{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T00:44:08Z","timestamp":1777855448501,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2014,1,30]],"date-time":"2014-01-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1391040000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Med Biogr"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2015,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Between 1841 and 1845 John Struthers attended both the University of Edinburgh and some of the various Extra-mural Schools of Medicine associated with Surgeons\u2019 Hall. While a medical student he became a Member of the Hunterian Medical Society of Edinburgh and later was elected one of their Annual Presidents. He graduated with the MD Edin and obtained both the LRCS Edin and the FRCS Edin diplomas in 1845. Shortly afterwards he was invited to teach Anatomy in Dr Handyside\u2019s Extra-mural School in Edinburgh. The College of Surgeons certified him to teach Anatomy in October 1847. He had two brothers, and all three read Medicine in Edinburgh. His younger brother, Alexander, died of cholera in the Crimea in 1855 while his older brother James, who had been a bachelor all his life, practised as a Consultant Physician in Leith Hospital, Edinburgh, until his death.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>When associated with Dr Handyside\u2019s Extra-mural School in Edinburgh, John taught Anatomy there until he was elected to the Chair of Anatomy in Aberdeen in 1863. Much of his time was spent in Aberdeen teaching Anatomy and in upgrading the administrative facilities there. He resigned from this Chair in 1889 and subsequently was elected President of Leith Hospital from 1891 to 1897. This was in succession to his older brother, James, who had died in 1891. Later, he was elected President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh from 1895 to 1897 and acted as its Vice-President from 1897 until his death in 1899. In 1898, Queen Victoria knighted him. His youngest son, John William Struthers, was the only one of his clinically qualified sons to survive him and subsequently was elected President of the Edinburgh College of Surgeons from 1941 to 1943.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/0967772013506808","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2014,1,30]],"date-time":"2014-01-30T22:10:39Z","timestamp":1391119839000},"page":"216-224","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Sir John Struthers (1823\u20131899), Professor of Anatomy in the University of Aberdeen (1863\u20131889), President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1895\u20131897)"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"MH","family":"Kaufman","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"5 Moston Terrace, Edinburgh EH9 2DE, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2014,1,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Pennington C. Struthers, Sir John (1823\u20131899), anatomist and medical reformer.\n                      Dictionary of national biography,\n                      vol. 53. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, pp.109\u2013110."},{"key":"bibr2-0967772013506808","unstructured":"His MD dissertation was entitled,\n                      On the physiology and physiological anatomy of the muscles and nerves of the eyeballs, and on the theory of their derangement in strabismus\n                      . See Anon.\n                      List of the graduates in medicine in the University of Edinburgh, from MDCCV to MDCCCLXVI\n                      . Edinburgh: Neill & Co, 1867, p.138."},{"key":"bibr3-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Anon.\n                      Medical Times and Gazette\n                      1855; 10 (New Series): 150\u2013151, see p. 151, for Medical News from the Seat of War. See also, Anon The late Dr Alexander Struthers.\n                      Monthly Journal of Medical Sciences\n                      1855; 20 (Third Series, Volume XI): 276."},{"key":"bibr4-0967772013506808","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Anon. James Struthers, M.D., F.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin.\n                      British Medical Journal\n                      1891; I: 1363.","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.1.1590.1363"},{"key":"bibr5-0967772013506808","unstructured":"See, for example, Anon. John William Struthers.\n                      University of Edinburgh Journal\n                      1953; 17: 53; Anon John William Struthers, LL.D., M.B., F.R.C.S.E.\n                      Edinburgh Medical Journal\n                      1953; 60: 434; WQW. J. W. Struthers, LL.D., M.B., F.R.C.S.Ed.\n                      British Medical Journal\n                      1953; II: 513; Anon John William Struthers M.D., LL.D. Edin., F.R.C.S.E.\n                      The Lancet\n                      1953; II: 457\u2013458 (there is no evidence that he was ever awarded the MD degree)."},{"key":"bibr6-0967772013506808","unstructured":"See Keith A.