University College Hospital and Its Medical School: A History

Abstract

Histories of hospitals fall broadly into two categories. The majority, by concentrating on personalities (often exclusively on physicians, surgeons, and benefactors), interest principally dedicated historian or those who have associations with institution. They contribute to an esprit de corps , but some of them, because of their chauvinism, often irritate general historians and lower academic standing of medical history. In contrast, second category is of more general interest because authors explore changing, complex interrelationships found in institutions and, at same time, do not forget patients. Merrington's book (which also covers a medical school) falls mostly, but not entirely, into first group. Furthermore, because hospital and medical school involved so many renowned names, there is much of interest for general reader. The school opened in 1828 as part of the Godless Institution in Gower Street (there were no religious barriers for admission),