at the reception to mark the College three Chairs were endowed-namely, Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Institute the Bernhard Baron Research Professorship of Basic Medical Sciences (1951 1976), (I94I) and the Sir William Collins Chairs of i6th Nov7ember I976.
,wW\iX:@