\n                      Anatomy in Scotland during the Life-time of Sir John Struthers (1823\u20131899)\n                      . Reprinted from the\n                      Edinburgh Medical Journal\n                      1912; VIII: 7\u201333, see footnote on p. 17."},{"key":"bibr7-0967772013506808","unstructured":"For brief details on the history and activities of this society, see Jenkinson J.\n                      Scottish Medical Societies 1731\u20131939\n                      . Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1993, p.216."},{"key":"bibr8-0967772013506808","unstructured":"From mid-1843 probationary essays were not required when candidates submitted for the FRCS Edin diploma, as had previously been the case."},{"key":"bibr9-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Between 1845 and 1847 Struthers was Handyside\u2019s\n                      Assistant\n                      Demonstrator (or\n                      Assistant\n                      Lecturer) as it was only in October 1847 that he formally became his Demonstrator (or Lecturer). This was only after he had been formally certified to teach Anatomy in the Extra-mural School by the College of Surgeons."},{"key":"bibr10-0967772013506808","unstructured":"See (Op. cit. ref. 1), 109."},{"key":"bibr11-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J.\n                      Anatomical and physiological observations Part I\n                      . Edinburgh: Sutherland & Knox, 1854, p. 239. The following human anatomical topics had been considered in this volume: two papers on the anatomy of the arm, on\n                      the supra-condyloid process\n                      (1st paper), and another on the\n                      abnormal anatomy of the arm\n                      (paper 15). A single paper was then published on each of the following subjects: on\n                      the oblique muscles of the eye\n                      (paper 2), on\n                      two cases of double stomach\n                      (paper 3), on\n                      the nerves of the orbit\n                      (paper 4), on\n                      the open foramen ovale, associated with a contracted pulmonary orifice\n                      , and on the\n                      development and physiology of the foetal heart\n                      (paper 5), on\n                      malformation of the heart and blood-vessels of the foetus\n                      (paper 6), on\n                      the mode of action of local blood-letting in affections of the internal viscera\n                      (paper 7), on\n                      certain varieties of the motor oculi nerve\n                      (paper 8), on\n                      an esquimaux female pelvis\n                      (paper 9), on\n                      malformation of the semi-lunar valves of the heart\n                      (paper 10), on\n                      rudimentary ribs\n                      ,\n                      associated with the anatomy of the vertebrae\n                      (paper 11), on\n                      branches from the fifth nerve to the muscles of the eye\n                      (paper 12), on\n                      diverticula from the small intestine\n                      (paper 13), a\n                      Review of the 2nd edition of Wilson\u2019s \u2018Manual of Anatomy\u2019\n                      (paper 14) and a final paper on the\n                      fascia of Scarpa\n                      (paper 16)."},{"key":"bibr12-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J.\n                      Anatomical and physiological observations Part II\n                      , Aberdeen: D Wyllie & Son; Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart; London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co., 1864, pp. 241\u2013333. The following topics had been considered in this volume: on\n                      jugular venesection in asphyxia\n                      (paper 17), on\n                      the use of the round ligament of the hip joint\n                      (paper 18),\n                      a case of double-uterus\n                      (paper 19), on\n                      the solid-hoofed pig, and a case in which the fore-foot of the horse presented with two toes\n                      (paper 20), on\n                      the relative weight of the viscera on the two sides of the body\n                      (paper 21) and on\n                      the number of fingers and toes, and phalanges in man\n                      (paper 22)."},{"key":"bibr13-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J. Osteological memoirs, No. 1. The clavicle, Edinburgh: Sutherland & Knox; London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co, 1855, pp. 90\u201390."},{"key":"bibr14-0967772013506808","unstructured":"For a complete version of Struthers\u2019 speech, see Struthers, J.\n                      On the study of medicine. Introductory address at surgeons\u2019 hall Edinburgh, session 1855\u20131856\n                      . Edinburgh: Sutherland & Knox, 1856, pp.1\u201334."