Your College Poster 1 - over 515 years of history

Explore the rich history of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) through our exclusive posters.

Nine captivating close-up shots unveil hidden stories. Each image is a carefully selected piece of our heritage, providing a glimpse into the esteemed legacy of the College.

	Visitor at the museum Surgeons' Hall Museums is an award-winning Museum that is home to one of the largest and most historic pathology collections in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1832 and comprises anatomical specimens, surgical and dental instruments, and artworks, with many interactive displays. Members and Fellows of RCSEd can visit the Museum for free; simply provide your College Roll number at the Museum reception.
	Original drawings of our building The architectural plan of the western front of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 1829. From a collection of 120 original drawings by Scottish architect William Playfair, famous for creating the ‘Athens of the North’ in Edinburgh. Visit RCSEd to delve into the College's architectural heritage and rich history. View the digitised architectural plans of the RCSEd buildings in our online catalogue.
	Harrington's clockwork 'Erado' drill Harrington’s clockwork device for preparing cavities, designed and crafted by George Fellows Harrington (1812-1895) in 1864, is a notable creation. When wound, it revolves through the action of a powerful spring that engages with cogwheels. This drill, recognised as the first to permit continuous rotation, is thought to have been produced with intricate engraved casings, possibly as presentation or demonstration models, like the one showcased here. This drill is on permanent display in the dental area of the Surgeon’s Hall Museums.
	Photo of “Planches anatomiques du corps humain exécutées d'après les dimensions naturelles” (RCSEd’s largest book) This book was published in 1826 after the author’s return from St Helena, following the death of Napoleon Bonaparte in exile, to whom he was a personal physician. Book your appointment to visit the RCSEd Library and explore the Library archives. The Library archives holds institutional and other records dating from the 1460s, along with extensive archival material related to the college membership and the history of medicine and surgery in Scotland.
	Stained-glass window The armorial bearings of the College, as featured in the 1897 stained-glass window on the stairs leading to the upper level of the Playfair Building. The window showcases two of the central images of the College’s coat of arms: the human body and the open palm containing an eye, commonly known as “the eye of providence”, representing wisdom and knowledge. Additionally, the intricate design features other distinctive elements of the College's bearings, including an array of surgical instruments surrounding the central image and the thistle on the saltire.
	Is this from Patrick Heron Watson Lecture Notebook – “Anatomy for Artists”? Student notebook of Patrick Heron Watson FRCSEd, containing his drawings and notes from the class 'Anatomy for Artists', c.1856. Heron Watson held the unusual honour of being elected twice for the office of President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, in 1878 and 1905. Sir Patrick Heron Watson (1832 – 1907) was an eminent 19th-century Scottish surgeon and pioneer of anaesthetic development. He was associated with several surgical innovations including excision of the knee joint, excision of the thyroid and excision of the larynx for malignant disease. Portrait of Patrick Heron Watson FRCSEd can be viewed in the Main Corridor of the Playfair building.
	Chloroform bottle This 19th century chloroform bottle was designed to dispense very small amounts of chloroform onto a towel or mask for patient administration, Though accounts vary, it seems that after a dinner in 1847, Simpson Young Simpson and several guests took part in an experiment with chloroform and passed out under the table. Following Simpson's publication of chloroform’s anaesthetic qualities, it widely replaced ether as a surgical anaesthetic within weeks because ether was expensive, highly volatile, and caused vomiting. This bottle is on permanent display in the History of Surgery Gallery of Surgeon’s Hall Museum.
	RCSEd Minutes This page is from the first College Minute Book. The College Archive holds an uninterrupted record of all Council meetings from 1581 to the present day, which contain a wealth of information about our history, including a record of all men and women who have qualified with RCSEd since the sixteenth century. Papers of the RCSEd (1466-present) can be searched through our online catalogue.
	Memorial to the Pandemic Workers Memorial to the Pandemic Workers 'Your Next Breath' was devised as a tribute to the healthcare service workers who were faced with the crisis caused by COVID-19. It is also an acknowledgement of the people who were lost in the line of duty. At least 115,000 health and care workers have now died from Covid-19 around the world, according to data from the World Health Organisation, all of whom will be dearly missed by their families, friends and colleagues. The four life-size bronze figures representing the diversity of the UK healthcare workers is located outside the entrance to the College. The sculptures are located at the entrance of the RCSEd. Visiting and paying respects are free of charge.