When Gregorie was made mediciner he was no longer young, but there was little in his new position to call for energy; for, although the University of King’s College of Aberdeen, had been the first to institute a Chair of Medicine, the teaching of the subject was somewhat fitful. His predecessor Professor Urquhart had given some ‘Publick Lessons’ on this subject, but no where is it mentioned that either Dr James Gregorie or his son followed his example. Their work consisted chiefly in deciding which candidates were to be granted the M.D. degree, and in taking a share in the university life. The mediciner was not a regent and was thus saved the continuous worry and supervision which fell to the lot of most of the professors.
As for the giving of degrees it was almost entirely a personal affair, and a doctor of medicine did not by any means need to know much of his subject. If he were desirable and willing to pay the fees, the mediciner had the right to grant him a diploma; in some cases even the fee was dispensed with. For example, there is the following entry in the Records of the University and King’s College.
‘Mr George Cheyne allowed to be graduat doctor in medicine _gratis_, because he’s not onely our owne country-man, and at present not rich, but is recommended by the ablest and most learned physitians in Edinburgh as one of the best mathematicians in Europe; and for his skill in medicine he hath given a sufficient indication of that by his learned tractat de Febribus, which hath made him famous abroad as well as at home; and he being just now goeing to England upon invitation of some of the members of the Royal Society.’
The affairs of King’s College left much to be desired at this time. As early as 1709, there had been friction between the professors and students, the latter of whom described their professors as ‘the useless, needless, headless, defective, elective Masters of the K. Colledge of Abd,’ and matters did not improve much in the intervening years; for, when Professor James Gregorie’s son was mediciner, things had come to such a pass that the university had to make special and almost pathetic efforts to secure students.
‘It being represented to the university, that the want of an accomplished gentlewoman for teaching white and coloured seam, was an occasion of several gentlemen’s sons being kept from this college, their parents inclining to send them, where they might have suitable education for their daughters also; and that one Mrs Cuthbert, now residing in this town, had given sufficient proof of her capacity and diligence ... the university judged it reasonable ... to advance her twelve pounds Scots, out of the revenue belonging to the college for the ensuing year.’ After this mention, Mrs Cuthbert passes quite out of the University Records, so we do not know whether the housewifely efforts of the authorities of the university were successful.