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The story was written by Dr Kristin Hay, a historian of sex, gender, medicine and oral history, and Tutor of Economic and Social History at the University of Glasgow. The animation was produced and edited by Kirsty Earley, the Digital Heritage and Engagement Officer of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.]]>
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Transcript

"The current coat of arms was approved by College council in 1862. In the top left and bottom right quarters we can see the symbols for the physicians and surgeons,  the poppy and the lancet, with the staff of Asclepius, a Greek god of healing and medicine, in the centre. 

In the top right quarter we have the royal arms of Scotland, included to show the connections to the royal foundation of the College by King James VI.  

In the bottom left quarter is the shield of arms of the city of Glasgow,  included to show the importance of the local position of the College in the community. Above the central shield of the crest is a lamp in front of an open book, representing enlightenment and continued learning.

There are two goddesses on the crest, chosen to represent the scientific and medical and surgical characteristics of the College. On the right is Hygeia, the Greek goddess of health. And on the left, Minerva, the Roman goddess of science and art. 

Then we have the College motto. At the top, "Conjurat Amice", which translates to "together in friendship". This represents the physicians and surgeons working together.  At the bottom, "Non vivere sed valere vita",  which loosely translates to "not just to live life but to have a healthy life".

 

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]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> Great Minds: The Brain in Medicine, Surgery and Psychiatry]]> ]]> Portrait of William Macewen]]>
This biphasic stimulator was created by Sloan Robertson to determine the boundaries of brain lesions through electrical impulses.]]>
]]> 3D Scan of Biphasic Stimulator]]> Bi-phasic Stimulator]]>
]]> Sketch of Ventral Surface of Brain]]> ]]> ]]> Cannon Shell extracted from patient's face during the Second World War

3D Model of Cannon Shell Injury

Portrait of Thomas Gibson PRCPSG 1976-1978

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]]> Jackson Focus X-ray Tube
Heavy current x-ray tube
X-ray Tube from the Glasgow Royal Infirmary
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In this animation we compare the anatomy of a regular humerus to that of Livingstone's after it healed. ]]>
]]> Dr David Livingstone Humerus Cast
Portrait of David Livingstone
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The carbolic spray, however, was mainly employed during Lister's time as a surgeon in Edinburgh. As well as sterilising wounds, Lister aimed to sterilise the surgical environment. Hence, an operator would pump carbolic spray around the operating theatre to eradicate any germs. Unfortunately, this had detrimental effects on practitioners since they were inhaling highly concentrated carbolic acid. ]]>
]]> Portrait of Joseph Lister
Lister Carbolic Spray
Ward in the Lister Block
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If a tooth was to be extracted, the dentist, (or barber surgeon), would take the tooth key and place the claw around the affected tooth. They would then turn the key as if trying to open a lock and extract the tooth. This technique was not particularly successful and would often lead to the crown of the tooth being cracked off, leaving the root still embedded in the jaw.

Thankfully, the regular use of the tooth key was phased out in the 19th century due to the introduction of the dental forceps. ]]>
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Tooth Key
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On 11th October, 1873, a young man had been stabbed in the back during an altercation. He had complaints of feeling breathless, as if something was tugging on his throat. When Macewen examined the wound, he found that the probe extended all the way into the pleural lining of the lungs.

At this point he came into contact with a shard of the knife that had been used to stab the young man. He successfully removed the knife segment and the patient survived. ]]>
]]> Portrait of William Macewen]]>

At this time, there were no methods of imaging the body non-invasively- Rontgen did not discover X-rays until 1895. Therefore, determining the dimensions of brain lesions relied on the practitioner's observations of the patient's symptoms alone. This would have required an in-depth knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the brain. Thankfully, Macewen was well-read on the current theories on the brain at that time. Miss Watson truly could not have asked for a better surgeon to help her.

Due to Miss Watson's frequent convulsions, Macewen suspected that the tumour above the left eye was in fact passing through the skull into the brain. Hence, he decided to cut into the mass and follow its trajectory. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the tumour did indeed pass through the skull and was putting pressure on the dura mater. Macewen successfully removed the tumour, under antiseptic conditions, and closed the wound. Miss Watson survived the operation and died some years later from kidney problems completely unrelated to this case.

This case became the first successful removal of a brain tumour in the world. ]]>
]]> Portrait of William Macewen
Macewen Operating Table
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Jacobs was one of the first practitioners in the UK to use intravenous pyelography to image the urinary system. ]]>
]]> Portrait of Arthur Henry Jacobs]]>
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Arthur Henry Jacobs studied medicine at St Mungo's College in Glasgow and gained his Triple Qualification in 1920. He spent some further time training in London, Paris, and Vienna.

Widely considered the "father of urology" in Glasgow, he was appointed as a urologist at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1930. He then became chief of the urology department by 1936. This department became a model for several other urology departments across the country. He was considered to be one of the best urologists in the world, with major contributions in the classification and surgical management of genitourinary tuberculosis.

Jacobs was President of the College from 1958 to 1960. ]]>
]]> Stone; Geoffrey (1931-2005); Artist]]>

Early monaural stethoscope as devised by Dr Rene Laennec, early 19th century. The Breton doctor, Rene Laennec of Quimper (1781-1826) first invented the stethoscope in 1816. Confronted by a stout woman with an apparent heart condition, Laennec found that he was unable to use hand or ear to examine the patient without embarrassment, so he used a tightly rolled sheaf of papers, one end of which he placed against the precordial region and the other to his ear. He was able thereby to hear the heart with greater clarity than he had ever done before. Laennec developed a stethoscope which consisted of a simple wooden cylinder that could be unscrewed in the middle for carrying in the pocket.]]>

Laennec Stethoscope by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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David Livingstone Humerus Replica Cast by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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Gastroscopy today involves examining components of the gastrointestinal system by inserting a wire-like endoscope down the patient’s throat. The endoscope contains a camera and light, and is controlled by the physician performing the examination. The images from the camera are then fed to a monitor screen for visualization.
Rudolf Schindler was the brains behind the first ever semi-flexible gastroscope, created in 1931. He constructed the gastroscope in such a manner that the distal end could be rotated, while the proximal end remained stationary. This allowed easier access to all areas of the stomach.]]>
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After the discovery of X-radiation by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895, Macintyre demonstrated the use of X-rays in medicine and went on to set up the radiology department of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1896. ]]> ]]> After the discovery of X-radiation by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895, Macintyre demonstrated the use of X-rays in medicine and went on to set up the radiology department of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1896. ]]> ]]> After the discovery of X-radiation by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895, Macintyre demonstrated the use of X-rays in medicine and went on to set up the radiology department of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1896. ]]> ]]>
"Reuben" refers to Henning Reuben, the Danish anaesthetist who developed the device with his German partner in 1953. Marketed from 1956 onwards.]]>
]]> Ambu Ltd.; 1937-; Medical device manufacturer]]>