Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society

John C Ogilvie, MD (1784-1839)

John Charles Ogilvie was present at the first meeting of the reconstructed Society in 1812 and, in 1813, he became its second President in succession to Professor William Livingston. He was also President in 1827 and 1831. For many years, he acted as Secretary and produced a complete catalogue of the Library.
... He was always immaculately dressed in a long coat, frilled shirt, knee breeches, black silk hose and silver buckled shoes, with his hair powdered and tied with a ribbon. His son, Dr George Ogilvie-Forbes of Boyndlie, was the first Professor of Physiology in the University of Aberdeen after the union of King’s and Marischal in 1860.
The portrait is by James Giles and was purchased by subscription.
See More

Joseph Williamson, MD (? -1860)

Joseph Williamson was a physician in Aberdeen. He was Secretary of the Society from 1837 to 1841 and, in 1848, was elected President.
... His careful handwritten entries on the Society’s meetings are still clearly legible today. He suffered from ill health during the whole of his working life. It is said that on the day before he died, he visited a poor woman, with a baby, who offered him a sovereign as all she could give for his professional attendance on her. He refused the fee which, in a spirit of independent pride, was re-offered; the doctor bent over the child’s cradle and put the money under the pillow, to be found after he left.
After he died in 1860, a special meeting of the Society was held so that members could have an opportunity of showing their respect for the memory of Dr Joseph Williamson by attending his funeral. It is recorded that later “the members joined the funeral procession of Dr Joseph Williamson opposite the Society Hall and preceded the body to the grave”.
Extract from the Minute Book of the Society in Joseph Williamson’s handwriting (1840).
The portrait was presented to the Society by his sister, Miss Eliza Williamson. It was painted by James Giles, RSA.
See More

David Hutcheon (1765-1832)

David Hutcheon was born in Fetteresso, where his father was the minister. He was lamed for life when a schoolhouse roof collapsed upon him during a storm. He became an Advocate in Aberdeen, and is said to have been one of the last men in Aberdeen to wear the old dress of knee breeches and silk stockings. Elected an Honorary Member of the Medico-Chirurgical Society in 1813, he acted ...for many years as its Treasurer and Law Agent, free of charge.
The portrait is by James Giles RSA, and was presented to the Society by David Hutcheon himself.
A second portrait by William Dyce RA (1830) is also in the Society’s Hall, commissioned by the Society. It had been put in storage after Giles’ portrait was put up, and was found by Thomas Morrice, the Hall keeper, “covered with dust and dirt” in a cupboard.
See More

George Watt (1762 -?)
George Watt attended the arts class at Marischal College, but did not graduate, which was not an uncommon practice in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, he built up a reputation as a skilful and daring surgeon and attracted apprentices from far and wide. He is described as industrious, greedy and a wit. He practised in Aberdeenshire, and there was an ongoing rivalry between him and the Aberdeen surgeons. A story is told that, having met a country... man near Dudwick one day, he performed upon him, then and there, a successful operation for removal of a tumour on the head, which the Aberdeen Infirmary surgeon had declined to do; “There”, said Dr Watt to the grateful patient, “I’ve done what the Aberdeen doctors can’t do. Just you go and tell folk that if they ask who cured you, you can say it was Geordie Watt”. His only child, George, a Writer to the Signet, died of cholera contracted when attending the funeral of a friend who had died of the disease. In his memory, Dr Watt gifted money to establish a house of refuge. Over the years, a surplus of the gift was used to buy the site at Old Mill, where a Poor House was erected, and eventually, in 1927, Woodend Hospital.
The portrait, by James Giles, was presented to the Society by his grandnephew, Mr Andrew Anderson. He is depicted as an old gentleman in a swallow-tail coat, seated in a chair, with a plan of his lands in his right hand and a statue behind him representing charity.
See More

Congratulations to Miss Sarah Mathieson on winning the Adam Quaich Cup for delivering the best Electives Presentation on Thursday 16 May. Dr Stephen Lynch, President is pictured with Sarah below 👏🙂

William Dyce, MD (1770-1835)

