1885-1919

FOUNDATION OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL

The Adelaide Medical School was established in 1885. Prior to 1885, the University Act 1874 had made provisions for granting degrees in medicine, but there had been no mention of establishing a Medical School where in subjects for such a degree were taught.1. The decision to establish a Medical School was not clear until 1881 when the University Annual Report expressed the intent to commence the establishment of a future school of medicine with the appointment of a lectureship in Human Physiology. 2.

It would not be until 1884 that the Council would be in the position to provide the necessary accommodation for the Medical School. Accomodation was made possible by Sir Thomas Elder’s donation of £10,000, in 1883, for the exact purpose of founding the school. 3. Restricted by funds, the University Council determined that it would only be possible to provide subjects for the first two years of a medical course that was compliant with the recommendations of The General Council of Medical Education and Registration of the United Kingdom. 4. To establish the medical course, it was determined that a Professor of Anatomy, a Lecturer of Physiology, and a Professor Chemistry were most needed. The subjects of Botany and Natural Philosophy were already taught at the University, and it was determined that the appointment of a Lecturer of Materia Medica could be delayed to 1886. 5.

The Board of Management of the Adelaide Hospital was approached by the University Council to consider providing clinical instruction for the medical students at the University, and an Anatomy Act, necessary for the establishment of the Medical School, was passed through Parliament. 6. A dissecting room was provided on University Grounds, and though not finished, made available for teaching in the year 1885. 7.

Additional financial aid was provided by John Howard Angas, who pledged £6,000 to establish a Chair of Chemistry. 8.

While the first two years of the medical course had been provided for, it was not expected that a full five-year course would be completed at the University. This changed in 1886 when financial aid was received from Sir Thomas Elder and the South Australian Government. 9. Prior to the establishment of a medical course in Adelaide students were required to seek their education overseas. The Government established The South Australian Scholarship to fund and enable recipients to travel to England for study. 10. At the suggestion of the University Council, the Government abolished the scholarship with the intention to grant the funds to the Medical School. 11. An immediate issue remained as the funds for 1886 had already been awarded; however, Sir Thomas Elder contributed a sum of £1000 to the Medical School, and thus supplied the additional funds required until the whole income from the South Australian Scholarship was receivable. 12. It was now possible for the Medical School to appoint the staff needed for a complete medical course at Adelaide.

THE MEDICAL COURSE

The Medical School was established to provide a medical course wherein subjects for degrees in medicine were taught. The medical course was fully realised in 1886 when a full five-year course and curriculum was established with the appointment of lecturers in the subjects of medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology, pharmacology, ophthalmology, forensic medicine, mental health, aural surgery, and pathology. 13. Clinical instruction would also be incorporated into the medical curriculum. 14.

Prior to 1886, the University had appointed lecturers in the subjects of physiology, chemistry, anatomy, botany, and natural philosophy. 15. These subjects would continue to be the core of the medical course until 1911 when it was determined that the medical curriculum, which had remained unchanged since its establishment in 1885, was inadequate in preparing students to practice medicine. 16. The subjects of elementary biology, elementary physics, and inorganic chemistry were subsequently removed from the curriculum. 17. 

MEDICAL DEGREES

Prior to the establishment of the Medical School, the University Act 1874 had made provisions for the granting of degrees in medicine. 18.

Beginning in 1877, graduates from other universities were awarded ad eundem degrees. 19.

The degrees offered at the Medical School began with the Bachelor of Medicine which had regulations for its award established on November 17, 1886. 20. Two years later, the Degrees in Surgery Act 1888 would be passed in Parliament thus permitting the University to grant degrees in Surgery. 21. These degrees would be known as the Bachelor of Surgery, and the Master of Surgery.

On December 18, 1889, regulations were established for the degree Doctor of Medicine; and in 1891, the Medical School would award the first doctorate in the degree of medicine to an Adelaide graduate. 22.

Throughout the early years of the Medical School recognition of Adelaide University medical degrees would be sought with medical institutions abroad. Recognition of Adelaide as a medical teaching institution was sought with the Royal College of Physicians in London, the Royal College of Surgeons of London, and the British General Medical Council. 23.

On December 8, 1894, the British General Medical Council would recognise the four medical degrees offered in the Medical School. 24. However, for Bachelor of Medicine graduates to be eligible for legal medical practice in England graduates needed a Bachelor of Surgery degree as well; and in 1913, when a Supplementary Charter was granted to the University, surgical degrees were recognised. 25.

CLINICAL INSTRUCTION

Clinical instruction in medicine and surgery was incorporated into the full five-year medical course at its establishment in 1886. 26. To accommodate clinical instruction the University Council approached the Board of Management of the Adelaide Hospital to negotiate the admittance of students. 27. Negotiation was made possible due to the Hospital Act 1884 which granted, in clauses 9 and 10, the University the power to elect a member of the University staff to the Board of Management. 28.

On April 15, 1897, these negotiations were finalised, and Medical School students began to enter the Hospital for clinical instruction. 29. The impact of the Hospital on the medical course was further experienced in 1896 when a dispute between Hospital staff and the South Australian Government escalated beyond the boundaries of the Hospital. This dispute lasted from 1896 to 1901 and became known as the “Hospital Row”. 30.

As the Adelaide Hospital was a Government institution, the Medical School’s use of its facilities for clinical instruction was based on an unofficial understanding between staff and, therefore, unprotected from cancelation. 31. The resignation of Medical School staff from their positions at the Hospital halted student admittance; therefore, preventing students from completing the full five-year course. 32. The University was forced to make provisions for medical students to complete their final years in Melbourne or Sydney, Adelaide only being able to offer the first three years of the medical course. 33.

