MD St Andrews 1860; MRCS Eng and LSA 1860.
Barlow was a medical pupil at MRI and Pine Street. After qualifying, Barlow was a surgeon at Ardwick and Ancoats Dispensary before being appointed honorary medical officer to the General Hospital and Dispensary for Sick Children and Manchester City Mission. Barlow was a member of Manchester Medical Society and Manchester Medico-Ethical Society.