John Herd Bruce (b.1859) was the son of George Brown Bruce, cabinet maker in St Andrews, and Sophie Herd. He attended Madras College and then the United College of St Andrews University in 1878-1879. He studied medicine at Edinburgh University the following year; however his name does not appear in the Medical Register.
Sir Thomas Richard Fraser (1841-1920) was a brilliant student at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1862 with a gold medal, and staying on to work as research assistant to Robert Christison, professor of material medica, until 1870. He was also assistant physician to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary from 1869-1874. His reputation as a leading light in the field of pharmacology was made by his researches into the properties of poisons and brought him honours at a young age, being elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1867, and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, in 1869. He was appointed as professor of material medica and clinical medicine at Edinburgh University in 1877. He served on numerous commissions and committees and was knighted in 1902.
From the guide to the notes taken down by John Herd Bruce on the lectures of Thomas Richard Fraser, 1882-1893, 1882-1885, 1892-1893, (University of St Andrews)
