Centenary of Liverpool Medical School

Abstract

ON May 11, the University of Liverpool celebrated the centenary of the Liverpool Medical School. In connexion with the celebrations, a brief illustrated account of the School by Arthur A. Gemmell has been issued (“The Liverpool Medical School, 1834-1934”. Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd., London. Is.). On the occasion of the conferment of honorary degrees to celebrate the foundation of the School, an address was delivered by Prof. John Hay, professor of medicine in the University. Until 1821, St. Bartholomew's, St. Thomas's, Guy's and the London Hospitals held the monopoly of medical teaching; then the barrier against provincial teaching was broken down by the Society of Apothecaries in recognising the teaching of Dr. Joseph Jordan in Manchester. In 1824, the clinical teaching at the Manchester Infirmary School was recognised; thus Manchester was the first provincial medical school in England. Undoubtedly the efforts of the Manchester medical men were a stimulus to those in Liverpool. Anatomy schools were developed first, and finally a School of Medicine. In 1837, the School was recognised by the London Society of Apothecaries, the College of Surgeons, and the University of London. In 1884, it was incorporated with University College when the latter, which was founded in 1881, was admitted into Victoria University. In 1903, when the University of Liverpool was granted its charter, the School became its Faculty of Medicine. Among the distinguished occupants of the endowed chairs in the past have been Lodge, Campbell Brown, Herdman, Gotch, Paterson, Boyce, Sherrington, Benjamin Moore and Ronald Ross.