work on the bones, a sketch of which he read before a society of young surgeons
and physicians, of which he had been elected a member. Before his return, his
father had presented several of his preparations to the college, so that his skill
was already well known. The titular professor of anatomy to the college of
surgeons had even formed the resolution of relinquishing his appointment in
favour of this promising young anatomist, who, he thought, would be able to
convert it into a useful profession. Accordingly, on his arrival in Edinburgh,
in 1719, when only twenty-two years of age, he was nominated to this dignity.
Early in the ensuing year, he commenced the first regular course of anatomical
and chirurgical lectures and demonstrations, which were ever delivered in that
city. From his abilities and zeal, and the preparations with which he illustrated
his discourses, success could hardly fail to attend his labours. It could not, however, be expected that an anatomical and surgical course alone, however valuable, or a single professor, however great his abilities, could be sufficient to
raise the fame of a medical school, which had to combat many rival seminaries
of deserved eminence. It became, therefore, a matter of the utmost consequence
to obtain such associates as could second and support his labours. His father,
to whose zeal for the establishment of a medical school in Edinburgh, much of
his son's success is to be attributed, prevailed on Dr Alston, then king's botanist
for Scotland, to begin a course of lectures on the materia medica. He also took
an expedient for improving his son's mode of lecturing. Without the young
teacher's knowledge, he invited the president and fellows of the college of physicians, and the whole company of surgeons, to honour the first day's lecture with their presence. This unexpected company threw the doctor into such
confusion, that he forgot the words of the discourse, which he had written and committed to memory. Having left his papers at home, he was at a loss for a little time what to do; but, with much presence of mind, he immediately began
to show some of the anatomical preparations, in order to gain time for recollection; and very soon resolved not to attempt to repeat the discourse which he had prepared, but to express himself in such language as should occur to him
from the subject, which he was confident that he understood. The experiment succeeded; he delivered himself well, and gained great applause as a good and ready speaker. Thus discovering his own strength, he resolved henceforth
never to recite any written discourse in teaching, and acquired a free and elegant style of delivering lectures.
The want of lectures on other branches, which still remained as an obstacle to the creation of a medical school, was soon altogether overcome by the zeal of the elder Monro, through whose influence his son and Dr Alston were put upon the college establishment, together with co-operative lectureships, undertaken by Drs Sinclair, Rutherford, and Plumer. Such was the origin of the medical school of Edinburgh, which for a century has been one of the most eminent and most frequented in Europe. The system was completed in the course of a few years, by the establishment of the Royal Infirmary at Edinburgh, which was chiefly urged forward by Dr Monro, with a view to the advantage of his pupils, and by George Drummond, the lord provost of the city. In this institution, Dr Monro commenced clinical lectures on the surgical, and Rutherford a similar course on the medical cases. The former, in his various capacities of physician, lecturer, and manager, took an active part in the whole business of the Infirmary. He personally attended the opening of every body ; and he not only dictated to the students an accurate report of the dissection, but, with nice discrimination, contrasted the diseased and sound state of every organ. Thus, in his own person, he afforded to the students a conspicuous example of the advantages of early anatomical pursuits, as the happiest foundation for a medical
