| Description | Minutes of the Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society. Also includes correspondence, reports and other enclosures. A summary of the contents is as follows:
1961
Printed list of members at 31 October 1961.
Programme of events for 1961-62.
Programme for meetings of Social Medicine Group centred around theme of 'The changing patterns in medicine', 1961-62.
Copies of Annual Report of Council, Annual Treasurer's Report and Annual Librarian's Report for November 1961 followed by minute of Council meeting held on 16 November 1961.
Society meeting - 16 November - Election of new President, Mr. Norman J. Logie, and office-bearers.
Council meeting - 7 December - Permission granted to University Medical Society to use hall; Discussion continued from meeting held on 26 October regarding future of library: 'It was almost the unanimous feeling of the Council that the most appropriate course would be to hand the books over to the University library as a gift...'. [This was not to include McGrigor's papers.]
Society meeting - 7 December - Talk delivered by Dr. J. D. S. Cameron, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh: 'Some thoughts on hepatic disease'.
Menu and programme for Founders' Commemoration Dinner held at the Caledonian Hotel, Aberdeen, 16 December 1961. Cover has portait of McGrigor and map showing places where he served, together with names of founder members.
1962
Council meeting - 11 January - Report of meeting with University Librarian, Dr. Simpson, and curator of library, Professor O'Dell, who signalled their willingness to take over Society's library and mentioned specific room to house books and special book plate: Council agreed to recommend to Society this course of action.
Society meeting - 11 January - President highlighted historical significance of AU Medical Society meeting in hall for first time on 16 January; Symposium on 'Ulcerative Colitis' presented by Dr. K. N. V. Palmer, Mr. H. A. F. Dudley and Mr. P. F. Jones.
Society meeting - 1 February - Professor A. S. Duncan of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Welsh National School of Medicine delivered talk: 'Midwifery as an Education'.
Council meeting - 1 March - 'The President suggested that the Council might consider the advisability of the Society acquiring new premises on or near the Foresterhill site'.
Society meeting - 1 March - Motion by President on behalf of Council that books in Library, excluding the papers of McGrigor, be handed over as a gift to the University Library. It was agreed to call a special meeting to discuss the motion. Talk delivered by Dr. James Crooks on the 'Symptomatology and Diagnosis of Thyrotoxicosis' followed by Mr. William Michie who discussed the management of this condition.
Society meeting - 29 March - Special meeting to discuss future of library. After much discussion it was agreed that motion should be withdrawn at present until Council had appointed a small committee to prepare a list and valuation of the Society's books. [Also see minute of Council meeting, 2 June 1966.]
Society meeting - 12 April - Obituary of Dr. David Hamilton; talk delivered by Mr. A. W. Badenoch, Consultant Urological Surgeon, St. Peter's and St. Bartholomew's Hospitals, London: 'On the Formation of Stone'.
Society meeting - 3 May - Dr. R. E. Bonham-Carter, Physician, The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street addressed the Society on the 'Medical and Surgical Treatment of Congenital Malformations of the Heart in Infancy'.
Society meeting - 7 June - Obituary of Dr. John H. Stephen; Symposium on 'Some Facets of General Practice' presented by The North-East Scotland Faculty, College of General Practitioners, speakers: Dr. L. Mackie, Dr. D. Fraser, Dr. James Gauld and Dr. W. A. Ross.
Special meeting of Council: 4 October. Meeting to discuss future of the library at which were present Mr. Lothian, Dr. Wightman and Professor Macdonald to offer their opinion. It was resolved to keep the library and that steps should be taken with regard to the preservation and re-cataloguing of the books.
Council meeting: 1 November (held at City Hospital). Agreed to send current library catalogue to Dr. Poynter, Librarian to the Wellcome Library, who would advise Society on whether to formally request financial assistance towards the re-cataloguing of the library.
Society meeting: 1 November. Obituary of Dr. A. F. Pringle. The staff of Aberdeen City Hospital presented various cases for discussion including a case of perforated duodenal ulcer who turned out to be in acute cardiac failure (Dr. Hunter), a case of miliary tuberculosis (Dr. Bell) and an investigation of the use of serum polysaccharide levels in the differential diagnosis between rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, described by Dr. Wigzell.
