The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Library and Archives: Surgery and emotion in the pre-anaesthetic era: John Bell, James Gregory and the Edinburgh ‘medical war’

Description

In 1800, the medical community of Edinburgh was convulsed by a highly public row between James Gregory, Professor of the Practice of Physic at the University, and the surgeon-anatomist John Bell. This dispute originated in a disagreement over the nature of surgical attendance at the Royal Infirmary, but, as this talk will demonstrate, it developed over the course of nearly ten years, into a much more profound discussion of the nature of surgical practice and identity. In his response to Gregory, John Bell articulated a vision of surgery as a compassionate profession rooted in the embodied experience of pain and suffering. In so doing, he sought to reshape the public image of surgery and challenge the stereotype of the surgeon as an uncaring butcher.

Estimated audience numbers (if applicable)

20

Period	5 Nov 2018
Degree of Recognition	Local