It would not be until 1901 that University staff would return to work in the Hospital and the medical course would be restored. 34. Clinical instruction at the Adelaide Hospital would not become protected until 1921 when the Hospital Act Amendment Act was passed. Clause 13 of this Act would declare the Adelaide Hospital as a school of Medical and Dental instruction in connection to the University. 35.

WORLD WAR I

During the period of 1914-1919, the University experienced administrative changes. Beginning in 1914, Medical School staff began to take leave of absence for service in the war. 36. Due to leave of absence many staff were temporarily substituted into positions. 37.

In 1915 the University approached the Federal and State Government to offer aid in the war. 38. It was determined that there was a need of doctors; therefore, and to accelerate the completion of degrees the study period would be shortened. 39.

Throughout the period staff was depleted, and the medical course would not return to its pre-war state until 1919 when Medical School staff returned from war service. 40.

END NOTES:

1. 1878 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1878, Series 108, University Calendars –1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100395 (hereafter cited as 1878 Calendar, University Calendars); Jubilee of the Medical School 1885-1935 Publication, 1935, Series S-0035, Box 1, Item 8, Medical School Jubilee Celebrations – 1935, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. (hereafter cited as Jubilee, Medical School).
2. 1882 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1882, Series 108, University Calendars –1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100399; Jubilee, Medical School.
3. 1885 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1885, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100393 (hereafter cited as 1885 Calendar, University Calendars); Declaration of Trust as to the sum of 10,000 pounds given by Sir Thomas Elder for the purpose of founding a School of Medicine, 1884, S-0654-0009, University of Adelaide Legal Documents - 1864 – 1998, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA; Jubilee, Medical School.
4. 1885 Calendar, University Calendars.
5. 1885 Calendar, University Calendars; Jubilee, Medical School.
6. 1885 Calendar, University Calendars.
7. 1886 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1886, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100391.
8. 1885 Calendar, University Calendars; Item 243: Establishment of the Angas Chair of Chemistry, 1884-5, Series 169, Registrar's Department Correspondence [1872-1923], University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. https://library.adelaide.edu.au/coll/archives/series169/169-243/ ; Jubilee, Medical School.
9. 1887 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1887, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100390 (hereafter cited as 1887 Calendar, University Calendars); Jubilee, Medical School.
10. 1887 Calendar, University Calendars; Jubilee, Medical School.
11. 1887 Calendar, University Calendars.
12. 1887 Calendar, University Calendars.
13. 1887 Calendar, University Calendars; Jubilee, Medical School; Series 200 Listing, 2018, Series 200 D2018/7442, Registrar's Correspondence Files – Dockets – 1886-1960, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. (hereafter cited as Series 200, Registrar’s Correspondence).
14. 1887 Calendar, University Calendars; Jubilee, Medical School; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
15. Jubilee, Medical School.
16. 1910 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1910, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100269 (hereafter cited as 1910 Calendar, University Calendars).
17. 1910 Calendar, University Calendars.
18. Jubilee, Medical School.
19. 1878 Calendar, University Calendars Jubilee, Medical School.
20. 1890 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1890, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100387 (hereafter cited as 1890 Calendar, University Calendars); Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
21. 1889 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1889, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100388.
22. 1890 Calendar, University Calendars.
23. 1891 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1891, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100386 ; 1895 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1895, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100383 (hereafter cited as 1895 Calendar, University Calendars); Item 246: Medical Correspondence, 1885, Series 169, Registrar's Department Correspondence [1872-1923], University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. https://library.adelaide.edu.au/coll/archives/series169/169-246/ ; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
24. 1895 Calendar, University Calendars; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
25. Jubilee, Medical School; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
26. 1887 Calendar, University Calendars; Jubilee, Medical School; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
27. 1888 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1888, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100389 (hereafter cited as 1888 Calendar, University Calendars); Jubilee, Medical School; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
28. 1885 Calendar, University Calendars Jubilee, Medical School.
29. 1888 Calendar, University Calendars; Jubilee, Medical School; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
30. Copies of correspondence and extracts from minutes of Council and the Board of Management of Adelaide Hospital relating to the "Hospital Row", 1894-1898, Series S-0034, Box 1, Folder 3, Dr A A Lendon's Papers [Jubilee History of the Medical School] - 1885 – 1935, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA; Jubilee, Medical School; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
31. Jubilee, Medical School.
32. Jubilee, Medical School.
33. Jubilee, Medical School; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
34. 1901 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1901, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100378 ; 1902 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1902, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100278.
35. Jubilee, Medical School; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
36. 1915 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1915, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100212 (hereafter cited as 1915 Calendar, University Calendars); 1916 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1916, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100210 (hereafter cited as 1916 Calendar, University Calendars); Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
37. 1915 Calendar, University Calendars; 1916 Calendar, University Calendars; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
38. 1916 Calendar, University Calendars; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.
39. 1916 Calendar, University Calendars; Doctors on the Front: Action by University Senate, 19 March 1915, Series 163, Volume 8, University Newscuttings Books [1881-1977], University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/51039/97/Page086.pdf ; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence; University Medical Course and New Doctors, 25 September 1915, Series 163, Volume 8, University Newscuttings Books [1881-1977], University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/51039/28/Page155.pdf .
40. 1920 Calendar of the University of Adelaide, 1920, Series 108, University Calendars – 1878-2019, University of Adelaide Archives, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100207; Series 200 Listing, Registrar’s Correspondence.

Prepared by Rebecca Martin (2020)