| Description | Minute book of the Second Class of the Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society. Members were examined on anatomical and surgical subjects and cases and essays were read by members on a variety of medical subjects. Contents include:
12 September 1816. Mr. Murray, President. Mr. Cockerill read a case of 'incontinence of urine, unsuccessfully treated by purgatives, cold applications and tonics' which was voted to be inserted into the Case Book. 'Mr. Craigie the proceeded to give an account of his anatomical examination on the muscles in general [with] the particular muscles of the head, face and lower jaw, which he prosecuted in a very satisfactory manner. Several questions were proposed by some of the members, to which Mr. Craigie returned correct answers'.
[Pages 13-26 are blank.]
21 January 1817. Mr. Hutchinson, President. Mr. McKay read an essay on diarrhoea: '...he proposed to proscute the subject under the following heads viz Symptoms, causes predisposing, exciting and proximate, which last contrary to the opinion of Dr. Cullen, he supposed to be debility in the intestinal canal alone supporting this opinion by stating astringents were the most useful remedies in this disease. The continuation of the discourse he comprehended under the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. In the latter of which he laid down Thomas' indications of cure...'. Mr. Welsh gave an account of the _ or vertebrae arteries with their corresponding veins and Mr. Imlay read one of Dr. Hamilton's cases of cholera successfully treated by purgatives and wine. Mr. McGillivray brought forward his case of sarcomatous tumour which had been extirpated by Dr. Selbie: 'Mr. Alex. Murray put a few questions on the particular cause of tumours and on their definitions and Mr. Cockerill on the formation of tumours and the diagnosis between them and fungus haematodes'.
[Pages 64-70 and 99-100 are blank.]
6 May 1817. The election of office-bearers took place at this meeting with Mr. McGillivray and Mr. Welsh were elected Presidents. 'As this was the 1st General examination that had taken place the President questioned Mr. W. Murray on the surgical anatomy of the Neck. The superficial muscles of the neck [with] part of the muscles of the Larynx and Pharynx were first described...'. Mr. Livingston was examined on gunshot wounds and Mr. Martin was asked to describe the course of the aorta, iliac and femoral arteries with their branches. Mr. Sherriffs was questioned on the viscera of the thorax and Mr. Cockerill on the brain and its membranes: 'Some warm disputes were carried on on [different] parts of this subject which were only ended by referring to a system of anatomy'.
[Pages 104-126 are blank.]
8 November 1817 (held in Divinity Hall, Marischal College). Meeting of Committee appointed to examine the laws of the Society with list of alterations and additions subesquently proposed, including holding two meetings during the week, with Tuesdays devoted to a discourse and anatomical or surgical examination and Saturdays a materia medica or midwifery examination and a case or query (pages 161-162). [Also see minute of the 11 November 1817. At the meeting held on the 28 February 1818 it was resolved to discontinue the materia medica and midwifery examinations and to no longer hold meetings on a Saturday.]
6 January 1818. Mr. Finlay, President. Mr. Minty read an essay on the plague: 'The symptoms he said differed from typhus in being attended with buboes in the lymphatic system...The treatment consisted in bleeding when the inflammatory action was great. In milder cases he recommended emetics, diaphoretics and purgatives cautiously administered, as looseness was always an unfavourable [symptom] at any period of the disease...'. Mr. Thomson was examined on scrophula, hip-joint disease and _ (pages 190-191).
[Pages 197-198 are blank.]
29 April 1818. Mr. Cockerill, President. 'After the roll was called and introductory business finished, the President read a letter from King's College, stating that a prize of 25 Guineas was to be given to the author of the best essay on typhus. The writers to be members of the 2nd Class and resident in Aberdeen'. Mr. Smith read a discourse on acute hepatitis: '...The principal causes he said were external violence, great and continued heats or perspirations, exercise to a great extent, and cold...'. Mr. Stewart gave an account of the _ and vertebrae arteries and Mr. Cobban read a case of lacerated wound (pages 236-238).
[The minutes taken by the Secretary Robert Barclay Duncan from the 30 June-15 September 1818 are very detailed and often include a note of the subjects discussed at each meeting at the start of the minute.]
21 July 1818. Mr. Minty, President. Mr. Livingston read a letter from from Dr. Blaikie stating his intention of giving a regular course of lectures on surgery, midwifery and practical anatomy. Mr. Stewart delivered a discourse on hydrocephalus (acute): 'Of the symptoms, a violent pain in the head, a disordered state of the bowels, nausea and vomiting were, according to him among the leading...'. In discussing the proximate cause, 'Mr. Stewart added his opinion to that of Cheyne...in supposing that there is some kind of excitement or change in the brain previous to the accession of the increased action of the blood-vessels, and that congestion and effusion afterwards follow...In the treatment Mr. Stewart laid down 4 indications. 1st To remove the irritation and morbid action of the abdominal viscera, which is chiefly accomplished by the saline purgatives. 2nd To change the action of the vessels of the brain by diminishing the flow of blood towards the head; for this, besides blood-letting, he recommends digitalis under certain circumstances. 3rd To stimulate the absorbents, in order that the fluid effused into the ventricles may be taken up, on blisters and mercury he chiefly relied for this. The 4th indication. To guard against any urgent symptom during the progress of the disease...'. The Secretary was examined on the muscles of the scapula, arm, forearm and hand and Mr. Forest brought forward a case of ophthalmia. |