Alexander Monteith of Auldcathie (1660–1713) was an Edinburgh surgeon, who in his three terms as deacon (president) of the Incorporation of Surgeons of Edinburgh, presided over some of the most important changes in its history. These included obtaining the rights to perform anatomical dissection on the bodies of prisoners dying in jail, the granting of a royal charter by William and Mary in 1695, and the construction of the original Surgeons' Hall, the first permanent home of the Edinburgh Surgeons.
Monteith was the son of James Monteith of Auldcathie in what is now West Lothian.[1] He was apprenticed to William Borthwick of Pilmuir.[2] As Borthwick had studied at two of the great European medical centres, Padua and Leyden, it was natural that he should encourage his apprentice to do the same and Monteith spent several years studying on the Continent. He was admitted as a Freeman (Fellow) of the Incorporation of Surgeons on 22 December 1691.[3]
Role in establishing anatomy dissectionedit
On 24 October 1694 Monteith petitioned the Town Council 'for a gift' to obtain anatomical subjects for dissection. He requested 'the bodies of those who die in the Correction House [prison] and foundlings who die upon the breast...' [4] In return he offered to treat the poor of the town 'gratis' and this was accepted by the council. He had the powerful support in this venture of Archibald Pitcairne, who had served as Professor of Physic at Leyden from 1692. Pitcairne wrote to a friend in 1694 'I doe propose, if it be granted, to make better emprovements, in anatomie than have been made at Leyden these thirttie years...'[5] The Incorporation, concerned that Monteith might 'monopolise the whole subjects of anatomical dissection', made a similar request for bodies for dissection the following week.[6] The Council agreed on condition that the Incorporation build an anatomy theatre for public anatomy dissections. The anatomy theatre was therefore the main reason for the building of Surgeons' Hall which opened in 1697. The first public dissection took place in 1703 when Monteith dissected the abdominal cavity on the third day of dissection.[7]
Deacon of the Incorporation of Surgeonsedit
He was elected Deacon of the Incorporation in 1695 and again in 1699 but on the latter occasion was deposed. This was almost certainly because he was a Jacobite and the Incorporation had a strong Presbyterian tradition - all of the surgeons had signed the National Covenant in 1638.[8] Like his friend Archibald Pitcairne, also an enthusiastic Jacobite, he seems to have had the strength of character to overcome this setback and he was again elected Deacon in 1701.[9] Monteith rented three rooms in the basement of the new Surgeons' Hall as a 'laboratory', in which he could give instruction in chemistry to the apothecaries.[10] His course in 'chymie' [chemistry], lasting six weeks was advertised in the Edinburgh Gazette in 1699.[11] He seems to have used this for additional purposes because in 1700 he asked the Scottish Parliament in a petition, "That the art discovered by him to draw spirits from malt equal in goodness to true French brandy maybe declared a manufactory with the same privileges and immunities as are granted to other manufactories".[12] This was effectively asking for a patent to distil his own brand of malt whisky.
Charter from William and Maryedit
Monteith was therefore a Deacon at an important time in the history of the Incorporation. In 1694 the Incorporation was granted a new charter by King William and Queen Mary. This confirmed that only certified members of the Incorporation had the rights to practise surgery and pharmacy in south-east Scotland. The Charter also confirmed the responsibility of the Incorporation for the teaching of anatomy.[13]
Propertyedit
Monteith owned the estate of Todshaugh, later Foxhall, in West Lothian.[14]
^Creswell, C H. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh: Historical notes from 1505 to 1905. Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1926, p. 194
^Gairdner, John. Historical Sketch of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, Sutherland and Knox, 1860
^Mannings, D (April 1979). "Sir John Medina's portraits of the surgeons of Edinburgh". Medical History. 23 (2): 176–190. doi:10.1017/s002572730005136x. PMC1082434. PMID 381814.
