At that time, now well established in practice, Bell was content to step down, but he wrote to the College setting out the case for 'permanent appointments' to the Infirmary rotation, a view which had been also promoted by Gregory. Of the 23 members of the Royal College of Surgeons asked to vote on the matter, not one supported Bell's proposal. John Bell (1763–1820), a successful teacher of anatomy in his own extramural school and an accomplished Edinburgh surgeon (but not related to Benjamin Bell), failed to gain appointment to the Infirmary rota, and began to campaign against what he saw as the injustice of the rota system.
At that time, now widely accepted in practice, Bell was willing to step down, but he wrote to the College making the case for 'permanent positions' in the Infirmary rotation, a perspective also promoted by Gregory. Of the 23 members of the Royal College of Surgeons asked to vote on the issue, none backed Bell's proposal. John Bell (1763–1820), a successful teacher of anatomy in his own private school and an accomplished Edinburgh surgeon (but not related to Benjamin Bell), was unsuccessful in gaining appointment to the Infirmary rota and subsequently campaigned against what he saw as the inequity of the rota system.