},{"key":"bibr15-0967772013506808","first-page":"92","volume":"2","author":"Struthers J","year":"1856","journal-title":"Edinburgh Medical Journal"},{"key":"bibr16-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J. How to improve the teaching in the Scottish Universities, Edinburgh: Sutherland & Knox; Aberdeen: John Smith; Glasgow: Griffin & Co, 1859, pp. 36\u201336."},{"key":"bibr17-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J. The Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons under the Medical Act. The Introductory Address at Surgeons\u2019 Hall \u2013 Session 1861\u20131862, Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart; London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co, 1861, pp. 1\u201351."},{"key":"bibr18-0967772013506808","first-page":"368","volume":"9","author":"Struthers J","year":"1863","journal-title":"Edinburgh Medical Journal"},{"key":"bibr19-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Kaufman MH. Circumstances surrounding the examination of the skull and brain of George Combe (1788\u20131858) advocate of phrenology.\n                      Proceedings of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh\n                      1995; 25: 663\u2013674. See also, Walker EM, Shaw JP and Kaufman MH. Andrew Combe (1797\u20131847): Edinburgh physician and phrenologist.\n                      Proceedings of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh\n                      1995; 25: 652\u2013662."},{"key":"bibr20-0967772013506808","volume-title":"The anatomical memoirs of John Goodsir","volume":"2","author":"Turner W","year":"1868"},{"key":"bibr21-0967772013506808","first-page":"17","volume":"9","author":"Struthers J","year":"1875","journal-title":"Journal of Anatomy and Physiology"},{"key":"bibr22-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J.\n                      Historical sketch of the Edinburgh anatomical school\n                      . Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart, 1867, p.94. This had been published during the previous year in three parts, see Struthers J. Historical sketch of the Edinburgh anatomical school.\n                      Edinburgh Medical Journal\n                      1866; 12: 289\u2013315, 431\u2013457, 539\u2013559."},{"key":"bibr23-0967772013506808","first-page":"725","author":"Anon","year":"1871","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"bibr24-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J. On university improvement: an address delivered to the students in arts of Aberdeen University, on opening the session of the university debating society, 12th November 1875, Aberdeen: D Wyllie & Son, 1875, pp. 32\u201332."},{"key":"bibr25-0967772013506808","first-page":"1151","volume":"29","author":"Struthers J","year":"1884","journal-title":"Edinburgh Medical Journal"},{"key":"bibr26-0967772013506808","unstructured":"(1). Struthers J. On a method of promoting maceration for anatomical museums by artificial summer temperature.\n                      Journal of Anatomy and Physiology\n                      1884; 17: 49\u201353. (2). Struthers J. An account of his methods of preparing and preserving the brain, museum specimens, and dissections.\n                      Journal of Anatomy and Physiology\n                      1888; 22: ix\u2013xi [Read to the anatomical society of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 22 November, 1887]. (3). Struthers J. On the preservation of bodies for dissection.\n                      Edinburgh Medical Journal\n                      1890; 36: 297\u2013303."},{"key":"bibr27-0967772013506808","unstructured":"See, for example, Struthers J. On some rudimentary structures recently met with in the dissection of a large Fin-Whale.\n                      Proceedings of the British Association for the Advancement of Science\n                      1871; 41: 142. Struthers J. On some points in the anatomy of a great fin-whale (\n                      Balaenoptera musculus\n                      ).\n                      Journal of Anatomy and Physiology\n                      1871; 6: 107\u2013125. Struthers J. On the cervical vertebrae and their articulations in fin-whales.\n                      Journal of Anatomy and Physiology\n                      1872; 7: 1\u201355. Struthers J. Account of the dissection of the rudimentary hind-limb of\n                      Balaenoptera musculus\n                      .\n                      Proceedings of the British Association for the Advancement of Science\n                      1885; 55: 1056."},{"key":"bibr28-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers wrote a substantial number of papers on this variety of whale. See, for example, Struthers J. Account of rudimentary finger muscles found in the Greenland Right-Whale (\n                      Balaena Mysticetus\n                      ).