Royal College of Physicians of London: a 1793 entrant, fabled fellow or member malcontent

Abstract

The adverse fallout following the Royal Australasian College of Physician's (RACP) introduction to computer-based testing that was disrupted in the February 2018 examinations, aroused great sympathy for the candidates and perhaps rekindled worrying memories by the College fellowship. The RACP's entrance procedures have slowly and steadily evolved since 1938 when the first 41of 45 practitioners were admitted to membership. Powerful emotive experiences accompany most applicants' progress to membership, perhaps no greater an ordeal than visited upon a 1793 anonymous entrant to the Royal College of Physicians of London, facing far different but no less stressful predicaments.

Keywords: 18th century British MD; Royal Australasian College of Physicians; Royal College of Physicians of London; admission examination; computer-based entrance examination.