John Hunter The Surgeon and Pioneer of Anatomical Science.

Some individuals pursue the hobby of coin collecting, while others focus on gathering rare stamps or vintage wine bottles. John Hunter, a Scottish surgeon, took a different approach by collecting deceased fetuses and anatomical specimens. Over time, he amassed nearly 14,000 preparations that showcased human anatomy, various vertebrates, and skeletons, including more than 3,000 animal specimens preserved in jars. Hunter is recognized as one of the leading scientists and surgeons of his time. He also served as a mentor and collaborator to Edward Jenner, the smallpox vaccination pioneer, and was dedicated to educating others in the field of anatomy, frequently teaching at private medical institutions. 

John Hunter, also known as. the father of scientific surgery”, was born on February 13, 1728, in Long Calderwood, Scotland, to Agnes Paul and John Hunter. He was the youngest of ten siblings, though tragically, three of his siblings passed away from illness prior to his birth. His enthusiasm for school was limited; instead, he found greater interest in the natural world, particularly in the study of plants and animals. Consequently, he left primary school at the age of 13 to assist his father on the family farm. At approximately 20 years of age, he relocated to London to pursue studies under his brother, William Hunter, an anatomist and physician who was esteemed as a leading educator in anatomy and recognized as the preeminent obstetrician of his era. John Hunter spent 12 years working alongside his brother and rapidly attained expertise in anatomy. 

Hunter soon took charge of conducting the practical classes independently. It has been rumored that Hunter's brother, William, along with his brother's former tutor, William Smellie, played a role in the deaths of numerous women whose bodies were utilized for their research on pregnancy. It is suggested that Hunter may have also been linked to these fatalities, as he was serving as his brother's assistant during that period but scholars who have examined life in Georgian London concur that the mortality rate among pregnant women during the period of Hunter's and Smellie's research was not particularly elevated for that era and location. The occurrence of pre-eclampsia, a prevalent condition affecting approximately 10% of pregnancies and easily manageable today, was unknown in Hunter's time and could adequately account for a mortality rate that may appear alarmingly high to contemporary observers. In his 1774 publication, The Anatomy of the Gravid Uterus Exhibited in Figures, Hunter presents case studies for at least four of the individuals depicted.

Hunter conducted extensive research on blood while performing bloodletting on patients suffering from various ailments. This investigation led him to formulate the theory that inflammation is a natural bodily response to disease rather than a pathological condition.

Hunter trained under William Cheselden at Chelsea Hospital and Percival Pott at St Bartholomew's Hospital. Additionally, he studied with Marie Marguerite Bihéron, an anatomist and wax modeller based in London; it is likely that some illustrations in his work were created by her. After obtaining his qualifications, he served as an assistant surgeon at St George's Hospital starting in 1756 and later as a surgeon from 1768. In 1760, Hunter was appointed as an army surgeon and participated as a staff surgeon in an expedition to the French island of Belle Île in 1761, subsequently serving with the British Army in 1762. After several years serving as an Army surgeon, he collaborated with the dentist James Spence on tooth transplants, and in 1764, he established his own anatomy school in London. In 1768, Hunter was appointed as the surgeon at St George's Hospital. He became a member of the Company of Surgeons. By 1776, he had attained the position of surgeon to King George III. 

In 1783, Hunter relocated to a spacious residence in Leicester Square, which enabled him to organize his extensive collection of nearly 14,000 specimens from over 500 species of plants and animals into a teaching museum. 

During the Georgian period, there was a significant shortage of cadavers available for anatomical study. Hunter occasionally resorted to questionable methods and illicit connections to obtain bodies. He controversially acquired the skeleton of the 2.31-meter (7 feet 7 inches) Irish giant Charles Byrne, despite Byrne's explicit wishes to be buried at sea. To obtain the skeleton, Hunter allegedly bribed a member of the funeral party, possibly with £500, and filled the coffin with rocks during an overnight stop. He later published a scientific account of the anatomy and skeleton. Legal scholar Thomas Muinzer from the University of Stirling remarked, "He is now, after having been stolen on the way to his funeral, on display permanently as a sort of freak exhibit in the memorial museum to the person who wronged him." Until 2020, the skeleton was exhibited in the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons in London.

Hunter also exhibited a strong interest in venereal diseases, at times using his own body for experimental purposes. In one particular case, he injected his penis with pus extracted from a prostitute's genital sore, which led to a self-inflicted case of syphilis. While his patients placed their confidence in him, they also feared the possibility of becoming his next specimen should he fail to provide a cure. 

In 1786, Hunter was appointed deputy surgeon to the British Army, and in March 1790, he was promoted to surgeon general by Prime Minister William Pitt. During his tenure, he implemented reforms in the appointment and promotion system for army surgeons, emphasizing experience and merit over the previously established patronage-based system.

Biographers have noted various aspects of Hunter's character. He was known to be kind and generous, although he often appeared outwardly rude and unapproachable. Later in life, for reasons that remain private or personal, he engaged in a quarrel with the brother who had significantly influenced his development.
Hunter passed away in 1793 due to a heart attack triggered by a dispute at St. George's Hospital regarding student admissions. Initially interred at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, he was reburied in 1859 in the north aisle of the nave at Westminster Abbey, signifying his significance to the nation.

In 1799, the government acquired Hunter's collection of documents and specimens, subsequently presenting it to the Company of Surgeons.

Hunter contributed significantly to the advancement of knowledge regarding human teeth, bone development and remodeling, inflammation, gunshot injuries, sexually transmitted diseases, digestion, the operation of the lacteals, child growth, the distinction between maternal and fetal blood supplies, and the function of the lymphatic system. In 1790, he performed the first documented case of artificial insemination on the wife of a linen draper. Additionally, the adductor canal in the thigh is referred to as "Hunter's canal" in honor of John Hunter.

Those interested in viewing his collections can find them at The Hunterian Museum, located at The Royal College of Surgeons of England in London.