The John Bargrave Collection
Collector’s Pieces: Treasures and Oddities of Edinburgh University Library
Secondary Title (i.e. Proceedings Title): Periodical Title:Scots Magazine Publication Type: Authors:Finlayson, Charles P.Editors: Publisher: Place of Publication: Publication Date:Nov 1969 Alternate Date (i.e. Conference Date): Volume:n.s. 92 Issue:2 Start Page:104 End Page:111 Abstract:
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Documents in Print Item: No Documents Listed in Print Item Attached People: Subject of/in a document - University of Edinburgh Library (c. 1579-)
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Annotation:In addition to some rare books and manuscripts acquired through the seventeenth century, Finlayson documents these objects:
Arthur Temple, a local surgeon, in 1671, (to quote from the librarian’s book) “did cut a Horne out of a Person’s Head Eleven Inches long, and for the Rarity therof haveing caused, putt a silver chaine therto with ane silver plaite bearing the Person’s name fra whose head it was cutt He caused His sone (Andrew, a student who graduated that year) Gift the same in to the Library to be conserved as a Token of his love and respect to the College and that such ane extraordinary accident and cure performed by the hand of ane Expert and skilful Chirurgion may be the better remembered” (105).
“a corn of a considerable bigness which Mr James Clerk, Graver to the Mint House, did cut from the great toe above the nail.”’ Mr Clerk evidently thought it worth preserving as a memento of his release from the suffering it must have caused him, and on the 3rd March 1692 the librarian records that he ‘“ prevailed with the Party to obtain it” (105).
A complete male skeleton, presented in 1671, was no doubt useful in the elementary anatomy class that course, formed part of the philosophy course, for medicine was not yet taught professionally in the university. It is noteworthy that the librarian describes it as the skeleton of a Frenchman (105-106).
Another medical curiosity was given in 1682, “a gravel stone taken out of the Bladder of Collonel Francis Ruthven at London in March 1655. He lived six weeks thereafter. This stone for the make and Biggness is very rare and considerable” (106).
February [1697] “the Reverend Doctor Burnet gave in to the collection of curiosities one of the Greenland or Lapland Boats covered with fish skins (called Wicky’s Boat),” and in May “Sir William Areskine, Governour of Black-Ness Castle” bequeathed “the bone of the Sword fish, having the appearance of a broad sword with the scabbard on.”