After graduation, William Dyce was appointed as physician to the dispensary, succeeding that outstanding doctor, Alexander Gordon. He probably owned the first doctor’s carriage in Aberdeen, supposedly a gift from one of his sons, which was irreverently christened “the pill box”. He inherited the property of Cuttlehill near Aberdeen. From 1811 to 1826 he was Lecturer in midwifery at Marisc...hal College. Dyce was described as a tall, spare, stately man, “reticent and unbending”. He was made an Honorary Member of the Society in 1799 and was President in 1819 and 1829.
He continued the practice of the teaching of midwifery, which had been begun by Dr Skene in the mid-eighteenth century. It was during his time (1827), nearly one hundred years before official certification of midwives, that the Society established a register of midwives and issued certificates after examination. No member of the Society would recognise a midwife unless she was registered. The subjects of the examination were: (i) Anatomy and dimensions of the pelvis and child, and its foetal appendages and circulation, (ii) Diseases incidental to pregnancy, (iii) Management of labour, (iv) After treatment and diseases consequent, (v) Management of children and their common complaints, (vi) Bleeding and management of leeches, (vii) Use of a catheter.
The portrait is by his son, William Dyce, a painter of considerable renown who is regarded as a pioneer of state art education. He graduated MA from Marischal College at the age of 16, and started to study medicine, then theology, as his father did not encourage his real interest which was in painting. However, his father relented, and young William was allowed to study at the Royal Scottish Academy and then London and abroad. He returned to Edinburgh to take up portrait painting, since he could not get enough patrons to support his speciality of religious paintings. He again moved to London where he was elected to The Royal Academy and was appointed the first Professor of the Theory of Fine Arts at King’s College, London. He advised on the formation of the National Gallery. At the invitation of the Prince Consort, he undertook the painting of frescos in the House of Lords and in the Queen’s Robing Room in the Palace of Westminster. He has been described as intolerant and forthright in his views, and some critics felt that he did not achieve his full potential because he dispersed his talents too widely.
The portrait was given to the Society by another of William Dyce’s sons (there were 11 children), Robert Dyce, who was the Professor of Midwifery after the union of King’s and Marischal in 1860. Thus he continued the prominence of the Dyce family that can be traced back to charters granted to John de Diss in 1457, whose estates probably gave their name to the village (now suburb) of Dyce outside Aberdeen.
See More

The 'Famous For Five Minutes' 🎤🎼🎹🎻🎸 charity event was another great success this year with around £1900 being raised for 2 local charities 😍. Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team and Playlist for Life will each receive a well deserved donation. We would like to thank our sponsor Brewin Dolphin and to everyone who took part in making the evening a most enjoyable one 👏🙂

Robert Jamieson, MA, MD (1818-1895)

Robert Jamieson was physician to the Royal Lunatic Asylum (now The Royal Cornhill Hospital) in Aberdeen and later its Superintendent. During his tenure of office, he introduced far-reaching reforms, greatly improving the facilities and the welfare of the patients.
... He supervised a new building at the hospital, for a long period thereafter considered to be the last word in mental hospital architecture. He believed that any punishment involving cruelty or injuries to patients was indefensible and campaigned against the use of the cold shower and the rotary chair, which were common practices at that time, instead recommending exercise in the open air, warm baths and occupational therapy. He found “scotch ale” a good hypnotic.
Jamieson was one of the first in this country to give a regular course of lectures on mental diseases recognised by a University. He stated that “there should be a chair established in every university for the discussion of the subject of the disordered mind; it should embrace the whole subject of mental philosophy, of psychopathology and of moral therapeutics and mental hygiene, with a bearing upon education, upon the development of virtue and the prevention of crime”.
The portrait is by Sir George Reid, who was the President of the Royal Scottish Academy 1891-1902. In 1891, he was knighted by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle.
See More

John Stuart (1751-1827)

Professor John Stuart was Professor of Greek at Marischal College from 1782 until his death. He was a supporter of the Society in its early days, allowing it to meet in his classroom for the first 18 months of the Society’s existence. He was admitted as an Honorary Member in 1791. He had a particular interest in Scottish antiquities.
... Stuart is described as a frank, kindly man who proved a generous friend to homeless students. Although he had a large family, his home was always open to members of his class. Because of his lameness, he was affectionately nicknamed “Dot-and-carry-one” by his students.
The portrait is by John Moir and was purchased by subscription. The subject’s name is misspelt as “Stewart” in the accompanying legend.
See More

