Freeland Fergus studied at the University of Glasgow, graduating MB, CM in 1881 and MD in 1891. After further training in Europe he was appointed Assistant Surgeon at the Glasgow Eye Infirmary in 1882 and full Surgeon in 1890. He was at this post until 1919.

He made several contributions to the field of opthalmology, including the introduction of the sterilisation of instruments and dressings in his practice, and the promotion of the Blind Persons (Scotland) Act of 1920.

Freeland Fergus came from a well-known medical family, with both his father and brother also holding office as President of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. ]]>
Dowell; Charles Rennie (c.1876-1935); Artist]]>

In 1824 he co-founded the Glasgow Eye Infirmary and also became the first editor of the Glasgow Medical Journal. His “Treatise on Diseases of the Eye”, published in 1830, was a standard textbook on the subject for over 20 years until the invention of the ophthalmoscope radically changed the practice of ophthalmology. He served as surgeon-oculist to Queen Victoria and would have been President of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, but declined his election to this office on health grounds.

This portrait was presented to the Faculty by Mackenzie's widow in 1884, and his extensive library, including works in several languages on ophthalmology and general surgery, was later donated to the Faculty by his son.
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This book came to the College from the library of the Glasgow Eye Infirmary, having previously belonged to Andrew Freeland Fergus, ophthalmologist and former President of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. It was in quite poor condition when it was scanned - the binding had all but fallen apart, and this allowed us to get better pictures of each page. Once scanning was complete it was sent away for conservation. The book has recently returned from the conservator's workshop; it's now housed in a lovely new binding and stored alongside our rare book collections.

Richard Liebreich (1830-1917) was a German ophthalmologist and physiologist. In addition to this volume, the College library holds a similar atlas from 1863 and a short pamphlet.

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The Glasgow Eye Infirmary was founded in 1824. In 1874 it moved into purpose built accommodation in the West End of Glasgow at Berkeley St which, by the late 1880s, had over 100 beds. The Infirmary continued to run an outpatients department in the East End. In 1945 the Spencer Research Committee was formed with capital of over £12,000, to oversee research in the GEI. In 1971 the entire in-patient accommodation at Berkeley St was destroyed by fire. From 1948 to 1974 the Glasgow Eye Infirmary was under the Board of Management for Glasgow Western (later Western and Gartnavel) Hospitals. In 1974 it was placed in the Western District of the Greater Glasgow Health Board and in 1993 it became the responsibility of the West Glasgow University NHS Trust. It was transferred to Gartnavel Hospital in 1998.]]>

The poster reads 'Help us to take them out of the shadow; The Glasgow Eye Infirmary; Office 171 West Regent Street' and pictures a young child with cloth wrapped around their head, covering their eyes. ]]>

The collar is inscribed with the following words: "Subscribed by a few friends and handed over to the Eye Infirmary to present to the dog Sankel for his clever performance and likewise contribution towards that institution. 1883. John Caldwell, 28 Charlotte St, Glasgow."]]>

Sankel's Dog Collar by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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Andrew Anderson studied medicine at the University of Glasgow, gaining an MD in 1839. He was Professor of Institutes of Medicine at the Anderson University, which was established by his grandfather. He also held the Chair of the Practice of Medicine at the same institute. Anderson worked as a surgeon at the Glasgow Eye Infirmary alongside William Mackenzie. He also worked as a consulting physician in Glasgow.

Anderson was became a Fellow of the College in 1840 and was president from 1868 to 1870. ]]>
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Decorative Cup by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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Dog collar that once belonged to Sankel of the Glasgow Eye Infirmary, part of the museum collection of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Sankel would go around the pubs of Glasgow and perform tricks to earn money for the Eye Infirmary.]]>

Sankel's Dog Collar by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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Sankel's Dog Collar]]>

Henry Clark began his medical education at Anderson's College and the University of Glasgow, qualifying in 1870. He worked as Assistant Surgeon at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and at the Glasgow Eye Infirmary. He was later promoted to Surgeon of both of these hospitals. He became Professor of Surgery at St Mungo's College in 1892.

He was made a Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1876 and was president from 1903 to 1905. ]]>

William Snodgrass graduated from the University of Glasgow with a BSc in 1912 and MBChB in 1913. Soon after he worked as a medical officer in France during the First World War. After the War he was appointed as an extra dispensary physician at the Glasgow Western Infirmary, also taking up general practice in 1919. He gained his MD from the University of Glasgow in 1935. In 1942 he became Physician to the Wards at the Glasgow Western Infirmary. He was also Visiting Consulting Physician to the Glasgow Eye Infirmary and Physician to the Southern General Hospital.

Snodgrass became a Fellow of the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1920 , was Honorary Librarian from 1933 to 1946 and president from 1948 to 1950. ]]>

David Knox graduated in medicine from the University of Glasgow in 1872. He worked as a resident at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, after which he worked as a Demonstrator of Anatomy with Allen Thomson at Glasgow University until Thomson's retirement in 1877. He lectured in anatomy at several of Glasgow's institutues including Haldane's Academy of Art (precursor to the Glasgow School of Art) and the Royal Veterinary College.
In 1875 he became Dispensary Surgeon of the Glasgow Western Infirmary and also worked as part of the surgical staff of the Glasgow Eye Infirmary. He then moved on to become Surgeon to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1892, becoming the first Professor or Surgery at St Mungo's College.

Knox was president of the College from 1909 to 1911. ]]>