| Description | Minute book of the Aberdeen Medical Society. A summary of the contents is as follows:
1803
4 October: First discourse: Pertussis; Second discourse: Emetics
President: Mr. Morrice; Speakers: Mr. Murray and Mr. Milne
The election of office-bearers took place at this meeting: Mr. Moir appointed first President; Mr. Milne appointed second President; Mr. Sim appointed Secretary; Mr. Badenach appointed Librarian; Mr. Stewart appointed Treasurer. It is recorded that Mr. McGrigor had arrived at London and wanted to know the 'present state of the Society'. It was agreed to send him a copy of the new edition of the catalogue, a list of members and those books presented to the Society after the catalogue was printed.
6-7 October
Report of Committee appointed at previous meeting to inspect the Treasurer's accounts and the Library: 'They inform the Society that the books stand in much need of being properly marked, and that, from the incorrectness of the Librarians Catalogue, it will require to be revised' [also see meetings of the 1 and 5 November]. The funds of the Society were noted as being £4.10.9. An inventory of the museum is also provided. The list of 22 items includes: a large injected heart, a foetus of 6 months, a young crocodile, a dry serpent, a glass with young mice, and a piece of a worm taken from the heart of a woman in 1791. An inventory of miscellaneous items is also recorded and the list of 17 items includes: a case of dissecting instruments, a plate of Dr. Fordyce, a plate of Professor Linnaeus, a glass funnel and two brass candlesticks.
18 October
James Robertson, James McGrigor, George Kerr and John Brown are all noted as having attended this meeting. List of donations to Society also recorded.
25 October
McGrigor proposes several gentlemen as honorary members including Mr. Hunter, Surgeon in the East India Company and George Kerr, Surgeon, Aberdeen.
1 November
Donation of £30 by McGrigor to Society.
15 November
List of donations.
22 November
Visit by Dr. James Robertson, doctor in Barbados.
13 December: First discourse: Phthisis Pulmonalis; Second discourse: Scrophula
President: Mr. Milne; Speakers: Mr. Officer and Mr. Ligertwood
Copy of letter sent to Society by John Abercrombie offering his gratitude for electing him an extraordinary member. Also includes list of donations 'from gentlemen under the Presidency of Bombay in India' received by Mr. McGrigor, including £8.8.0 from William Moir, £3.3.0 from Helenus Scott and £4.4.0 from McGrigor himself.
27 December
List of donations to Society.
1804
3 January: First discourse: Intermittent Fever; Second discourse: Blood
President: Mr. Moir; Speakers: Mr. _ and Mr. Milne
The minute also records a letter from McGrigor proposing several individuals as honorary and extraordinary members including Thomas Christie, Superintendent General of Surgeons in Ceylon. 'He also informed the Society that subscriptions to a considerable amount had been made by some members in India for its benefit'.
21 January
The funds of the Society are noted as being nine shillings and four pence.
31 January
Copy of letter from James Skene to Dr. Livingston enclosing gift of £10 from Dr. Moir of Bombay to the Society.
21 February: First discourse: Apoplexy; Second discourse: Digestion
President: Mr. Badenoch; Speakers: Mr. McKinnon and Mr. Stirling
Three letters read by Secretary, one of which was from James Wilson, lecturer in anatomy in London, declining to accept election as extraordinary member 'as other medical men on the same or inferior footing with him were honorary members'. [He was subsequently elected an honorary member and a committee appointed to write to him. A copy of this letter is recorded in the minute of 23 February and the error is attributed to an oversight on McGrigor's part who had proposed him originally.]
13 March: First discourse: Pneumonia; Second discourse: Cynanche Tonsillaris
President: Mr. Stuart; Speakers: Mr. Officer and Mr. Ligertwood
Mr. Morrice noted that he could purchase medical books much more cheaply in London than from Mr. Burnett, who the Society currently purchased books from. £2.2.0 was to be sent to him to purchase theses and other medical publications. It
was also noted at this meeting that 'as there were now few members it was agreed that the second discourses should be given up'.
12 April
Several books reported missing by committee appointed to examine state of library.
15 May: Jaundice
President: Mr. Stuart; Speaker: Mr. Sim
Other subjects discussed at meetings include:
1803: amenorrhea (23 August); rheumatism and fractures (20 September); icterus and pulse and bloodletting (8 November).
1804: synochus and burns (7 February); mania (10 April); smallpox (17 April); suspended animation (24 April); typhus (8 May). |