George French, MD (1765-1853)
George French was Professor of Chemistry at Marischal College, 1793-1833. He was the nephew of Sir William Fordyce, a successful London physician. After a short career in the army, George French joined his uncle in London, but was apparently unsuccessful there. He returned to Aberdeen where he was one of the two physicians at the Royal Infirmary, and, with William Livingston, he attempted to establish a course of lectures in medicine and surge...ry in 1786. Due to lack of support, this was abandoned two years later. Dr French was said to have been of a cantankerous nature - “… a peppery and irascible gentleman, inclined to grouse, and fight with all and sundry” - and when invited to become an honorary member, he declared publicly that he had no intention of having anything to do with the Society. It appears that he was in dispute with the Society over some unknown matter. Later he became reconciled and, when he died, he left a number of books to the Society’s library.
He was not highly regarded as Professor of Chemistry, a subject which had, to the public of those days, “a suspicion of diablerie”, as Riddell puts it. In his later years, he gave up teaching, engaging an assistant to take his place whilst still drawing his salary as Professor. He owned a shop in the Upper Kirkgate, selling patent medicines and perfumery, and supplying the Infirmary with medicines and wines, reputedly at inflated prices.
This portrait is also by John Moir, and was also painted in 1826.
See More

The next Med-Chi lecture will be held on Thursday 2nd May in the Med-Chi Hall from 7pm. Professor John Gillies, Past Chair of RCGP Scotland & Honorary Professor University of Edinburgh | Senior Adviser Global Health Academy | Co-Director University of Edinburgh Compassion Initiative will present his talk 'The Essence of General Practice - 10 Years On'.
🥪🧀Finger Buffet ☕️🍪Tea/Coffee from 6.30pm. CPD self certification forms available
... Non members welcome 🙂
See More

William Livingston, MD (1760-1822)

William Livingston was Professor of Medicine at Marischal College 1793-1822.
...Continue Reading

1) Photograph of the plaque commemorating the event on 30 August 1641 when William Harvey visited Aberdeen and was made a Free Burgess of Guild.
2 & 3) Extract from the minutes of the Town Council of Aberdeen (1641)

William Harvey (1578-1657)
“The famous discoverer of the true theory of the circulation of the blood, made known to the world in 1628.”
In 1641, Harvey visited Aberdeen, having been sent by King Charles whom he had accompanied to Edinburgh. He was feted by the City Council and awarded the Freedom of the City.
... Harvey’s predecessor as Chief Royal Physician was Dr Bedwin or Beaton, a Scot who was related to the famous physicians of the Lords of the Isles. Harvey travelled with him to Edinburgh in 1633, thus experiencing an interesting contact with Celtic medicine which at that time was much more advanced than in the Scottish Lowlands and England.
The portrait was presented to the Society by Sir Walter Farquhar, MD of King’s College and the son of a Peterhead minister. He was an eminent London physician who attended George III during the King’s mental illness.
In a letter dated July 4th, 1815, Sir Walter wrote to the Society – “Some time ago, Lord Bessborough made me a present of a genuine and undoubted portrait of the great Harvey, and I cannot better dispose of it than by presenting it to your Society, to be placed in your great room as a stimulus to the exertions of your young students in their professional pursuits. I have often and often wished that he had been a Scotchman.”
The painter of the portrait is unknown. It has been copied several times and was photographed at the request of Sir William Osler. The source of the painting has been the subject of much speculation; Dr John Webster, former President of the Society (2004-05), believes it is a copy of the portrait in the Hunterian Collection, University of Glasgow, which is thought to have been painted from life.
See More