^Creswell, C H. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh: Historical notes from 1505 to 1905. Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1926 p52
^The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2017), 1700/10/81. Date accessed: 2 October 2017.http://www.rps.ac.uk/mss/1700/10/81
^Creswell, C H. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh: Historical notes from 1505 to 1905. Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1926 p121
^Creswell, C H. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh: Historical notes from 1505 to 1905. Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1926 p194
^Collection of Epitaphs and Monumental Inscriptions: Chiefly in Scotland
January 01, 1970
alexander, monteith, surgeon, alexander, monteith, auldcathie, 1660, 1713, edinburgh, surgeon, three, terms, deacon, president, incorporation, surgeons, edinburgh, presided, over, some, most, important, changes, history, these, included, obtaining, rights, per. Alexander Monteith of Auldcathie 1660 1713 was an Edinburgh surgeon who in his three terms as deacon president of the Incorporation of Surgeons of Edinburgh presided over some of the most important changes in its history These included obtaining the rights to perform anatomical dissection on the bodies of prisoners dying in jail the granting of a royal charter by William and Mary in 1695 and the construction of the original Surgeons Hall the first permanent home of the Edinburgh Surgeons Contents 1 Surgical apprentice 2 Role in establishing anatomy dissection 3 Deacon of the Incorporation of Surgeons 4 Charter from William and Mary 5 Property 6 Death 7 ReferencesSurgical apprentice editMonteith was the son of James Monteith of Auldcathie in what is now West Lothian 1 He was apprenticed to William Borthwick of Pilmuir 2 As Borthwick had studied at two of the great European medical centres Padua and Leyden it was natural that he should encourage his apprentice to do the same and Monteith spent several years studying on the Continent He was admitted as a Freeman Fellow of the Incorporation of Surgeons on 22 December 1691 3 Role in establishing anatomy dissection editOn 24 October 1694 Monteith petitioned the Town Council for a gift to obtain anatomical subjects for dissection He requested the bodies of those who die in the Correction House prison and foundlings who die upon the breast 4 In return he offered to treat the poor of the town gratis and this was accepted by the council He had the powerful support in this venture of Archibald Pitcairne who had served as Professor of Physic at Leyden from 1692 Pitcairne wrote to a friend in 1694 I doe propose if it be granted to make better emprovements in anatomie than have been made at Leyden these thirttie years 5 The Incorporation concerned that Monteith might monopolise the whole subjects of anatomical dissection made a similar request for bodies for dissection the following week 6 The Council agreed on condition that the Incorporation build an anatomy theatre for public anatomy dissections The anatomy theatre was therefore the main reason for the building of Surgeons Hall which opened in 1697 The first public dissection took place in 1703 when Monteith dissected the abdominal cavity on the third day of dissection 7 Deacon of the Incorporation of Surgeons editHe was elected Deacon of the Incorporation in 1695 and again in 1699 but on the latter occasion was deposed This was almost certainly because he was a Jacobite and the Incorporation had a strong Presbyterian tradition all of the surgeons had signed the National Covenant in 1638 8 Like his friend Archibald Pitcairne also an enthusiastic Jacobite he seems to have had the strength of character to overcome this setback and he was again elected Deacon in 1701 9 Monteith rented three rooms in the basement of the new Surgeons Hall as a laboratory in which he could give instruction in chemistry to the apothecaries 10 His course in chymie chemistry lasting six weeks was advertised in the Edinburgh Gazette in 1699 11 He seems to have used this for additional purposes because in 1700 he asked the Scottish Parliament in a petition That the art discovered by him to draw spirits from malt equal in goodness to true French brandy maybe declared a manufactory with the same privileges and immunities as are granted to other manufactories 12 This was effectively asking for a patent to distil his own brand of malt whisky Charter from William and Mary editMonteith was therefore a Deacon at an important time in the history of the Incorporation In 1694 the Incorporation was granted a new charter by King William and Queen Mary This confirmed that only certified members of the Incorporation had the rights to practise surgery and pharmacy in south east Scotland The Charter also confirmed the responsibility of the Incorporation for the teaching of anatomy 13 Property editMonteith owned the estate of Todshaugh later Foxhall in West Lothian 14 Death editGairdner gives his date of death as 23 December 1713 15 This date is confirmed on his grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard in central Edinburgh 16 References edit List of Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Edinburgh George Robb 1874 https archive org stream b21465812 b21465812 djvu txt List of Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Edinburgh George Robb 1874 https archive org stream b21465812 b21465812 djvu txt List of Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Edinburgh George Robb 1874 https archive org stream b21465812 b21465812 djvu txt Wood Marguerite ed Extracts from the records of the Burgh of Edinburgh Edinburgh Printed for the Scottish Burgh Records Society 1869 p 204 https babel hathitrust org cgi pt id mdp 39015068454936 view 1up seq 204 Archibald Pitcairne to Robert Gray 24 October 1694 The Best of Our Owne Letters of Archibald Pitcairne 1652 1713 Edinburgh 1979 p19 Wood Marguerite ed Extracts from the records of the Burgh of Edinburgh Edinburgh Printed for the Scottish Burgh Records Society 1869 p206 https babel hathitrust org cgi pt id mdp 39015068454936 view 1up seq 206 Creswell C H The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Historical notes from 1505 to 1905 Edinburgh Oliver and Boyd 1926 p 194 Gairdner John Historical Sketch of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Edinburgh Sutherland and Knox 1860 Mannings D April 1979 Sir John Medina s portraits of the surgeons of Edinburgh Medical History 23 2 176 190 doi 10 1017 s002572730005136x PMC 1082434 PMID 381814 Creswell C H The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Historical notes from 1505 to 1905 Edinburgh Oliver and Boyd 1926 p52 Edinburgh Gazette No 26 25 May 1699 The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 K M Brown et al eds St Andrews 2007 2017 1700 10 81 Date accessed 2 October 2017 http www rps ac uk mss 1700 10 81 Creswell C H The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Historical notes from 1505 to 1905 Edinburgh Oliver and Boyd 1926 p121 Creswell C H The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Historical notes from 1505 to 1905 Edinburgh Oliver and Boyd 1926 p194 List of Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Edinburgh George Robb 1874 https archive org stream b21465812 b21465812 djvu txt Collection of Epitaphs and Monumental Inscriptions Chiefly in Scotland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Monteith surgeon amp oldid 1204192089, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
