Oldest Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta

Calcutta Medical College in the old times

Calcutta Medical College in the mid-ninteenth century

Logo of Calcutta Medical College
Moto: Cum Humanitate Scientia

Calcutta Medical College (now called Medical College, Kolkata) - Founded 1835

History:

The first attempt for the introduction of a proper medical training was undertaken by Lord William Bentinck. As a fruit of his effort and long persuasion, government order was passed to set up a medical college in Calcutta which is known as Calcutta Medical College. As the resolution was passed on 28th January,1835, this day is observed as the Foundation Day of the College. What we see at the premises of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, did not exist during the early period of its inception. An old house at the rear of the Hindu College was converted for use as the New Medical College. 

This was used till the premises of the Petty Court Jail, the site of which included a part of the present building housing the Physiology and other departments and a part of the field to the north of Administrative Block, was ready for use. The first batch of the students numbered 50 and they received stipend from Rs.7 to 12 per month. The successful students after passing the final examination received certificates of qualification to practice Medicine and Surgery, and would receive pay as Native Doctors starting with Rs.30 per month, for being employed under government. With this, the books and apparatus of the abolished Native Institution was made over.

A group of illustrious band of teachers started conducting classes. The Head of the Institution was designated as Superintendent and then as Principal. Till today, this practice is being followed. There came a professor in Medicine and Anatomy and another professor in Chemistry and MaterialMedica. Two skeletons were purchased through M/S Bathgate & Company at a cost of Rs.1500. The anatomical preparations were imported from England. MJ Bramley was the first principal of the college and HH Goodeve was the first Surgeon professor. 

It was Surgeon Goodeve who tried to convince the superstitious citizen of the need of dissection for cause of treatment. It was on 10th January,1836,Pandit Madhusudhan Gupata, Babus Uma Charan Sett, Dwarakanath Gupta, Raj Kristo Dey and Nabin Chunder Mitter secretly followed Dr. Goodevetoan outhouse of the college building and with the hands of Madhusudhan Gupta started dissection of a dead human body. This great day was recorded in the Annals of Western medicine in India when Indians rose superior to all prejudice and superstition and boldly flung open the gates of modern scientific medicine to their fellow countrymen.

Landmark:

Landmarks for the first 100 years (1835-1935)

1838 - Hindustani class started for subordinate doctors. Female (lying in) hospital started functioning with the benevolence of MuttyLal Seal. 

1839 - 11 students completed the first batch of completing 3.5 year course. Uma Charan Sett stood first and received gold watch from HE Lord Auckland. 

1839 - Institution had a spacious theatre for 500 persons, apartments for practical anatomy, a laboratory, museum, library and hospital. 

1840 - A 100 bed female hospital was formed. 

1845 - The Medical College was duly registered in England. First batch of 4 students under the patronage of Prince DwarakaNath Tagore left for England to pursue their study. 

1846 - Examination Council was shifted from government to Professors of the departments. 

1850 - Professorship of medical jurisprudence was separated from that of MaterialMedica. 

1852 - The oldest hospital of east was opened to accommodate 350 patients. 

1856 - A Chair of Comparative Anatomy was established. 

1857 - The college got affiliation of Calcutta University. 

1860 - The classes were segregated as a. Class I Primary for LMS, MB and MD examinations, b. Class II Apprentice, c. Class III Hindostanee and d. Class IV Bengalee. 

1864 - A professorship of Hygiene was established. 

1868 - Mildwifery class started. 

1871 - Pathology was separated from Medicine. 

1873 - 823 students were shifted to newly instituted Campbell Medical School. 

1874 - Minimum qualification for admission to medical college was raised to First Arts Examination. 

1876 - First lady student Kadambini Ganguly was admitted to the college.

1881 - Eden Hospital was opened. 

1884 - With the aid of Maharani Swarnamoyee a hostel for Indian girls was constructed. 

1885 - Antiseptic surgery was established. 

1886 - Children ward was thrown open. 

1887 - Ezra Hospital was opened. 

1888 - A Steam Laundry was erected. 

1889 - Bidhumukhi Bose and Virginia Mary Mitter became first lady graduates from the college. 

1891 - Shama Churn Law Eye infirmary started functioning with 57 beds. 

1894 - Isolation block for Eden Hospital was completed. 

1897 - An earthquake on June 12 caused considerable damage to the hospital. 

1898 - Chemistry Block was constructed. First Medical Outdoor services started in the hospital. 

1902 - 2 modern operation theaters were commissioned. 

1906 - LMS got abolished. 

1907 - Physics was declared an independent subject in the course. A Chair of Professor in the subject was sanctioned. 

1910 - Prince of Wales Hospital with 88 beds was founded.

 
1911 - Dewan Bahadur Hiralal basu was the first Indian to chair the Anatomy department. 

1914 - Half yearly M.B.examination were introduced. 

1916 - Female certificate Class - a separate class for female student was abolished. The preliminary qualification for admission was raised to I.A. or I.Sc. 

1921 - A separate chair of Pharmacology was created and Lt.Col.RN Chopra was appointed for the chair. Second professor of Midwifery was created. 

1925 - Student's Club was formed. First College Magazine published. 

1928 - Lt.Col.AD Stewart became a whole time Principal of College and Superintendent of the hospital. Mr. SN Chakraborti was appointed as first whole time secretary. 

1930 - 6 Indian probationer nurses were inducted in the hospital. 

1933 - A medical Council was constituted to grant recognition of Medical Degrees. Sir Hussain Suhawardy, an ex-student of the college was nominated as the President of the council. De.Kedarnath Das became the Inspector of Examinations in the council 


1934 - Dr. LM Banerjee was the first Indian to become Indian Professor in Surgery. Miss Ganga Agarwal was appointed first Lady House Physician to Indoor Medical Wards.

 

1935 - The centenary was celebrated with grandeur.

Glory:

The College has the glory of being called first in the history for:

First Medical College in Asia. 

First Hospital (both indoor and outdoor) in India

First Indian Lady Physician passed out from this college.

Heritage College and Hospital Buildings those are in existence during last two centuries.

First in trying with wireless communication within the premises. Miss Bidhumukhi Bose - Eminent student of initial batch.

General view of Medical College Hospital in the year 1878 located on College street , Calcutta.
This Corinthian building was completed in 1852.

Foundation of the Calcutta Medical College
(Scanned image of the photograph of a 19th century work, reprinted in Kolkata Shahaher Itibritta by Benoy Ghosh)

Madhusudan Gupta, the first student of the college who performed the first human dissection in modern India and modern Asia.

H.H.Goodeve - first Surgeon Professor of the college.