The History of the Chair of Midwifery and Gynaecology in the Queen's University of Belfast

IN 1835 a Medical School was established at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and in 1837 it was recognised by the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, the College of Surgeons, London, the Apothecaries Hall, Dublin and the College of Surgeons, Dublin. Dr. Robert Coffey was appointed Professor of Surgery but left to go to Dublin without ever giving any lectures. He was succeeded by Dr. Thomas Ferrar who also resigned before giving any lectures and was followed by Professor Coffey. The appointments of Thomas Andrews to the Chair of Chemistry, James D. Marshall to that of Materia Medica and Pharmacy and Robert Little as Professor of Midwifery and Diseases of Women and Children completed the establishment of the Medical Faculty with Professor Drummond, the Professor of Anatomy, as first President. Tlhe clinical experience provided for the students was such that it was thought possible for them to be accepted for examination for degrees at London University. It is stated "the students of midwifery have had an unusually large number of cases to attend". In John Jameson's History of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution it is stated "There was momentary embarrassment when it was found that Dr. Little, Professor of Midwifery, was issuing certificates to his students on his own responsibility, thus by-passing the Faculty, and that some students were proposing to use these certificates as Diplomas entitling them to set up in practice. However, the resignation of Dr. Little shortly after saved the situation". Between 1836 and 1849 when Queen's was established the Medical School turned out about 600 students (Jameson). Dr. Burden was the only child of a Dr. Henry Burden and was born in India in 1798. On the death of his father and mother, when he was twelve years old, he came