Your College Poster 2 - over 515 years of history

19th Century Bleeding bowl

Bleeding bowls were used to collect blood during bloodletting, a practice widely utilised to treat various diseases and medical conditions. This particular porcelain example was made in Japan and is frequently mistaken for a shaving bowl. The bowl was relocated from the Old Edinburgh Infirmary.

This collection is available to view in the History of Surgery Gallery in Surgeons’ Hall Museum

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 Organization, 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.

Extracting the tooth

The Dental Collection in our Surgeons’ Hall Museum is one of the finest in the UK, showcasing the development of dentistry from its earliest days to modern times. This image features a display in the museum highlighting the earliest instruments used for tooth extraction, including pelicans, forceps, and dental keys.

This collection is on permanent display in the dental section of Surgeon’s Hall Museums.

Original drawings of our building

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 his ‘Athens of the North’ in Edinburgh

View the digitised architectural plans of the RCSEd buildings in our online catalogue, spanning from the 16th Century.

Our motto: 'Hinc sanitas' - 'From here, health'

Detail of the stained-glass window, dating from 1897, found on the stairs leading up to the Main Hall in the Playfair building. Our motto ' Hinc sanitas' translates as 'From here, health'.

For any questions about the 505 years of the College history, its Fellows and Members of the past, its paintings, portraits, busts, furniture, books, and archives, please contact the College Library & Archive. We are always pleased to arrange visits for enquirers and researchers, by appointment.

Bust of Richard James Mackenzie

A bust of Richard James Mackenzie (1821-1854) sculpted by artist William Brodie (1815-1881). Mackenzie was a promising surgical student of James Syme (1799-1870) and became assistant surgeon to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at the young age of 29. Sadly, he died at the age of 33 of cholera, whilst treating casualties of the Battle of Alma in 1954. The bust stands in the College’s impressive atrium alongside his mentor, James Syme.

We have an impressive and growing collection of portraits, paintings and busts, dating from around 1660. Book your appointment to visit the Library.

Portrait of Gertrude Marian Amalie Herzfeld (1890-1981) by William Oliphant Hutchison (1889-1970).

Gertrude Herzfeld was the first practising female surgeon in Scotland. After qualifying with an MBChB in Edinburgh in 1914, she became the first woman House Surgeon to Sir Harold Stiles at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and the Chalmers Hospital. In 1920, Herzfeld achieved another milestone by becoming the first woman to be appointed honorary Assistant Surgeon to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, and later becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons – marking her as the second woman to achieve this honour. In 1925, following Sir John Fraser's resignation, she and Norman Dott were jointly appointed as Surgeons to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. During that era, paediatric surgery encompassed a broad spectrum of plastic, orthopaedic, abdominal, and neonatal work, including the treatment of burns and trauma. Furthermore, from 1920 until her retirement in 1955, she served as Assistant Surgeon and later as Surgeon to Bruntsfield Hospital, also known as the Edinburgh Hospital for Women and Children.

Medical historians, researchers, students of the history of medicine and interested members of the public are also welcome to book an appointment to visit the Library to develop their understanding of the history of medicine and surgery.

An illustration from Francois Antommarchi’s book “Planche Anatomiques du Corps Humain...” published in 1826.

The Library’s largest book, known as an 'elephant folio,' was published in Paris by Napoleon Bonaparte’s former physician shortly after the exiled Emperor’s death on St Helena. It represents over a decade of work by Antommarchi and his colleague Paolo Mascagni while they were teaching anatomy at the University of Florence. The large scale of this book is attributed to most of the images being 1:1 scale, eliminating the need to have a cadaver present in all classes.

 This book is available to view in the RCSEd Library. Book your appointment to visit the Library.

Our Library

The College Library originated in the late 1690s when the College first moved into our previous home in Old Surgeon’s Hall. Over the past three centuries, it has grown exponentially, incorporating works from all fields of surgery and dentistry, as well as history and biography. Today, we also support our worldwide membership with a multitude of services, including literature searching, document supply, eBooks, and access to online resources.

For full information on all our services, please consult our website.