When one of Scotland's greatest Enlightenment poets, Robert Fergusson, died in Edinburgh's Bedlam this began a chain reaction which led to the establishment of Edinburgh's first public mental hospital.
Professor David Purdie is a medical Professor Emitus and spent much of his career in academia and research focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of the brittle bone disease, Osteoporosis. Since his retirement in 2007 David has devoted his attention to researching, writing and public speaking, particularly on the subject of the Scottish Enlightenment.
In this short talk David discusses the eminent eighteenth century physician and President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Andrew Duncan and his role in the foundation of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.