Archibald Young qualified MB,CM from the University of Glasgow in 1895 after which he spent time in Europe continuing his studies. After returning to Glasgow he worked under great mentors, including Joseph Coats and Sir William Macewen. He spent much of his career working at the Western Infirmary, gradually working his way up the surgical posts from Extra Dispensary Surgeon in 1903 to Visiting Surgery to the Infirmary in 1917.

He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1913 and was made Professor of Surgery at Anderson College. Young was Regius Professor of Surgery at the University of Glasgow from 1924–1939 and President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow from 1935 to 1937.

Professor Young was president of the College from 1935 to 1937. ]]>
James Adams graduated from the University of Glasgow MB, CM in 1878 and gained his MD in 1881. He became a Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1878. He worked within the anatomy department at the University of Glasgow alongside Professor John Cleland, as well as working as Surgeon to Out-Patients at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He also worked as a general practitioner during this time in the West-End of Glasgow. In 1892 he was appointed as Surgeon to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Adams performed research into the anatomical relations between cerebral absesses and aural diseases. This research in part led to Macewen's pioneering work in using the mastoid antrum to access cerebral accesses. During the First World War Adams worked alongside William Macewen at the Princess Louise Hospital for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers.

Adams was president of the College from 1911 to 1913. ]]>
"9 Brisbane Street, Greenock, 7th December 1914.

Dear Sir,
I was a patient under you in Ward 15 for 6 weeks in the spring of this year, and underwent an operation for the removal of the little toe on my right foot, owing to long standing skin disease.
When able to go home, you on two occasions asked me to come back, and let you see me in about six months’ time. So if you let me know any day that would suit you either this week or next. I would be very pleased to come up.
I may say that the foot healed up beautifully, and I have been back at my work since the end of June, and have enjoyed many good long walks without any ill effects. And I feel I cannot express how grateful I am, for all the benefit I have got while under your care.

Yours sincerely,

James Stevenson

P.S. I left the hospital on the 2nd of May."
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"County Police Station, Lauder. N.B., 26.2.89.

My Dear Sir,
I assure you it is no easy matter to express how truly grateful I am to you for saving my life, after having been so dangerously shot. I have every reason to be proud that I was placed under your able hand- under the care of a Surgeon whose skillful and most successful operations have gained for him a universal reputation. I am confident that I would not have been so promptly and successfully operated upon by any other Surgeon- which makes me all the more thankful. I am also glad to state that the the very careful way which I was nursed and the kind way which I was treated by your Nurses (in my opinion) contributed largely towards my speedy recovery. My friends and all who know me are highly pleased to see me discharged by you in such a satisfactory condition. I again thank you from my heart, and also your subordinates for their very kind attention. I trust you will accept of the enclosed small gift as a token of my appreciation of your most valuable services to me.

I am
My Dear Sir,
Yours Respectfully,

S. Mennie.
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"25, Hijikki Machi, Ushigome, Tokio.
5-12-13

Dear Sir Pro. Macewen,
I cannot ignore without sending an information about my condition, since I have got home. I am be able to walk a few miles without help of any stick and to move up my left arm with light thing now, moreover they are improving continuously still. Many friends of mine, who meet me when I have got home, were surprised about your cleverness and skillfulness, which let me be recovered so good.
I was expected, before I left England, that I must go in reserve list connection with my injured limbs, but I am remaining in an active service now that is your merit.
I venture to send a little cigar case to commemorate my limbs’ recovery by your treat, in the hope that you may perhaps like to make use of it.
Please give my kind regards to Lady Macquwen and Dr John.

Yours sincerely,

Y. Masaki"
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"13 Bath Street, March 5 1872.

James W. Allan.

My dear Friend,
I have received with much pleasure the news, both of the telegram and the letter; each in this season; announcing your safe arrival at the proximal extremity of your China journey. And I will weary till I have a telegram from Liverpool intimating your safe return.
I cannot describe to you, the feeling of that walk home on Sunday night. There seemed to be a wonderful lack of words, and a silent confusion pervaded all of us, as we tottered slowly down the streets, until, last of all, the silence began to be quite unbearable, and each tried to speak: but, the broken, semi-spasmodic sentences, which were uttered, only showed, too plainly, that our minds were on a very different subject from our tongues. Sutherland, remained quietly on the sofa, for a long time, and at last gave vent to a queer expression, emanating from the depths of the trachea, then a faint smile, lit for a moment his swarthy face, but only to make the dull eyes, still more dull and dismal, as if the lower part of his face was masking the upper: and shifting himself uneasily on the sofa he said “Hell man! Jamie is really away to China.” “It’s queer isn’t it.” And after a short interval, all of us, by one desire, wanted to separate. We wanted to be alone. So Archie and I drawing closer to each other than usual & holding each others arms firmer than our want, passed slowly down to the bridge, and for a little time looked sadly into the dark flowing river, which reflected the flickering lights and with promises to meet soon, grasped hands and departed; and the sorrow in Archie’s eye I still see: calm and deep.
There is a sort of dread hanging over me, which I hope will soon vanish. We may never meet again, here. You or I may leave this earth ere from ____, one sent into the past: but if it should be, we will know: whoever goes, that it will only be to participate the sooner in the mysteries of the eternal. One thing will never be shaken [:] our love for each other.

May God be with us.

