Because of a perceived lack of continuity of care of the surgical patients in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, James Gregory, one of its managers, suggested that from 1800 a total of only six surgeons should be appointed full-time to that institution. As considerable animosity existed between Gregory and John Bell, a senior Edinburgh teacher and surgeon, a pamphlet that was extremely hostile to his activities was posted in prominent locations throughout Edinburgh. While the author was named as ‘Jonathan Dawplucker’ it was speculated that Gregory, or one of his close associates, was its real author. The contents of a second Dawplucker pamphlet, in the same style, but probably written by John Bell, was subsequently published. This was extremely hostile to Benjamin Bell, one of Gregory’s close surgical colleagues. While much distress was caused at that time, the real authors of these pamphlets are unlikely ever to be established.