Society meeting: 15 November. Dr. Frank J. S. Bowman elected President. The Annual Report of Council, Treasurer's report and statement of accounts, and Librarian's report were presented [these are enclosed prior to the Council meeting of the same date].
Society meeting: 6 December. Obituary of Dr. V. M. M. Watson. Brigadier H. L. Glyn Hughes, Director, South-East London General Practitioners' Centre addressed the Society on 'The Place of General Practitioner Diagnostic and Treatment Centres in the Hospital Picture of the Future'.
Record of Founders' Commemoration Dinner held at the Caledonian Hotel, 15 December 1962 [menu and programme enclosed].
1963
Council meeting - 10 January
Society meeting - 10 January - Obituary of Dr. John Johnston; Dr. David Proctor delivered talk on 'Breast Abscess' and Dr. H. G. Smylie described the 'Bacteriological investigation of cases of Breast Abscess'.
Council meeting - 7 February - Treasurer highlighted that Benevolent Fund Account was in credit to sum of £700 and proposed future arrangements regarding fund.
Society meeting - 7 February - Dr. B. Schlesinger, Senior Physician, The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London delivered talk on 'Rheumatoid Disease in Children'.
Council meeting - 7 March
Society meeting - 7 March - Dr. Ian A. Anderson, MBE, Medical Biochemist, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow presented paper: 'Some Biochemical Aspects of the Major Metabolic Bone Diseases'.
Council meeting - 4 April
Society meeting - 4 April - Sir John N. Ritchie, CBE, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture delivered talk: 'Some Thoughts on the Zoonoses'.
Council meeting - 6 June - Discussion of arrangements for lunch on occasion of visit of British Association; Secretay instructed to arrange for re-hanging of kayak and application of preservative to the leather.
Society meeting - 6 June - Obituary of Dr. A. H. C. Sinclair-Gieben; Symposium on 'Geriatrics in General Practice' presented by the North-East Scotland Faculty, College of General Practitioners.
Society meeting - 4 July - Mr. N. J. Logie delivered Presidential Address postponed from October 1962, his subject being 'The Aberdeen Joint Hospitals Scheme' and the role the Society played in its initiation.
Note of visit to Aberdeen of the British Association and lunch given by Society on 2 September. The names of the Society members and members of the British Association who attended the lunch are recorded.
Printed programme of events for 1963-64 and of the Social Medicine Group.
Council meeting - 31 October - Mr. Logie proposed that Society should consider moving to premises on Foresterhill site. Agreed that special meeting of Council should be held to discuss this further.
Society meeting - 31 October - Obituaries of Dr. J. Ross Mackenzie and Dr. W. Chambers; Dr. F. J. S. Bowman delivered Presidential Address on subject of 'Cloud Formations and their effect on the weather'.
Council meeting - 7 November - Annual Report of Council, Treasurer's Report and Librarian's Report presented and approved [see enclosed].
Society meeting - 7 November - Mr. J. F. Philip addressed the Society on the 'Chemotherapy of Cancer'.
Society meeting and Annual Business Meeting - 21 November - Mr. E. Godfrey Collins elected President and election of office-bearers.
Council meeting - 5 December - The Librarian Dr. J. McKenzie reported his visit to Wellcome Library in London and possibilty of grant for rebinding.
Society meeting - 5 December - Professor George Smith, MBE, addressed the Society on 'The Surgical Therapy of Myocardial Ischaemia and its Sequelae'.
Menu and programme for the Founders' Commemoration Dinner, 14 December 1963 held at Crombie Hall.
Note of appointment of new caretakers.
1964
Council meeting - 9 January - Noted that new caretakers, Mr. and Mrs. J. Coutts, would take up residence on the premises on 15 January following retirement of Mr. and Mrs. Gall and that Secretary would arrange for Police supervision of the premises on the four days prior to their arrival.
Society meeting - 9 January - Obituary of Dr. Lindsay R. A. Ogg; talk delivered by Mr. Frank McGuckin, Lecturer in Diseases of the Ear, Nose and Throat, Newcastle University: 'The Myth of Chronic Otitis Media'.
