| Description | Minute book of the Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society. A copy of the Trust Deed of the Society, dated 1817, is included on pages 584-590 followed by a very detailed index. A statement bearing the signatures of members agreeing to abide by the terms of the Trust Deed is included on pages 629 and 633. The contents of the volume include:
11 April 1816. Reported that Governors of Gordon's Hospital had declined to take back feu in Schoolhill. The Society resolved to dispose of it and to try and obtain feu in Union Street. [Also see minute of 16 January 1817 and proposal to purchase Mr. Wilson's house near the College gate and minute of the 13 March.]
9 May 1816. Donation received from Cape of Good Hope as noted in letter from Sir James McGrigor.
2 January 1817. Dr. Harvey read a dissertation on puerperal fever [no details provided].
3 April 1817. The Building Committee recommended a house in Frederick Street as possible hall for Society.
21 April 1817. Sums accrued for building of hall noted, the total building fund being £1,631. The Building Committee was instructed to purchase a feu in King Street south of North Street (p.17). [Also see minute of the 5 June.]
7 August 1817. New regulations proposed by Library Committee including the Librarian was to be held responsible for books lost.
4 December 1817. Dr. Colquhoun read an essay on the external use of arsenic (p.24).
18 December 1817. Dr. Livingston resigns as President due to ill health. Dr. Ogilvie read paper on dropsy (two pages).
12 February 1818. Communication from managers of the Vaccine Institution noting reduction in numbers vaccinated recently. [See discussion of this matter at meeting of the 19 February.]
19 February 1818. 'Dr. Barclay then laid before Society the minute of the Building Committee of 5th February which was approved of and the Committee authorised to contract for both house and portico according to the plan of Mr. Simpson' (p.30).
20 November 1818. 'A request was received from the President and Managers of the Infirmary that the first class of the Medical Society would draw up a statement for them of the progress of the present epidemic fever and what steps they conceived most proper to be taken in order to prevent its increase'. The Society's views on this matter are recorded in the minute under nine separate points, point 6 stating: 'That in order to prevent the fever becoming more extended…it will be necessary to provide a ward or wards proper for the reception of such contagious fevers as cannot be received into the Infirmary and that proper persons be appointed immediately to white-wash, fumigate and ventilate the apartments from which such cases have been removed…'. Point seven recommends distributing handbills to people 'pointing out to them the danger of visiting their sick neighbours, with some simple directions for avoiding infection and strongly recommending early application for medical assistance'. [The contents of this handbill are recorded in the minute of the 25 November 1818.]
19 December 1818. The Society resolved that the 'medical men in town should be requested to impress upon the minds of their apprentices the pernicious effects of raising bodies from the Church-yards and that the different lecturers be requested to intimate the same to their students and to discourage the practice as much as _ in their power' (p.45).
4 November 1819. First mention of meeting held at King Street premises (pp.52-53). It is reported that the library has been removed into the hall in King Street.
29 August 1820: Extraordinary meeting (pp.72-73). Present: Dr. Dyce, Sir James McGrigor, Dr's. Torry, Moir, Ogilvie, Allan, John Brown, Davidson and Walker. Following motion of Sir James McGrigor it was resolved to try and clear the existing debt of the Society and to establish a fund for the repair and upkeep of the building and library. The following motion was also agreed to: 'That these objects accomplished, the Society ought to set about obtaining a proper collection of anatomical preparations natural and morbid…'.
5 October 1820. Report by President and Council on progress of work on new hall in King Street and subscriptions received from Dr. Watson, first member of the Medical Board at Madras, totalling £183.4.2. It is also noted that, 'chiefly by the zealous exertions and liberal example of Sir James McGrigor' a further sum upwards of £300 had been subscribed for the benefit of the Society.
3 October 1822: Copy of report of President's Committee referring to a number of points including disputes which arose in the Second Class, donations from various individuals and the formation of separate accounts. Mr. Giles donated a painting of the nerves of the neck and thorax and Dr. Ewing presented an adult male skeleton. A lists of plants gifted by Dr. Strachan is recorded as is a list of specimens of comparative anatomy and natural history donated by Dr. Alexander of Prince of Wales Island and a list of books added to the Libraries of Reference and Circulation. A statement of account is also included in the minute (page 104-114).
5 May 1825: List of proposed changes drawn up by Committee appointed to consider simplifying the constitution of Society including combining the two classes of Honorary and Extraordinary members under the tile of Honorary members and distinguishing between Ordinary members in the First Class and Junior members in the Second Class [also see minute of 26 July 1827]. There follows a record of the discussion which followed Dr. Davidson proposing several queries 'after remarking that the numerous instances which have occurred in this place during last winter, of modified small pox after vaccine inoculation, create some difficulties in the minds of the warmest supporters of the preventive influence of vaccination' (pp.135-139).
14 January 1826: Reference to Museum.
5 April 1827 (pp.160-161). The President's Committee presented their report concerning the examination of midwives which was approved by the Society. A copy of this report is included in the minute. It begins: 'That the members of the Society will not in future consider any Midwife as qualified who has not submitted to examination before the Committee appointed by the Society, and has received the Society's certificate. Before being admitted to examination the candidate must produce 1. A Certificate of her moral character from the Clergyman of the congregation she belongs to 2. A Certificate of having attended one or more courses of lectures on Midwifery'. It is noted that a register of midwives will be maintained by the Society. Candidates were to be examined on the following subjects:
1. Anatomy and Dimensions of the Pelvis and Child and its Foetal appendages and Circulation
2. Diseases incident to Pregnancy
3. Management of Labour
4. After treatment and Diseases consequent
5. Management of Children and their common complaints
6. Bleeding and Management of Leeches
7. Use of the Catheter
1 July 1830: Mr. Cuddie read a case of disease of the brain (1 page). The report of the Committee appointed to consider 'allegations of faults and deficiencies in the Aberdeen Medical School' made by the Junior members of the Society is included in the minute. The report notes that the students complaints are founded on facts and refers to the 'incomplete and irregular' course on the theory and on the practice of physic (pp.210-213).
16 May 1834: Extraordinary meeting held to consider letter received from Sir James McGrigor expressing the hope that delegates would be sent from Aberdeen to be examined by the Medical Education Committee of the House of Commons or to watch their proceedings as Glasgow and Edinburgh had done. 'It was then agreed that Dr. Henderson, Dr. Laing and the [Secretary] should be appointed a committee to make enquiry as to the probable intentions of the Education Committee as far as Aberdeen is concerned and likewise to consult with the Universities, the medical lectures [sic] of Aberdeen, and if necessary the managers of the Infirmary on the best measures for protecting the interests of the Aberdeen Medical School' (p.267).
20 December 1838: Note of dinner held in the hall on the 18 December to celebrate the Society entering its 50th year of existence on the 15 December. Includes list of guests and members present.
1 September 1842: Dr. Nicol read a case of stricture of the colon, Dr. Williamson gave an account of a case of diseased stomach and Dr. Laing showed a diseased knee-joint which had been removed by amputation in the Infirmary [brief details of these cases are provided].
4 May 1843: Dr. Keith read a paper on the results of cases of stone in the bladder treated by him in the Aberdeen Infirmary (1 page). [This paper was continued at the meeting of the 6 July 1843.]
7 April 1853: Council Meeting (p.567). Copy of letter from Robert Dyce gifting portrait of his father and copy of letter from Dr. Kilgour acknowledging gift of portrait. [Also see minutes of Council meeting held on the 23 April 1987 (AMCS/1/1/1/30).] |