Indian Medicinde, to the modern allopathic treatment, Medical College and Hospital Kolkata has been serving the community of West Bengal and the neighbouring states of India. Center of excellence for the medical studies in undergraduate and postgraduate level and also in rendering specialized hospital services to the common people. Till 18th century, teaching and practice of medicine in India was done according to Ayurvedic or Unani or Arabic system. It was the British rulers who during early 19th century trained few of the Indians for diagnosis and treatment of diseases admintsering alopathic medicine. British Government tried with a native medical school that did not prove to be purposeful for the cause of diseases prevailing in India. They decided to set up a medical college in Calcutta. Then came the greatest days in the history of medical education in India on 28th January, 1835, when government order was passed By British rulers vide Notification GO No. 28 dated 28th January, 1835, the first Medical College was established in Kolkata, erstwhile Calcutta, which was the British capital in India. The order said that the native medical institution to be abolished and a new medical college be formed for the education of Indian youth without distinction of creed or caste and that teaching be carried out through the medium of English language in strict accordance with the methods adapted in Europe. This Medical College in course of time came to be known as Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. The Medical College is best known as the first medical college in the east. It has been running past two centuries and today is the best example of heritage medical college. 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 he 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 period of the study was for four years on completion of which, they were to appear at the final examination conducted under supervision of the committee of the Council of Education. The successful students after passing the final examination received certificates of qualification to practise 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 Materia Medica. Two skeletons were purchased through M/S Bathgate & Company at a cost of Rs. 1500. The anatomical preparations were imported from Engaland. 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 Gupta, Babus Uma Charan Sett, Dwarakanath Gupt, Raj Kristo Dey and Nabin Chunder Mitter secretly followed Dr. Goodeve toan 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. Dr. W.O' Shaugh Brooke, who was later knighted, had an assistant when he was attached to Medical College as Professor of Chemistry. His name was Seeb Chunder Nandy. Seeb Chunder set up an ingenious communication system between two departments of the college, part of which was across a pond. His chief got to know about the system, and himself began to collaborate to improvise the venture. They were the first to think of insulation of wires so that these could be taken through stretches of water, if needed, without hampering its use. Shaughnessy Brooke paid for and set up the first Telegraphic Communication in the world, some weeks before the one set up in Baltimore. The major portion of the work of these two originators of the telegraph was carried out in Medical College, and published in 1839. 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
