The fonds documents John Bell's activities related to his medical studies at McGill in Surgery, Materia Medica and the Institutes of Medicine, as well as his work as a private physician in Montreal. The fonds consists of notebooks, a photocopy of his MS McGill medical thesis, letters from his personal and professional life, one of his medical kits, receipts from merchants, various subscriptions, societies and clubs. The fonds also contains various reprints of Bell's articles, including the 1878 article, "Case of Diphtheria, Acute Laryngeal Symptoms", as well as the City of Montreal's "Mortality of Montreal" – a list of all deaths in Montreal in January 1878.

Series contains documentation of Bell's professional work as a physician in Montreal, including the publication, "Mortality in Montreal," a statement of deaths in the city during the month of January, 1878, as well as his student notebooks and MD thesis.

File includes published booklets of medical formulae and John Bell's manuscript prescription books.

File includes small notebook containing death certificates provided by John Bell during 1875 and a small pocket notebook with the title "Almanack 1867," inscribed: "This book belongs to Dr. Bell, 776 Craig Street, Montreal." Notebook contains a variety of miscellaneous notes including names, addresses, and brief diary notes including mention of a trip to England.

Contains manuscript original of John Bell's McGill medical thesis, as well as photocopy.

Printed extracts from the Montreal General Hospital minutes with letters of support for John Bell's application for Attending Physician to the Montreal General Hospital in March 1878.

Booklet of testimonials regarding John Bell, candidate for the Office of House Surgeon of the Montreal General Hospital

Tariff (minimum) of medical fees adopted by the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Montreal, October 17th, 1873

John Bell’s written announcement of candidacy for the position of Attending Physician to the Montreal General Hospital, March 21, 1878.