| Description | Minute book of the Aberdeen Medical Society. Some of the minutes have been pasted into the volume. In the early meetings, no detailed notes are recorded on the content of the discourses or the discussions which followed. A list of new laws enacted is recorded at the end of the volume. The contents of the volume include:
1806
8 July: Discourse: Hydrophobia; After Dissertation: Lithotomy. Secretary proposed that the law prohibiting the admission of all but medical gentlemen as honorary members should be annulled.
10 July: Committee met to examine Mr. Leslie for ordinary membership with Dr. Livingston and Mr. Kerr present. 'The Doctor objected several times to the questions put as being too minute and difficult for a [Tyro?] in Anatomy and began to question the propriety of examining young Gentlemen previous to their admission as members - being told however that such had long been the custom and shewn [sic] a set of questions in the 5th volume of the minutes put to Mr. Gibson at his examination on the 13th of August 1796 - he wished these to be proposed to Mr. Leslie - to this rather than offend the Doctor the members of the Committee agreed and have to report that these questions Mr. Leslie answered very well. As however each of the members of the Committee were conscious that the questions proposed to Mr. Leslie were few and simple compared [with] those asked at themselves when examined only for four months - they thought it their duty to lay them before the Society'. [At the extraordinary meeting held on the 11th July it was resolved that the questions for a four month examination should be more difficult and accordingly they decided to re-examine Mr. Leslie that afternoon where it is recorded he answered very well the questions put to him on anatomy and surgery.]
[The minute of the meeting of 12 July is partly missing. It is noted at the top of page 9 that pages 7 and 8 are missing. Initialled by the Librarian, 1913.]
5 August: 1st Discourse: Chorea Sancti Viti, Mr. Forrest [inserted into Thesaurus]; 2nd Discourse: The muscles of the arm, John Gordon. Case of ague and hepatitis treated with bark mercury read. Mr. Sim donated one guinea to the Society.
2 September: After Dissertation on the knee joint, Mr. Davidson. Mr. Smith's dissertation on the lymphatic system was read from the Thesaurus and Mr. Skene's case of pleurisy was read from the case book. Sir Alexander Bannerman gifted to the Society Saunders on the 'Anatomy and Diseases of the Ear', Royal Folio.
8 October: List of 37 books reported missing from Library by Committee (pp.38-40).
28 October: Mr. Leslie read a dissertation on epilepsy (1 page). He also read a case of haemoptysis conjoined with typhus treated successfully by bloodletting, diluted [sulphuric] acid and milk diet.
9 December: Mr. Melvan read a dissertation on hysteria. It was agreed to commence anatomical examinations as before [see list of subjects drawn up by Committee recorded at end of this minute; the first examination on the bones of the cranium and face took place on the 6 January 1807]. Notice that annual supper was to take place.
23 December: Reference to gratuity discontinued by Dr. Livingston.
1807
27 January: 'A subject for dissection being procured by the following members...the meeting was put off as is usual on such occasions'.
5 May: Discourse on the arteries of the lower extremities was read followed by a discourse on peripneumonia by Mr. Duncan. A letter was read from Mr. McGrigor acknowledging the receipt of an extraordinary diploma.
22 June: The Library was examined and 35 books reported missing [list enclosed].
21 July: A discourse on gout was read by Mr. Smith (1 page) and Mr. Winton read a dissertation on injuries of the head.
25 July: 'The Committee appointed to examine the museum have at [different] meetings accomplished their work. They found it necessary to buy 2 pints of whisky to fill up the bottles' [containing preparations]; this cost the Society 11 shillings.
Other subjects discussed at meetings include: menorrhagia (18 August 1807), gunshot wounds (29 September 1807), ascites and medical electricity (3 November 1807), pertussis and gases (29 December 1807), scrofula and paralysis (26 January 1808), cataract and harelip [cleft lip] (1 March 1808) and white swelling and gonorrhoea (26 April 1808). |