| Description | Minute book of the Aberdeen Medical Society. A list of the new laws enacted is included at the end of the volume. Contents include:
1799
13 August: First dissertation: Lues Venerea; Second dissertation: Odontalgia
President: Mr. Selbie; Authors: William Mien and Mr. Thom
It is recorded that a letter from James McGrigor, Surgeon in the 88th Regiment, sent from Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, 29 March 1799, was read to the Society: 'On their voyage to India, the Dysentery broke out among the 88th Regt. In different parts of the world I have seen the superiority of a treatment of this disease by mercury - On the present occasion I have from the Case Book of the Regt. drawn up a statement of the cases that occurred in the ship of which I had the immediate care - If agreeable to the rules of the Society you may read the enclosed paper to the Society, and with sincerest wishes for the prosperity of the Institution…'. The paper, after being read to the Society, was inserted into the Thesaurus.
20 August: President: Mr. Burnett; 1st Dissertation: Asthma by Mr. Napier; 2nd Dissertation: [Astringents] by Mr. Burnett.
28 August: President: Mr. Burnett; 1st Dissertation: Scorbutus - Mr. Anderson; 2nd Dissertation: Paracentesis - Mr. Watt.
29 August: Meeting of Committee appointed to discuss manner in which a skeleton might be procured for the Society. It was resolved to write to Dr. Dyce regarding this matter, the funds stated as amounting to £12.
4 September: Reference to grant of deed given by Dr. Livingston putting members in possession of the hall. [See note appended to minute of 10 September and see minute of 22 October 1799.]
28 September: Following the minute of this date an inventory of the museum is appended. The specimens include three small foetuses, a young crocodile, and a preserved larynx.
8 October: Mr. Alexander continued his dissertation on the absorbent system (2 pages). Mr. Melles delivered a dissertation on asthma (4 pages) and Mr. Elphinstone read a discourse on the pulse (3 pages) followed by a case of amenorrhoea.
30 October: Extraordinary meeting held to discuss the purchase of a female skeleton 'the price for which according to information received by Dr. Dyce from a correspondent in London, is no less than five pounds sterling. This sum so far exceeded their expectation and [would] manifestly produce such a diminution of their funds that they could not with any propriety determine immediately'. [Also see minute of meeting held on the 23 September 1800, page 195, and pages 116 and 118.]
5 November: First dissertation: Cynanche Maligna, W. J. Milne; Second dissertation: Ophthalmia, W. Melles
President: Mr. Morris; First dissertation for first reading: Lues Venerea, W. Paterson
'...W. J. Milne proceeded to deliver his sentiments on the subject of Cynanche Maligna. Having defined and referred it to its proper place in the system of diseases according to Cullens Synopsis he described the symptoms. Amongst these he enumerated, as being primary ones, pyrexia, sickness, cold shiverings...' (3 pages).
1800
14 January: A discourse on rheumatism by Mr. McLean was read for discussion (3 pages) and a second discourse on the subject of inflammation was read by Mr. Napier (2 pages).
11 March: Mr. Nimmo read a discourse on puerperal fever (2 pages) and Mr. Forrest a discourse on pertussis (1 page).
29 April: 'Mr. Ch. McDonald rose and said that he had received information that one or more of the members of this Society were concerned in taking up a body after it had been dissected and had been, by the unanimous voice of the Society, ordered to be interred. As this happened lately and as it was a matter of great importance the President recommended to the members to investigate it, and, if possible, to detect the authors of this highly culpable action' (p.126). [Also see minute of 6 May, 8 May and 13 May.]
19 June: Copy of address to the King enclosed in which the Society expresses its 'warm and sincere congratulations on your Majesty's late providential escape' (p.143).
8 July: 'A subscription for a blood vessel subject which shall extend to the whole Ordinary Members was this evening established - any sum under five [shillings] _ to be rejected' (p.147).
5 August: A letter was read from Mr. Brown, Surgeon's Assistant proposing at the request of Mr. McGrigor two gentlemen from Bombay as Honorary members: Wm. Moir, M.D., First member of the Medical Board and Helenus Scott, Surgeon and Medical Storekeeper at Bombay (p.166). They were duly elected.
19 August: First discourse: Anasarca, Mr. Saunders (4 pages); Second discourse: Inflammation, Mr. Leith (2 pages).
7 October: Mr. McLean read a discourse on dysentery (3 pages) and Mr. Paterson a discourse on hydrophobia (1 page). The election of office bearers also took place at this meeting with Messrs. Paterson and Smith elected Presidents.
21 October: A discourse on variola was delivered by Mr. Jameson (2 pages) followed by a discourse on puerperal fever by Mr. Smith (2 pages). |