2-798-843 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

New Physicians' Hall, Edinburgh, 1845. Offices of the Royal College of Physicians in Queen Street, designed by Thomas Hamilton. 'The top figure of the facade is that of Hygeia, the Goddess of Health. The other two represent Aesculapius and Hippocrates. They are sculptured by Mr. Alexander Ritchie...'. The RCPE was formed by royal charter in 1681, which '...excluded any but licentiates from practising medicine under a penalty of forty shillings...The College also had the unenviable privilege of searching and inspecting..."all drugs and medicine...and such as shall be found bad and unwholesome shall be thrown into the streets and destroyed." Probably, from the unpleasant nature of a duty, which involved the emptying of such slops as apothecaries of old dealt in, the learned body have for a long time discontinued the exercise of this privilege'. From "Illustrated London News", 1845, Vol VII.