John Rutherford

Who was John Rutherford?

John Rutherford was a Scottish physician and professor at the University of Edinburgh Medical School. He is the father of the scientist Daniel Rutherford and the grandfather of the writer Walter Scott.

Rutherford was one of the eminent physicians of his time. He taught at the University of Edinburgh, which had become of one of the world's leading medical schools in the 18th century. He is probably best known for pioneering clinical teaching, which meant that students where learning in the hospital with live patients rather than receiving class room teaching. This method was first introduced by Herman Boerhaave at University of Leiden and soon after used at the University of Edinburgh as well. However its early deployment was somewhat limited since the university only had a small ward and hence only a few patients available for clinical teaching. In 1741 the new royal infirmary with 228 beds was opened and in 1748 John Rutherford started to provide clinical teaching to all his students. These lessons proved to be extremely popular and soon became a compulsory part of the medical education.