William Macewen."
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This photograph is part of Macewen's surgical casebook in the archive collection. ]]> Portrait of William Macewen

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Hammer from Macewen's Theatre by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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Portrait of William Macewen

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Gavel Casket by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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Royal Faculty 350th Anniversary gavel

Mr James Lang AD 1878-1956 Master Craftsman in Wood

3D Scan of 350th Anniversary gavel

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Barbara Watson c.1879 by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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The cases were documented in several local newspapers of the late 19th century, and Macewen collected several clippings of articles in which he was mentioned. These clippings are found in one of Macewen's scrapbooks, which is now held in the College's archive collection.

In this map you are able to read excerpts of the cases from different newspapers. Learn about a stabbing case in Ropework Lane, a suspicious death in the Old Wynd, and rotten fish being sold on the High Street!]]> ]]>
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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William Macewen Osteotome by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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William Macewen was a surgeon in Glasgow during the late 19th century and early 20th century. He pioneered many clinical specialities, including orthopaedics. He designed his version of the osteotome in the 1870s, and wrote an in depth account of its design in his publication, "Osteotomy with an inquiry into the aetiology and pathology of knock-knee, bow-leg, and other osseous deformities of the lower limbs."

He explains:

"The osteotome is an instrument of the chisel order, bevelled on both sides, so as to resemble a very slender wedge...The osteotome is used only for making simple incisions, or wedge-shaped openings without removal of bone."]]> Portrait of William Macewen

Macewen's Osteotomes

Macewen's Operating Table

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Silver plate on top of box: "Presented to the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow on the 29th November, 1949, and to perpetuate the memory of Andrew and William Brown J.P., who as instrument makers to the Royal Infirmary served the great surgeons Lord Lister and Sir William Macewen, by Mr. Andrew Jardine, newphew of Messrs. Brown. This casket is made of timber from the Lister Ward of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Built 1859 - Demolished 1924."

Carving on front of box: Image of the original GRI building; "The original Glasgow Royal Infirmary 1794-1912".

Handles on sides of box: Thistle and serpent emblem of the GRI; "Auspice Caelo".

Carving on back of box: Emblem and motto of Clan Jardine, "Cave Adsum"; "The founder George Jardine, Professor of Logic, Old College Glasgow".]]> ]]> Lang; James (1878-1956); Mr]]>
James Hogarth Pringle graduated from the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 1885. He then travelled to Europe to further his surgical studies in places like Hamburg, Berlin, and Vienna.

He was House Surgeon at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before becoming House Surgeon under Sir William Macewen at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. In 1896 he was appointed Surgeon to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1899.

Alongside Macewen, Pringle was one of the few men in medicine who accepted female students and trainees into his clinics. He became Lecturer in Surgery and Demonstrator in Anatomy at Queen Margaret College in Glasgow in 1899. This College was founded in 1868 specifically for women and began teaching medicine in 1890/91. ]]> Dring, William (English painter, 1904-1990)]]> Dowell; Charles Rennie (c.1876-1935); Artist]]>
Archibald Young qualified MB,CM from the University of Glasgow in 1895 after which he spent time in Europe continuing his studies. After returning to Glasgow he worked under great mentors, including Joseph Coats and Sir William Macewen. He spent much of his career working at the Western Infirmary, gradually working his way up the surgical posts from Extra Dispensary Surgeon in 1903 to Visiting Surgery to the Infirmary in 1917.

Young was Regius Professor of Surgery at the University of Glasgow from 1924–1939 and President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow from 1935 to 1937.

This painting is the second portrait of Young painted by James Gunn. The first portrait, which was presented to Young in 1939, is now part of the University of Glasgow collection. ]]> Gunn; Sir; James (1893-1964); Artist, RA, LLD]]>
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MR JAMES LANG
AD 1878-1956
MASTER CRAFTSMAN IN WOOD

On completion of the presentation gavel casket for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. The inscription on the casket top reads-

Presented to the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow on the 29th November 1949 and to perpetuate the memory of Andrew and William Brown J.P. who as instrument makers to the Royal Infirmary served the great surgeons Lord Lister and Sir William Macewen
by
Mr Andrew Jardine, Nephew of Messrs Brown.
This casket is made of tinder from the Lister Ward of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Built 1839 - Demolished 1924

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William Macewen Osteotome by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

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Sir William Macewen was a surgeon who attempted operations which had never been done before. His work can be divided into three broad categories: surgical cure of hernia; surgical solutions for problems of the bones and joints; and surgical solutions for afflictions of the central nervous system. In 1874 Macewen became a Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and in November of the same year he was appointed to the staff of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. This appointment marked the beginning of a period of great activity and illustrious achievements. As a former student of Lister's, Macewen moved beyond Lister's precedents by seeking to create the ideal germ-free conditions in his operating theatre.

Macewen's scrupulous attention to detail involved the meticulous preparation of his own hands and arms before surgery, and those of his nurses and assistants. For surgery he dressed in a gown which could be sterilised between operations, to the derision of many of his contemporaries. Sir William Macewen had his own instruments made, formed from a single piece of steel, in order to ensure that they were fully sterile.

When Macewen was working at the Royal Infirmary his nurses purchased a fish kettle to be used for sterilising instruments, after the hospital authorities had refused to fund a container for the purpose. In 1892 Macewen became Regius Professor of Surgery at the University of Glasgow and transferred his surgical activities from the Royal to the Western Infirmary. In 1913 he became an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.]]>