Special Meeting of Council - 16 January - Discussion of memorandum [enclosed] prepared by Mr. N. J. Logie regarding possible move to Foresterhill site. Agreed that further memo should be prepared to include points raised by Council members and that this would then be circulated to Society. In memo notes that the Society 'may become a medical back water and a piece of local history' if changes were not made.
Council meeting - 6 February.
Society meeting - 6 February - Talks delivered by Mr. T. L. Carr and Mr. I. G. MacKenzie, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons and members of the Society, the former on 'Maladie de Dupuytren' and the latter on 'Congenital Dislocation of the Hip'.
Council meeting - 5 March - Suggested that members competing for the Golf Cup should pay a smal entry fee 'so that a momento might be presented to the winner'.
Society meeting - 5 March - Talk delivered by Mr. Peter Konstam, Consultant Surgeon, Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall on 'Surgical Problems in West Africa'.
Council meeting - 2 April.
Society meeting - 2 April - Three members then addressed Society: Dr. J. A. Birnie on subject of mercurial poisoning as an agricultural hazard; Dr. J. A. Shearer discussed the hazards of heavy industry, with particular reference to paper-making; Dr. J. S. Finnie described his knowlege of a light engineering company demonstrating the potential hazards that exist in the factory.
Council meeting - 7 May - Marble bust of Dr. Kilgour donated to Society and book containing photographs of members of the Garioch and Northern Medical Association.
Society meeting - 7 May - Talk delivered by Dr. Richard W. Turner, Senior Lecturer in Medicine, University of Edinburgh on the 'Management of Hypertension'.
Council meeting - 4 June - Agreed that President and Secretary should prepare report on advisability of move to Foresterhill site.
Society meeting - 4 June - Talk delivered by Professor A. G. Macgregor: 'Clinical and Therapeutic aspects of Genetics'.
Printed programme for 1964-65; Social Medicine Group programme, 1964-65.
Council meeting - 29 October.
Society meeting - 29 October - Presidential Address delivered by Mr. E. G. Collins: 'Speculations on Diseases in Literature, History and the Creative Instinct'.
Council meeting - 5 November - Treasurer's Report and Librarian's Report presented to meeting.
Society meeting - 5 November - Obituary of Dr. J. Crawford Knox; Dr. William Walker, Consultant Physician, addressed Society on 'The Typhoid Epidemic in Aberdeen'.
Special Meeting held on 11 November to discuss Mr. N. J. Logie's proposal that Society should move to premises on Foresterhill site. Various issues raised including need for Common Room accommodation and catering facilities and discussion of possible lecture hall.
[The Annual Report of Council for 1964 (noting total membership of 314) is then enclosed together with the Librarian's Report and Treasurer's Report with a printed copy of the income and expenditure account.]
Council meeting - 19 November - Resignation of caretakers.
Annual General Meeting - 19 November - Professor Sir Dugald Baird elected President and election of office-bearers.
Council meeting - 3 December.
Society meeting - Talk delivered by Dr. F. D. Beddard, Senior Administrative Medical Officer, North Eastern Regional Hospital Board: 'The Hospital Service in the North-East - A Forward Look'.
Menu and Programme for Founders' Commemoration Dinner, held at the Station Hotel, 12 December 1964.
Special meeting of Caretaker Appointment Committee held on 24 December. Mr. William and Mrs. Williamina Cowie appointed.
1965
Council meeting - 14 January. The Secretary presented a report prepared by Messrs. Jenkins and Marr, Architects, Civil Engineers and Surveyors on value of Society's premises. The building was valued at £5000.
Society meeting - 14 January. Dr. E. R. C. Walker, formerly Scottish Secretary, British Medical Association, delivered talk: 'Forty Years After'.
Special meeting of Council to discuss possible move to Foresterhill held on the 28 January. The Council agreed that the possible move should be 'explored and supported' and that the premises should consist of a lecture room, library, Council room and lounge for members.
[Report by Mr. Logie, January 1964 and report on King Street premises by Jenkins and Marr, 12 January 1965, enclosed.]
Council meeting - 4 February.
Society meeting - 4 February. Talk delivered by Professor W. I. Cranston, Department of Medicine, St. Thomas' Hospital, London: 'Regulation of Temperature in Health and Disease'.
Council meeting - 4 March.
Society meeting - 4 March. Professor G. M. Carstairs, Department of Psychological Medicine, Edinburgh presented paper: 'Psychiatric Problems of Developing Countries'.
Special meeting of Society to discuss proposed move to Foresterhill site held on 11 March.
Council meeting - 1 April.
Society meeting - 1 April. Society addressed by four of its members representatives of the North-East Scotland Faculty, College of General Practitioners: 'Obstetrics in General Practice'.
Council meeting - 6 May. Letters received from Principal of the University and the Secretary of the North-Eastern Reguional Hospital Board in reply to letter setting forth Society's intentions following special meeting of 11 March [enclosed].
Society meeting - 6 May. Professor James Walker, Department of Midwifery and Gynaecology, Dundee delivered talk: 'The Specialist and the Community'.
Council meeting - 3 June. Agreed to establish Planning Sub-Committee to prepare statement on possible future requirements of Society on the Foresterhill site in view of building work starting on refectory before end of March 1966. Letter from Town Clerk enclosed regarding potential purchase of premises at 29 King Street by the Corporation of the City of Aberdeen.
Society meeting - 3 June. Mr. Blair, Senior Lecturer in Surgery, University of Aberdeen delivered talk 'The Influence of the Endocrine Glands on Gastric Secretion'.
Printed programme of events for 1965-66.
Planning Sub-Committee meeting - 16 September. Debate regarding possible role of Society in future with suggestion that its role might encompass the postgraduate education of the General Practitioner. Agreed that memorandum to be prepared by Secretary on possible future role for next meeting of sub-committee.
Society meeting - 28 October. Presidential address delivered by Professor Sir Dugald Baird: 'The Reluctant Traveller'.
Council meeting - 4 November. The Secretary noted that he had found the original subscription list of monies paid by members towards the building of the King Street premises in the attic. The Librarian was instructed to arrange for this to be cleaned and framed.
Society meeting - 4 November. Society addressed by members of the Surgical Staff, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Copy of Annual Report of Council.
Council meeting - 25 November.
Annual Business Meeting - 25 November. Obituary of Mr. Alexander Lyall and Dr. Robert Richards. The Annual Report of Council, Treasurer's Report and Librarian's Report were presented [see enclosed]. Dr. Ian Gordon elected President and office-bearers elected.
Council meeting - 2 December.
Society meeting - 2 December. Talk delivered by Dr. Ian W. B. Grant: 'The Modern Management of Bronchial Asthma'.
Programme and menu for Founders' Commemoration Dinner, 11 December 1965 [Part of speech by unknown author enclosed].
'Memorandum on the Possible Future of the Society', 6 December 1965, James G. Henderson, Secretary.
Planning Sub-Committee meeting - 6 December. Agreed that Secretary should prepare second Memorandum for presentation to Council [incomplete copy enclosed].
1966
Council meeting - 13 January. A discussion of the second Memorandum of the Planning Sub-Committee took place.
Society meeting - 13 January. Obituary of Dr. Thomas D. Junor. Talk by Dr. Tyrrell: 'The Causes and Management of Upper Respiratory Diseases'.
Letter from Town Clerk confirming Corporation's willingness to enter into negotiations over purchase of King Street property is enclosed at this point together with notes from annual Library reports, February 1966, as laid before meeting of Council (see below).
Council meeting - 3 February. Increase of Insurance Cover to £26,000. Estimate of cost of new building given as £15,300.
Society meeting - 3 February. Agreed to increase annual subscription; Clinical demonstrations by staff of Royal Aberdeen Hospital for Sick Children [detailed list included].
Special meeting of Society - 10 February. 'Memorandum on the Possible Role of the Society' passed.
Enclosed: Letter frpm Professor Millar dated 2 February 1966 outlining present state of plans for developing the Medical Centre at Foresterhill
Special meeting of Council - 10 March.
Recommendations of Planning Sub-Committee, enclosed with letter dated 27 May 1966.
Minute of meeting between the President, Vice-President and Secretary with Messrs. Paull and Williamson, Advocates on 25 February regarding sale of King Street premises and new building at Foresterhill.
Council meeting - 3 March.
Letter from Paull and Williamsons, Advocates, dated 2 March. Notes valuation of property at £8,000.
Society meeting - 3 March. Presentation of Radiological symposium.
Minute of meeting (attended by President, Vice-President and Secretary) of Joint Consultative Committee to the Board and University, 21 March.
Council meeting - 7 April. £500 donated to Society by Mr. H. B. Mackie, formerly Professor of Pharmacy at Brighton [see enclosed correspondence].
Society meeting - 7 April. Talk by Dr. Allan W. Downie and Mr. W. R. Martin Nichols on strokes.
Council meeting - 5 May. Reference to letter from North-Eastern Regional Hospital Board [enclosed with extract from minute of meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee of the Regional Hospital Board and the University of Aberdeen, 21 March 1966]. It was also agreed that a group photograph of Council members should be arranged.
Planning Sub-Committee meeting: 19 May. Noted that Mr. Kelman, Deputy Secretary, University of Aberdeen had requested information on the Society's requirements in terms of accommodation in view of the proposed move to Foresterhill. [Enclosed is the Society's reply and a memorandum listing the requirements of the Society.]
Council meeting: 2 June. It was agreed that steps should be taken to sell the library but that a 'representative nucleus' should be retained [also see minute of Society meeting, 2 June].
Planning Sub-Committee meeting: 8 June. Mr. Dunn, Architect of the Foresterhill Medical Centre, was in attendance. Various matters relating to new building for Society discussed including projected costs.
Enclosed: letter from Dr. Poynter, Director, Wellcome Library, dated 16 June in which he recommends selling books from library at Sotheby's. [See minute of Council meeting, 1 November 1962.]
Special meeting of Society: 7 July. Held to discuss motion of Council recommending the sale of the library. Enclosed is a circular letter from Dr. Ian Gordon, the President, outlining the reasons for this course of action. He notes that the estimated cost of the new building at Foresterhill will be £16,000 and the Society still needed to raise about £10,000 to meet this figure. An amended motion in support of the sale of the Library was unanimously passed.
Council meeting: 25 August. Issue of title deeds and sale of King Street premises discussed [correspondence enclosed including letter from District Valuer in which he notes his recommendation to the Town Council will be a purchase price of £4,700.]. Also the report on the library by Dr. H. A. Feisenberger of Sotheby's [enclosed] was discussed and the following was agreed: 'The Secretary to write to the Secretary, University of Aberdeen, to the effect that the Society intended to sell the Library en bloc at an early date, and that the Society had been lead to believe that it might receive as much as £20,000 for the contents of the Library. In addition the University was to be informed that the Society intended to despatch the books to London, at a date certainly not later than 31st October, 1966, and that if the University was interested in the purchase of the library it would have to act before that date'. Further correspondence sent to Mr. Kelman, University of Aberdeen is also enclosed as well as the minute of a meeting held with him in July 1966. The question of a photographic record of the King Street premises and producing an up to date history of the Society was raised. [A number of other items of correspondence are enclosed at this point relating to the sale of the King Street premises, the new site at Foresterhill and the sale of the library.]
Council meeting - 27 October. Reference to letter dated 13 October 1966 from Mr. Angus, Secretary to the University, informing Society that the Court had decided it could not purchase library at this time [enclosed]. Also reference to letter from Dr. Poynter of Wellcome Library asking if it would be possible to purchase two books before they were auctioned at Sotheby's: Charles Bell, 'Idea of a new anatomy of the brain' (1811) and James Lind, 'A treatise of the scurvy' (1753) [enclosed]. Librarian asked to arrange for Cullen manuscripts to be returned from University Library.
Council meeting - 3 November. Reference to letter from Lieutenant Colonel Mann of 152 Hghland (Field) Ambulance [enclosed] requesting donation or indefinite loan of some item to illustrate link between the Society and the Royal Army Medical Corps. It was agreed to look into giving a picture of Sir James McGrigor for this purpose. |