A YORKSHIRE NATURALIST 155- 



wanted. Manchester had long possessed one, and 

 more than once, two medical schools. But the first 

 to be adequately equipped and established was that 

 of Pine Street, founded by Mr. Thomas Turner. 



In 1872 arrangements were agreed upon for 

 uniting this school with Owens College. In 1873 

 new buildings were begun in the college grounds 

 for its reception. This school eventually became 

 very successful, but the new University had no 

 power officially to examine or to confer medical 

 degrees upon its students. This was largely the 

 result of opposition on the part of the Yorkshire 

 College and the London College of Surgeons, the 

 British Medical Association, and the heads of 

 numerous medical schools both in London and 

 in the provinces. In June 1882, a Royal Com- 

 mission, appointed by Parliament to inquire into the 

 working of the Medical Acts, recommended that the 

 " power to grant its own medical degrees should be 

 "given to the Victoria University." This recom- 

 mendation settled the question. In April 1883 an 

 additional charter authorised us to confer medical 

 and surgical degrees upon our students. 



In 1887 the magnificent new laboratories and 

 lecture-rooms, erected parallel to Coupland Street 

 for the departments of zoology, botany, and geology, 

 were opened for work. Now, for the first time, the 

 biological sciences had a chance of being taught in 

 Owens College in an effective manner ; and in August 

 1887 the new museum buildings, facing Oxford 



