RCSI Heritage Collections

The surgical skills needed to remove, rebuild and reconstruct a persons face after major surgery have been perfected over the centuries. When these surgical techniques and skills were being discovered there were no small incisions, cameras or keyhole surgery! To see the before and after of major surgery is something we can easily do now through magazines, the internet, newspapers etc. What about in 1869? Enter:  Maurice Henry Collis Maurice Henry Collis presented a photograph album to the RCSI in 1869 which contains before and after photographs of numerous surgical reconstructions carried out by Collis. In 1867 Collis successfully removed an enormous ossified enchondroma from the left side of Mr. Battersby's face. Mr. Battersby was a well known individual in Dublin whose tumour had been growing for 20 years. Mr. Battersby before his surgery (RCSI/IP/Collis/1) Mr. Battersby after his surgery (RCSI/IP/Collis/1) It is not known what year Collis wa...

The RCSI Heritage Collections are extremely grateful to our colleagues in the Heritage Centre of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland for providing us with an amazing image of Butcher's much lauded about biceps! WARNING  This image may cause fainting in those of a weak disposition Butcher drawing the long bow RCPI/VM/1/2/B/47 - Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy

Early in his career, and for many subsequent years, Mr. Butcher excited the admiration of medical students by exhibitions of his muscular development. He was wont to roll up his shirt-sleeves before operating, thereby exposing to view biceps of much more than average proportions. His dark c omplexion, well-oiled, raven black, long hair and good features rendered his appearance remarkable. - Sir Charles A. Cameron Upon reading this description of Richard George Herbert Butcher, President of the RCSI 1866-67, the Heritage Collections couldn't help but find out more about this Irish surgeon. Richard George Butcher (1819-1891) Butcher was born on 19th April 1819 in Danesfort, Killarney to a family of English origin. He was 1 of 13 children born to Vice-Admiral Samuel Butcher and Elizabeth Herbert. butcher received his primary eduction in Hamblin's and Porter's School in Cork. He began his medical studies under John Woodroffe in the Cork School of Medicine. After two ...

The RCSI Heritage Collections are delighted to announce that another two decades of  the  Roll of Licentiates, years 1870 to 1890, are now available online A well known licentiate and Fellow of the College who graduated in 1877 and whose signature can be see in the newly released Ro ll of Licentiates documents is John Freeman Knott (1853-1921). Signature of John Freeman Knott in the RCSI Roll of Licentiates May 1877 Knott was a prolific author of medical reviews and articles, producing over 2,000 from 1880 to 1920. The variety of topics touched on by Knott ranged from Jonathan Swift's death mask to matted hair specimens to spontaneous combustion! Many medical historians and Knott's own contemporaries would use the word 'eccentric' to describe him. Legend has it that Knott was seeking entrance to the College through the front door in 1916 as he wanted to continue research he was conducting. He was unaware that a revolution was happening in the streets of Dublin ...

With the announcement that the houses on Moore Street where the 1916 leaders surrendered are to be restored, the Heritage Collections thought of another reason why this row of houses should be saved. In number 20 Moore Street Dr. William Wallace (1791-1837) opened the first hospital to investigate and treat the numerous skin diseases afflicting the poor in Dublin. The first of it's kind in the whole British Empire. Dr. William Wallace (1791-1837) William Wallace was born in 1791 in Downpatrick, Co. Down to James Wallace and Elizabeth Ledlie. Little is known about Wallace's childhood. At the age of 17 decided to study medicine and was indentured to Dr. Charles Bowden of the Apothecaries Hall in Dublin. Two years later in 1810 he enrolled in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland as a medical student. Wallace worked as an apprentice to Charles Hawkes Todd, lecturer in Anatomy. Todd was also surgeon to the Richmond and Lock Hospitals, both had large numbers of patients w...

With the approach of International Women's Day (8th March) we at the RCSI Heritage Collections decided to look into the archives and tell the stories of two remarkable women whose collections are housed here. Victoria Coffey (1911-1999) Victoria P. Coffey (1911-1999) was an outstanding expert in the field of congenital abnormalities. A Dubliner who studied medicine in the RCSI receiving her license in 1936. Coffey gained experience in obstetrics and children's diseases in the Meath and St. Kevin's Hospitals. She received her DPH Diploma from the RCSI in 1943. She held numerous positions such as Extern Assistant in Harcourt Street Children's Hospital, Dublin; Consultant Paediatrician in St. Patrick's Home, Navan Road, Dublin; past president of the Irish Paediatric Association, Biological Society (RCSI) and the Irish and American Paediatric Society 1974-1976 among others. Coffey along with Prof. Patrick Moore were among the pioneers in Ireland in the study of...

As it is the Day of Love the Heritage Collections felt it right to tell you the tale of Robert (Robin) Adair. Adair was made one of the first Honorary Fellows of this College on 11 December 1784. Adair is believed to have been a native of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, and was studying medicine in Dublin in the late 1700s. While studying he got into some sort of a scrape. But with very little money and few friends Adair decided that his only option was to flee Dublin and head towards London. Adair arrived in Holyhead with no money to pay for passage to London so he began to walk. Robert (Robin) Adair He had not walked far when he came across a carriage that had been overturned on the bad road. The owner and occupier of the carriage was a well known society lady who had been slightly injured in the accident. Adair offered to help the lady and soon had the carriage righted and road-worthy again. Adair explained that he was a surgeon and offered to inspect the lady's injuries whic...