The Founders’ Plaque
This Plaque entitled “Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society 1789” lists the twelve Founders of the Society. It is headed by James McGrigor and James Robertson, the two members who played the major part in the foundation of the Society. They had been to Edinburgh and modelled the Society on the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh (founded 1737). The twelve Founders were: James McGrigor James Robertson... Colin Allan Robert Donald (Harvey) John Gordon John Grant George Kerr Joseph MacKay Alex Mitchell James Moir William Shepherd James Smith
It is interesting that six of the Founders pursued military careers, perhaps influenced, as McGrigor was, when impressionable young students.
Portraits of James McGrigor, Robert Donald (Harvey), John Grant, George Kerr and James Moir are displayed in the Society’s Hall, and descriptions of these are found with the reproductions of the portraits.
Initially, each member of the Society took it in turns to be President for a meeting.
Colin Allan attended Marischal College as an arts student 1788-92, but did not graduate. He was awarded an MD in 1799. He served as a Regimental Surgeon and eventually became the Principal Medical Officer in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He came from a prosperous family, which gave its name to Allanvale Cemetery and Allan Street in Aberdeen. He was President of the re-constituted Medico-Chirurgical Society in 1820.
James Robertson was another student of arts who did not graduate. He was McGrigor’s closest friend and was with him in Edinburgh and in the Iberian Peninsula. He served in Barbados, and while there was wrongly told that McGrigor had lost his life. Robertson then informed The Medical Society, which, with the family, went into mourning; McGrigor was later found alive on another ship.
James Smith was the son of a medical practitioner at Slains, Aberdeenshire. He graduated AM in 1793.
John Gordon, Glenfiddich, was a student of arts but did not graduate. He became a surgeon in the Indian Colonial Service.
Joseph MacKay of Peterculter graduated AM at Marischal College in 1792.
Alexander Mitchell of Glen Isla graduated AM at Marischal College in 1791.
William Shepherd of Virginia graduated AM from Marischal College in 1790, and MD in 1792. He was the first Treasurer of the Society.
See More

James Moir (1770-1861)

James Moir was a Physician in Aberdeen and Senior Physician to the Infirmary (1808-1814). His father was the Reverend Dr Moir, a minister of the Established Church in Peterhead, and James was one of 17 children. He was the author of Notes on Puerperal Fever (1822). Known as “Snuffy” Moir because of his liking for snuff, he was frequently seen in Union Street, walking with one hand behind ...his back holding his snuff box. He was a founder of the Society and the last to die in 1861. His funeral procession set off from the Medical Hall, the members walking in front of the cortège.
The portrait is by James Giles RSA (1801-1870), and was purchased by subscription.
James Giles (1801–1870) was born in Aberdeen. He was known for his painting skills by the age of 13 and, two years later, was teaching art. He studied anatomy at Marischal College and was friendly with the students of the Society. He later travelled to London, France, Italy and Switzerland. In 1829, he was elected to membership of the Royal Scottish Academy, the first member to have his address outside Edinburgh. He is renowned for his watercolours of Aberdeenshire castles of which he painted 85 in all. It is said that it was his painting that gave Queen Victoria her first view of the old castle of Balmoral.
See More

George Kerr (1771-1826)

George Kerr was one of the founders of the Society. After graduation he practised as a physician in Aberdeen. He was Secretary and Treasurer of the Society during its early days, and he and McGrigor were the first Presidents. He was described by a contemporary as of “sharp, incisive and vigorous mental parts”. In the way of educated people of his day, he wished to advance knowledge by “disputation”, that is to say,... by intelligent argument and debate. In 1816, he published a book entitled, Observations on the Harveian Doctrine of the Circulation of the Blood, in which he attempted to prove that, although Harvey’s conclusions were correct, he had reached them by the wrong methods.
He was one of the five founders who attended the 1794 meeting in London when they wrote to the Society advising them that they should pursue the practice of dissection of the human body and that they should obtain bodies, as was done elsewhere, by the practice of “resurrectionism”. The students of the Society followed this advice, which led to the establishment of watch towers and mortsafes throughout the graveyards of the North-East. The practice was officially frowned upon, but unofficially it was permitted. In the minutes there are several mentions of bodies having been obtained and dissections having taken place. The practice of body-snatching was carried out by the students themselves; occasionally, the wealthier students would buy specimens from their less well-off colleagues, but otherwise there was no financial involvement.
The portrait is a copy and was purchased by subscription. Photo 1 & 2 - mortsafes in Banchory & Skene churchyards Photo 3 - watchtower in Banchory churchyard Photos 4 - George Kerr (1771-1826)
See More

John C Ogilvie, MD (1784-1839)

John Charles Ogilvie was present at the first meeting of the reconstructed Society in 1812 and, in 1813, he became its second President in succession to Professor William Livingston. He was also President in 1827 and 1831. For many years, he acted as Secretary and produced a complete catalogue of the Library.
... He was always immaculately dressed in a long coat, frilled shirt, knee breeches, black silk hose and silver buckled shoes, with his hair powdered and tied with a ribbon. His son, Dr George Ogilvie-Forbes of Boyndlie, was the first Professor of Physiology in the University of Aberdeen after the union of King’s and Marischal in 1860.
The portrait is by James Giles and was purchased by subscription.
See More

Joseph Williamson, MD (? -1860)

Joseph Williamson was a physician in Aberdeen. He was Secretary of the Society from 1837 to 1841 and, in 1848, was elected President.
... His careful handwritten entries on the Society’s meetings are still clearly legible today. He suffered from ill health during the whole of his working life. It is said that on the day before he died, he visited a poor woman, with a baby, who offered him a sovereign as all she could give for his professional attendance on her. He refused the fee which, in a spirit of independent pride, was re-offered; the doctor bent over the child’s cradle and put the money under the pillow, to be found after he left.
After he died in 1860, a special meeting of the Society was held so that members could have an opportunity of showing their respect for the memory of Dr Joseph Williamson by attending his funeral. It is recorded that later “the members joined the funeral procession of Dr Joseph Williamson opposite the Society Hall and preceded the body to the grave”.
Extract from the Minute Book of the Society in Joseph Williamson’s handwriting (1840).
The portrait was presented to the Society by his sister, Miss Eliza Williamson. It was painted by James Giles, RSA.
See More

David Hutcheon (1765-1832)

David Hutcheon was born in Fetteresso, where his father was the minister. He was lamed for life when a schoolhouse roof collapsed upon him during a storm. He became an Advocate in Aberdeen, and is said to have been one of the last men in Aberdeen to wear the old dress of knee breeches and silk stockings. Elected an Honorary Member of the Medico-Chirurgical Society in 1813, he acted ...for many years as its Treasurer and Law Agent, free of charge.
The portrait is by James Giles RSA, and was presented to the Society by David Hutcheon himself.
A second portrait by William Dyce RA (1830) is also in the Society’s Hall, commissioned by the Society. It had been put in storage after Giles’ portrait was put up, and was found by Thomas Morrice, the Hall keeper, “covered with dust and dirt” in a cupboard.
See More

William Dyce, MD (1770-1835)

After graduation, William Dyce was appointed as physician to the dispensary, succeeding that outstanding doctor, Alexander Gordon. He probably owned the first doctor’s carriage in Aberdeen, supposedly a gift from one of his sons, which was irreverently christened “the pill box”. He inherited the property of Cuttlehill near Aberdeen. From 1811 to 1826 he was Lecturer in midwifery at Marisc...hal College. Dyce was described as a tall, spare, stately man, “reticent and unbending”. He was made an Honorary Member of the Society in 1799 and was President in 1819 and 1829.
He continued the practice of the teaching of midwifery, which had been begun by Dr Skene in the mid-eighteenth century. It was during his time (1827), nearly one hundred years before official certification of midwives, that the Society established a register of midwives and issued certificates after examination. No member of the Society would recognise a midwife unless she was registered. The subjects of the examination were: (i) Anatomy and dimensions of the pelvis and child, and its foetal appendages and circulation, (ii) Diseases incidental to pregnancy, (iii) Management of labour, (iv) After treatment and diseases consequent, (v) Management of children and their common complaints, (vi) Bleeding and management of leeches, (vii) Use of a catheter.
The portrait is by his son, William Dyce, a painter of considerable renown who is regarded as a pioneer of state art education. He graduated MA from Marischal College at the age of 16, and started to study medicine, then theology, as his father did not encourage his real interest which was in painting. However, his father relented, and young William was allowed to study at the Royal Scottish Academy and then London and abroad. He returned to Edinburgh to take up portrait painting, since he could not get enough patrons to support his speciality of religious paintings. He again moved to London where he was elected to The Royal Academy and was appointed the first Professor of the Theory of Fine Arts at King’s College, London. He advised on the formation of the National Gallery. At the invitation of the Prince Consort, he undertook the painting of frescos in the House of Lords and in the Queen’s Robing Room in the Palace of Westminster. He has been described as intolerant and forthright in his views, and some critics felt that he did not achieve his full potential because he dispersed his talents too widely.
The portrait was given to the Society by another of William Dyce’s sons (there were 11 children), Robert Dyce, who was the Professor of Midwifery after the union of King’s and Marischal in 1860. Thus he continued the prominence of the Dyce family that can be traced back to charters granted to John de Diss in 1457, whose estates probably gave their name to the village (now suburb) of Dyce outside Aberdeen.
See More

Robert Jamieson, MA, MD (1818-1895)

Robert Jamieson was physician to the Royal Lunatic Asylum (now The Royal Cornhill Hospital) in Aberdeen and later its Superintendent. During his tenure of office, he introduced far-reaching reforms, greatly improving the facilities and the welfare of the patients.
... He supervised a new building at the hospital, for a long period thereafter considered to be the last word in mental hospital architecture. He believed that any punishment involving cruelty or injuries to patients was indefensible and campaigned against the use of the cold shower and the rotary chair, which were common practices at that time, instead recommending exercise in the open air, warm baths and occupational therapy. He found “scotch ale” a good hypnotic.
Jamieson was one of the first in this country to give a regular course of lectures on mental diseases recognised by a University. He stated that “there should be a chair established in every university for the discussion of the subject of the disordered mind; it should embrace the whole subject of mental philosophy, of psychopathology and of moral therapeutics and mental hygiene, with a bearing upon education, upon the development of virtue and the prevention of crime”.
The portrait is by Sir George Reid, who was the President of the Royal Scottish Academy 1891-1902. In 1891, he was knighted by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle.
See More

John Stuart (1751-1827)

Professor John Stuart was Professor of Greek at Marischal College from 1782 until his death. He was a supporter of the Society in its early days, allowing it to meet in his classroom for the first 18 months of the Society’s existence. He was admitted as an Honorary Member in 1791. He had a particular interest in Scottish antiquities.
... Stuart is described as a frank, kindly man who proved a generous friend to homeless students. Although he had a large family, his home was always open to members of his class. Because of his lameness, he was affectionately nicknamed “Dot-and-carry-one” by his students.
The portrait is by John Moir and was purchased by subscription. The subject’s name is misspelt as “Stewart” in the accompanying legend.
See More

William Livingston, MD (1760-1822)

William Livingston was Professor of Medicine at Marischal College 1793-1822.
...Continue Reading

James Moir (1770-1861)

James Moir was a Physician in Aberdeen and Senior Physician to the Infirmary (1808-1814). His father was the Reverend Dr Moir, a minister of the Established Church in Peterhead, and James was one of 17 children. He was the author of Notes on Puerperal Fever (1822). Known as “Snuffy” Moir because of his liking for snuff, he was frequently seen in Union Street, walking with one hand behind ...his back holding his snuff box. He was a founder of the Society and the last to die in 1861. His funeral procession set off from the Medical Hall, the members walking in front of the cortège.
The portrait is by James Giles RSA (1801-1870), and was purchased by subscription.
James Giles (1801–1870) was born in Aberdeen. He was known for his painting skills by the age of 13 and, two years later, was teaching art. He studied anatomy at Marischal College and was friendly with the students of the Society. He later travelled to London, France, Italy and Switzerland. In 1829, he was elected to membership of the Royal Scottish Academy, the first member to have his address outside Edinburgh. He is renowned for his watercolours of Aberdeenshire castles of which he painted 85 in all. It is said that it was his painting that gave Queen Victoria her first view of the old castle of Balmoral.
See More

George Kerr (1771-1826)

George Kerr was one of the founders of the Society. After graduation he practised as a physician in Aberdeen. He was Secretary and Treasurer of the Society during its early days, and he and McGrigor were the first Presidents. He was described by a contemporary as of “sharp, incisive and vigorous mental parts”. In the way of educated people of his day, he wished to advance knowledge by “disputation”, that is to say,... by intelligent argument and debate. In 1816, he published a book entitled, Observations on the Harveian Doctrine of the Circulation of the Blood, in which he attempted to prove that, although Harvey’s conclusions were correct, he had reached them by the wrong methods.
He was one of the five founders who attended the 1794 meeting in London when they wrote to the Society advising them that they should pursue the practice of dissection of the human body and that they should obtain bodies, as was done elsewhere, by the practice of “resurrectionism”. The students of the Society followed this advice, which led to the establishment of watch towers and mortsafes throughout the graveyards of the North-East. The practice was officially frowned upon, but unofficially it was permitted. In the minutes there are several mentions of bodies having been obtained and dissections having taken place. The practice of body-snatching was carried out by the students themselves; occasionally, the wealthier students would buy specimens from their less well-off colleagues, but otherwise there was no financial involvement.
The portrait is a copy and was purchased by subscription. Photo 1 & 2 - mortsafes in Banchory & Skene churchyards Photo 3 - watchtower in Banchory churchyard Photos 4 - George Kerr (1771-1826)
See More