\n                      Journal of Anatomy and Physiology\n                      1878; 12: 217\u2013224. Struthers J. On the bones, articulations, and muscles of the rudimentary hind-limb of the Greenland Right-Whale (\n                      Balaena mysticetus\n                      ).\n                      Journal of Anatomy and Physiology\n                      1881; 15: 141\u2013176: 301\u2013321."},{"key":"bibr29-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J. On the occurrence of finger-muscles in the bottle-nose whale.\n                      Proceedings of the British Association for the Advancement of Science\n                      1872; 42: 156\u2013157."},{"key":"bibr30-0967772013506808","first-page":"114","volume":"8","author":"Struthers J","year":"1873","journal-title":"Journal of Anatomy and Physiology"},{"key":"bibr31-0967772013506808","first-page":"124","volume":"30","author":"Struthers J","year":"1896","journal-title":"Journal of Anatomy and Physiology"},{"key":"bibr32-0967772013506808","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Struthers J. Memoir on the anatomy of the humpback whale Megaptera Longimana, Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart, 1889, pp. 188\u2013188.","DOI":"10.5962\/bhl.title.15844"},{"key":"bibr33-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J. Notes on medical education \u2013 being replies to the inquiries addressed to teachers by the general medical council, Aberdeen: D Chalmers & Co, 1869, pp. 1\u201314."},{"key":"bibr34-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Anon. The select committee on medical reform: evidence of professors Struthers and Gairdner.\n                      Medical Times and Gazette\n                      1880; I: 291\u2013292. See also, Anon. The select committee on the medical act (1858) amendment bill.\n                      Medical Times and Gazette\n                      1880; I: 297\u2013299."},{"key":"bibr35-0967772013506808","unstructured":"See, for example, Struthers J. The five years course of study.\n                      British Medical Journal\n                      1891; II: 1020\u20131021 [Letter to the Editors: Published on 7 November 1891]; Struthers J. The five years course of study.\n                      Lancet\n                      1891; II: 1124\u20131126 [Letter to the Editors: Published on 14 November 1891]; Struthers J. Anatomy under the new five-year course of study, and method of education.\n                      Edinburgh Medical Journal\n                      1893\u20131894; 39: 379\u2013384 [Letter to the Editor]."},{"key":"bibr36-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J. On varieties of the appendix vermiformis, caecum, and ileo-colic valve in man.\n                      Edinburgh Medical Journal\n                      1893; 39: I, 289\u2013306, II, 438\u2013451, III, 489\u2013494."},{"key":"bibr37-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J. On separate acromion process simulating fracture.\n                      Edinburgh Medical Journal\n                      1895\u20131896; 41: 1895, 289\u2013297; 1896, 900\u2013908; 1088\u20131104; 42, 1896, 97\u2013124."},{"key":"bibr38-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Struthers J. On the carpus of the Greenland Right-Whale compared with those of Fin-Whales.\n                      Proceedings of the British Association for the Advancement of Science\n                      1894; 64: 684\u2013685. Struthers J. On the carpus of the Greenland Right-Whale (\n                      Balaena mysticetus\n                      ) and of Fin-Whales.\n                      Journal of Anatomy and Physiology\n                      1895; 29: 145\u2013187. See also, Struthers J. On the form of the sternum in the Greenland Right-Whale (\n                      Balaena mysticetus\n                      ).\n                      Journal of Anatomy and Physiology\n                      1895; 29: 593\u2013612."},{"key":"bibr39-0967772013506808","first-page":"124","volume":"30","author":"Struthers J","year":"1896","journal-title":"Journal of Anatomy and Physiology"},{"key":"bibr40-0967772013506808","unstructured":"See (Op. cit. ref. 1), 110."},{"key":"bibr41-0967772013506808","unstructured":"Burial Plot Number O.351."}],"container-title":["Journal of Medical Biography"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0967772013506808","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/0967772013506808","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0967772013506808","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,29]],"date-time":"2026-04-29T23:24:54Z","timestamp":1777505094000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0967772013506808"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2014,1,30]]},"references-count":41,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2015,11]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/0967772013506808"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0967772013506808","relation":{},"ISSN":["0967-7720","1758-1087"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0967-7720","type":"print"},{"value":"1758-1087","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2014,1,30]]}}}