'For the purpose of demonstrating the destructive effect of firearms upon the human frame, Bully's Acre (a pauper's graveyard) gave up its cleverest treasures for the performance of the experiment. The subjects being placed with military precision along the wall, the lecturer entered with his pistol in hand, and levelling the mortiferous weapon at the enemy, magnanimously discharged several rounds, each followed by repeated bursts of applause. As soon as the smoke and approbation subsided, then came the tug-of-war. The wounded were examined, arteries were taken up, bullets were extracted, bones were set, and every spectator fancied himself on the field of battle, and looking upon Mr. Kirby as a prodigy of genius and valour for shooting dead men'.
- Erinensis Sketches of the Surgical Profession in Ireland No. IV Mr. Kirby, Lancet 1824
This quote caught our attention here in the RCSI Heritage Collections. So we decided to look further at this Mr. Kirby and what a character we found!
John Timothy Kirby was born in 1781 and came from a family with a strong medical tradition. At the age of 7 Kirby's father died suddenly and he was sent to school in Lismore. This had been an upstanding and respectable school but this changed Rev. Mr. Crawford took over its running.
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| John Kirby (1781-1853) |
'Mr. Crawford was a drunkard, and used to walk in at our ordinary business, in a state of inebriety, singing caroling drinking songs in an undertone. He was one of the curates of the Cathedral. We never had morning or evening prayers. No prayerbook in the school composed of 35 boys. We were allowed to lie, to steal and to commit every the most obscene abomination.'
Kirby spent 7 years there which by that time had fostered a degree of independence and impetuousness in him. Kirby made his way to Dublin where in November 1798 he was apprenticed to John Halahan. He entered Trinity College Dublin in 1802 and by 1805 he graduated with a B.A and obtained his Letters Testimonial from the RCSI. In 1808 he had become a Member of the College.
Kirby was appointed Demonstrator in Anatomy in the RCSI in 1809 by Professors William Dease and Abraham Colles. He held this position for only 2 years much to the annoyance of his superiors. Kirby immediately established a private medical school with Alexander Read called the 'Theatre of Anatomy' and it was located on Stephens Street. After the first course of lectures ended in 1810 the school moved to Peter Street. By 1812 Kirby was the sole proprietor of the 'Theatre of Anatomy and School of Surgery'.
The school flourished and Kirby's lectures on gunshot wounds became well known and well attended. This was a time of war in Europe so these battle field skills were highly sought. In order for his pupils to provide evidence of hospital attendance during their studies, Kirby set up a small hospital beside the school in 1811 called St. Peter's and St. Bridget's Hospital. The hospitals certificates were not accepted by the RCSI until 1831 and for this Kirby blamed his old superior, Colles
'Mr. Colles proved also my bitter enemy, refusing me in consultation whenever and wherever he could, to my great injury in my professional progress...I opened St. Peter's and St. Bridget's Hospital in Peter Street... I had in it twelve surgical beds, the number from which the celebrated Scarva worked out all that has illuminated the pages of surgery. Mr. C. did not think this enough. He proposed and carried the motion in the College that they would not recognise any hospital which did not contain twenty-four beds.'
Despite tense relations between Colles and himself, Kirby was a well respected surgeon and lecturer. He regularly attended medical meetings and discussions. So in 1823 he was elected President of the College. After his presidency Kirby proposed that a National Surgical Hospital be established under the management of the College. He then published a pamphlet arguing that a national hospital would be more beneficial to the people of Ireland than extending a museum. This extension was, of course, what the College was considering doing at that time. Having antagonised his colleagues, the proposal was not passed by the College.
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| Pamphlet accompanying Kirby's lecture given in the Coombe Hospital in 1825 |
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| Pamphlet accompanying Kirby's lecture given in Peter Street in 1825 |
By 1832 Kirby had received his Bachelor of Law (LL.B) and Doctor of Civil and Canon Law (LL.D) from Trinity College Dublin. He was also appointed the Chair of Medicine in RCSI. With this new position Kirby closed his private medical school and presented his museum to the College. In 1834 Kirby was elected President of the College for a second time. At the end of his presidency in 1835 Kirby also reigned his Chair of Medicine in the College.
'Circumstances connected with my health reluctantly compel me to such a measure - I confess i regret the necessity, however I am consoled by the reflexion that my place can be adequately filled by many of our distinguished Members and Licentiates'.
Kirby continued his large private medical practise until his death at the age of 73 on 26th May 1853. Kirby was an opinionated and driven surgeon who lectured in an unconventional manner. Kirby certainly ruffled some feathers along the way but he equipped his students with the skills needed to help those in need on the battle field. That's what really matters.
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy