| Description | Minute book of the Aberdeen Medical Society.
1809
21 November - Dissertation: Purgatives; Examinations: 'Scrofulay'; the bones of the trunk and extremities; the muscles of the face; Query: 'Why have the menses such an effect on child bearing?'
29 November - Dissertation: Ophthalmia (recommended using antiphlogistic regimen, 'such as bleeding from the temporal artery, purgatives' as cure); Examination: gonorrhoea, _ and lues venerea; Query: 'What is the diagnostic symptoms betwixt fracture and dislocations of the hip-joint?'
5 December - Dissertation: Phthisis Pulmonalis (1 page of notes); Examinations: phlebotomy and [arteriation?]; muscles of the arm; Query: 'The best treatment of dysenteria?'. The election of a new Assistant Librarian took place at this meeting.
12 December - Dissertation: Gunshot wounds; Examination: muscles of the neck and trunk; haemorrhages; acids; Query: 'The best treatment of scarlatina'.
19 December - Dissertation: Dislocation of the shoulder joint; Examinations: the surgical and medical treatment of wounds of the great _ ; the muscles of the abdomen; the 'alkalies' and neutral salts; Query: 'The best treatment of crural hernia'. The election of a new Secretary took place. Mr. Agnew gave an account of a case of 'pluritis' which he treated with purgatives and repeated bleedings.
26 December - Dissertation: Cynanche trachialis (in treatment of this the speaker recommended the free use of the lancet, antimonial emetics and calomel); Examinations: the muscles of the thigh leg and foot; tin, copper and iron.
1810
2 January - Discourse: Pertussis; Examinations: gunshot wounds; tin, lead and zinc; Query: 'The best mode of treating retention of urine'. Note of speech provided by outgoing President and the election of the new President.
9 January - Dissertation: Haemoptysis; Examinations: fractures, including the processes of exfoliation, and the union of bones; the brain, with its meninges; antimony, arsenic and bismouth [bismuth]; Query: The best treatment of anasarca. Motion by Mr. Gourlay that 'every member should, after passing Surgeon's Hall, send down to the Society a list of the questions asked at him there, as also the names of the examinators'.
16 January - Discourse: On the teeth; Examinations: dislocations with the nature of muscular action; the viscera of the thorax; mercury; Query: 'The best treatment of burns' ('the stimulating plan was particularly recommended'). Mr. Gourlay read an optional discourse on phlebotomy.
[From this point onwards not every meeting is recorded and only specific events and discussions are listed.]
23 January - Discourse: Dyspepsia; Examinations: aneurism and varicose veins, with the different operations; the abdominal viscera; lime, barites, alum; Query: 'What is the reason that women are so subject to cancerous affections at the time when the menses cease to be regular, and what may be the treatment to be adopted in order to prevent or lessen such disposition?'. A disagreement took place over a proposal put forward at the previous meeting.
30 January - Discourse: Scarlatina.
6 February - Discourse: Epilepsy. The election of the President.
20 February - Dissertation: Icterus. Query: 'The best treatment of cholera morbus'. Mr. Agnew delivered an optional discourse on compression and concussion of the brain.
6 March - Resolved that every office-bearer should sit for period of 3 months in order to prevent such frequent resignations and also to appoint two Librarians in place of an Assistant Librarian.
17 April - Mr. Findlayson read a discourse in Greek on the heart. A query was proposed for the next meeting on the treatment of measles and the previous query regarding the treatment of scrophula was discussed. Mr. Fraser was examined on femoral and ventral hernia and Mr. Stewart on the Materia Medica. Letter received from Dr. George Farquhar of Philadelphia acknowledging receipt of diploma as Honorary member. List of books recorded missing from Library.
8 May - Discourse read by Mr. Black on cataract with reference to operation of couching.
15 May - Discourse on typhus with reference to the proposed cure of this fever and discourse delivered by Mr. Watson on 'medical electricity'.
12 June - Mr. Alexander presented discourse on diabetes: 'In the treatment he recommended a practice very similar to that he has had occasion to see at the Aberdeen Hospital...the application of blisters over the region of the kidneys - a continuance of diaphoretics - the tepid or warm bath and a diet consisting entirely of animal food. He also noticed the plan of bloodletting recommended by Dr. Watt'. The query regarding the treatment of dysentery was discussed with the general observations of the members recorded in the minute.
3 July - Mr. Cruickshank read a discourse on ascites (2 pages).
31 July - Discourse on pneumonia read by Mr. Collie (1 page).
21 August - Mr. Watson presented a discourse on chemistry (1 page of notes). In discussion of query relating to the best treatment of fluor albus reference is made to the treatment favoured by Dr. Hamilton at Edinburgh.
11 September - Mr. Brechan read the case of Sir Walter Ogilvy 'in whose bladder a stone weighing 44 oz. had been found upon his death some days after having the lateral operation for lithotomy performed upon him...'.
2 October - Election of office-bearers.
9 October - Discussion of query 'Is the human body specifically heavier than water?' (2 pages).
23 October - Discourse read by Mr. Alexander on jaundice (2 pages).
30 October - List of books gifted to the Society.
13 November - Discourse on the utility of purgatives (1 page).
20 November - Discourse on inflammation (4 pages).
4 December - 'Mr. Duncan who was on the Treasurer's list for being out too long gave as his excuse that he was seeing a patient which excuse according to the Laws of the Society must be sustained upon condition that a case is given. Mr. Duncan accordingly began by informing us that it was a female who complained of slight nausea and headache for which he ordered an emetic to be taken immediately and a strong purgative next morning - that the pulse fell during the operation of the former and that the latter produced a good effect which happily restored his patient to perfect health'.
1811
14 January - Discourse: Pneumonia, Mr. Farquharson (2 pages).
[There is a gap in the minutes from the 14 January to the 19 February.]
19 February - Discourse: Hydrocephalus. Election of Presidents and Secretary. Mr. Fasken was examined on the viscera of the abdomen. The query 'What is the best treatment of the guinea worm?' was discussed: 'The Society in general seemed to think that the best mode of treatment is either to make an incision into the tumour and extract the substance immediately, or after it had come to suppuration to draw it out gradually, care being taken not to break it, otherwise the whole will be lost'.
26 February - Discourse: Small Pox (two and a half pages).
5 March - Discourse: Bathing (one and a half pages). New law passed regarding members who resign their seats.
12 March - Discourse: Consumption (two and a half pages).
19 March - Discourse: Diseases of the hip joint (4 pages). Election of President, Treasurer and Librarian.
26 March - Discourse: Dislocation (2 pages). Three books reported missing from Library.
2 April - Election of office-bearers.
9 April - Discourse: Cancer. Second discourse also delivered on subject of dyspepsia (1 page).
16 April - Discourse: The best means of preserving health.
23 April - 'Ross on Tetanus' read from the Thesaurus. Query: 'What is the best treatment of burns?'.
30 April - Discourse: Scurvy (3 pages) [Some of the writing is illegible where ink has been spilt on the pages.]
1 May. Query: 'The best treatment of anthrax'. Committee appointed to consider whether Materia Medica examinations were 'unequal' as suggested by the Treasurer [see minute of 21 May].
14 May - Discourse: Nursing. '...divided into 5 parts viz 1st Duty of parents and nurses, 2nd Cloathing [sic] of children, 3rd _ their food, 4th Exercise and 5th He made some remarks on the unwholesome air' [included in Thesaurus].
21 May - Discourse: Pneumonia.
28 May - Discourse: Rheumatism (1 page). Query: 'The best treatment of a ganglion'. 'Mr. Turnbull mentioned a new mode of cure by oxide of arsenic, [which] gradually destroys it, by bringing it off in scales'.
11 June - Election of Presidents and of Librarian. New law enacted regarding admittance of new members and payment of their entry money. Query: 'The best treatment of scarlatina'. Dr. Hamilton's practice considered the best: 'astringent gargles were recommended for the throat and if the swelling be very severe a blister was thought proper…'.
18 June - Discourse: Insanity (2 pages). Discussion regarding treatment of pertussis.
25 June - Discourse: The gases. Surgical examination on wounds of the limbs.
28 June - Meeting of Honorary members to consider state of the funds set aside for building a hall 'and likewise to determine whether the name of the Society [would] be changed'. Mr. Ewen reported that there was at present £150 in the bank and that £206.17 still remained to be collected. It was agreed that this money should be collected immediately by Mr. Ewen. 'The gentlemen also gave their consent and sanction to changing the name of the Society, and directed that it should be henceforth denominated, The Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society. The Secretary was desired to send a letter to Drs. Moir, Grant, Skene and Ogilvie informing them that a committee would be held on or about the first of September in order to prepare the Laws for being laid before a Justice of the Peace'.
2 July.
9 July - Discourse: Fistula Lachrymalis (2 pages). Second discourse read on 'Structures of the Urethra' (1 page). Noted that alterations to laws by Committee which met on the 6 July were read and agreed to. [The minute of this meeting is not recorded.]
16 July.
30 July - Discourse: Digestion. Motion regarding introduction of examinations on chemistry passed and it was agreed to alternate these with the materia medica.
6 August - Discourse: Menstrual Discharge (1 page). Query: the best treatment of ophthalmia.
13 August - Discourse: Inflammation (2 pages). List of chemical examinations read and agreed to [see minute].
20 August - Discourse: Diarrhoea (2 pages). Query: The best treatment of cynanche tonsillaris.
24 August - Treasurer's accounts examined and found correct, the fund totalling £22.0.10.
27 August - Discourse: Erythema Mercuriale (2 pages).
3 September.
10 September - Discourse: The best plan of conducting medical studies (2 pages).
17 September - Discourse: White Swelling (3 pages).
24 September - Discourse: Hysteria (2 pages).
1 October - Election of office-bearers.
8 October - Discourse: The Pulse (1 page). Query: 'What are the diagnostic symptoms between concussion and compression of the brain with the treatment of each?'.
15 October - Discourse: The nature and causes of simple and continued fever (1 page).
22 October - Discourse: Gonorrhoea Virulenta (1 page). |