UCL and The Middlesex: chalk amalgamated with cheese?

摘要

The inceptions of the schools and hospitals of University College and The Middlesex were like chalk and cheese. Between 1720 and 1745, five hospitals were started-Guy's, Westminster, St. George's, the London and the Middlesex-each covering a certain area. The Middlesex was to cover St. Giles and Soho and was founded by philanthropists in 1745. Its medical school followed a century later. In contrast, University College, at first called London University, was founded in 1828 at a time of enthusiasm and dynamic change in education. Unlike the Middlesex, it started as a school without a hospital, using the Middlesex wards for clinical experience. Whereas the development of the hospital and school of the Middlesex was relatively smooth and scandal-free, in its early years University College was beset with near-fatal scandal and administrative incompetence.