However, the medical school had difficulty in attracting enough paying Anglican students and started offering instruction to others as well.
His career spans an era when science separated itself from religion and government became increasingly involved in the funding of medical education.
In 1859, while traveling in Europe, he journeyed to Italy, to tend those wounded in the Battle of Solferino.
Henri Dunant was impressed by Bethune's efforts, and mentioned him as "Norman Bettun" in A Memory of Solferino.
He had a grandson, Henry Norman Bethune who also became a physician and achieved high recognition for his medical work and his activity in China with Mao Zedong's army.