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British Society for the History of Medicine
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This web page has an introduction, Medical History Review, report and delegate's report on the International Society for the History of Medicine, information on the Poynter Lecture 2006, The John Blair Trust, and a Report from the Secretary.
The newsletter continues on other web pages:
Constitution -
2005 Congress Report -
Society Reports -
Book Reviews -
Treasurer's report (to be added)
BSHM News 2004 is also available.
The British Society for the History of Medicine was formed in 1965 by members of the Faculty of the History and Philosophy of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Society of Apothecaries, and the Royal Society of Medicine, both of London, the Scottish Society of the History of Medicine, and the Osler Club of London. Its aims are to encourage the study, research, and teaching of medical history at both graduate and undergraduate level. In alternate years, it holds a National Meeting and the Poynter Lecture in London. The Society represents the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the International Society for the History of Medicine.
There is no individual membership; membership of an affiliated society automatically provides this. The governing committee, of office-bearers and representatives from the affiliated societies, meets annually, either at the National Congress or at the Poynter Lecture. Office-bearers 2004-2005 were: President, Dr Aileen Adams, CBE, FRCA, Secretary Dr Ann Ferguson, FRCA DHMSA, Treasurer, Dr Tina Mathews BM FRCPath DHMSA, Past-President, Dr Denis Gibbs, DM, FRCP, and National Delegate to the International Society, Mrs Belinda Heathcote M Sc. DHMSA ALA. [For 2005-2006 officers see bshmdir.htm]. On the governing committee, member societies with more than one hundred members have two representatives, smaller societies have one member. This NEWS is published annually, and provides a link between constituent societies and an up-date on medical history at home and abroad.
The current BSHM website is http://www.bshm.org.uk and is now run by David Hawgood, david@hawgood.com. All members should contact him as required.
This year is the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. As a result, there have been many reports of events and recollections of the time, over the whole range of news media, pictures, books, and articles. There have also been carefully collected records of those who took part, in the Armed Forces and in the civilian population, by groups and by individuals. When those of us with an interest in history realise that our present will one day become the past, we begin to see the value of actively collecting records of our contemporaries. While an organization like the Second World War Experience Centre in Leeds has done this formally, and some in Royal Colleges and local antiquary societies, a few discerning individuals have done their own already - one is Dr James McGregor, the outstanding former secretary of SSHM, whose article in the last edition of Vesalius described his own day-to-day activities of 50 years ago in Sierra Leone and the Solomon Islands, as a conscript not into the Army but the Colonial Medical Service. His wealth of correspondence is now in the major archives of Edinburgh University, and a personal book is soon to be published. Perhaps this is one sort of medical history BSHM members might consider doing - writing an account of their earlier life-times. With individual care in this country now so often a National Health Dis-service, our records of better years could be of huge fascination to our descendents.
This Newsletter, if it does nothing else, serves to remind us that it is all over the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that medical history flourishes. In the past two years, there has been expressed to me some feeling that the 'BSHM is a rather distant organisation', the question being asked 'What does it do for us here?', or the statement 'I am not a member of the British Society.' Society activity in Wales and Yorkshire flourishes. Student teaching, and the high ability students who ask to take part with enthusiasm, is higher in Queen's in Belfast, Liverpool, and Dundee, than in most other places. The case for the 2007 National Congress to be in Dundee was to restore a balance, in choice of locations other than the Southern Peninsula, as deserving such recognition.
J.S.G. Blair, Editor
The Congress in Bari in September 2004 had all the exuberance of the Italian hosts. A wide range of countries took part. As usual, following current policy, there were many short papers. The international team who proposed and sponsored Professor Diamandououlos as the next President had their efforts and hard work rewarded when he was appointed after a close-fought election. Since his election, Professor Thanos has confirmed the correctness of the decision. He has quietly played himself in, to the great happiness of his supporters, showing integrity, firmness, and the good humour and vision, so needed in an International Society.
The Congress in Iceland at Reykjavik, from 10th to 13th of August, brought together a group of able and committed Nordic doctors and nurses, and it is to be hoped that the BSHM senior member tasked by Professor Diamandopoulos to go as his representative and recruiter may have some success in his quest.
The recent Meeting in Greece, in Patras, this September, again stamped a new look, and showed the Greeks at their hospitable best. While there is still more to be done, the ISHM is looking more healthy and happy.
J.S.G Blair
As I took over as British National Delegate only in January, my first few months have been spent getting used to the job. However it can be reported that there has been a very good response to the request for renewal of subscriptions with a total of 56 paid up members and a couple of new ones on the way. Only 5 are still outstanding, so a final chase-up letter will have to be sent.
Last year saw several changes in the Executive Committee. Professor Athanasios Diamandopoulos took over as President from Professor Jean-Pierre-Tricot, who remains on the Committee as immediate Past President. The Secretary General is Dr. Philippe Albou and the Treasurer Prof. Alfredo Musajo-Somma. The English speaking editor of Vesalius is Dr David Wright and the French editor Dr. Alain Lellouch. The Business Editor for Vesalius responsible for getting Vesalius to paid-up members is Mr. John Blair (jgb143@aol.com) All first communications or submitted articles, in French or in English, must go first to him. Any problems about non-receipt should also be made directly to him. If anybody wants any more information about other members of the Committee they are free to contact me .
We are very keen to increase the number of members so if anyone reading this is interested, please send a cheque made out to the British Society for the History of Medicine for £35 (£17.50 if over 70) to Mrs. Belinda Heathcote, 55, Haling Park Road, South Croydon CR2 6ND, together with telephone number and e-mail if applicable. This is actually a subscription to the journal Vesalius which comes out twice a year and includes membership of the ISHM. Very good value.
If anyone wishes to know more about the Society and its workings there is a web-site at www.bium.univ-paris5.fr/ishm/eng which gives the history, future events, and is a forum for exchange of ideas etc. For those without computers I am prepared to print out all the information and send it through the post for a cost of £5. Any profit will go into the general account of the BSHM.
The next International bi-annual Congress will be held in Budapest in September 2006 and promises to be well worth a visit. (See Congress website.) It would be very satisfying to see as big a British delegation as possible, so I hope to see you there.
Belinda Heathcote
The Trust has given several grants and prizes over the past year, and is available for financial help to medical and dental students who are carrying out research projects at home or abroad.
It is also available for prizes to students doing Student Selected Components in medical history. Application should be made directly to Dr JSG Blair at 'The Brae' 143, Glasgow Road, Perth, UK, PH2 OLX, the senior trustee. (e-mail JGB143@ aol.com)
Appointment of secretary elect. I would like to change the current system of appointing the secretary so that a secretary elect is appointed one year before the end of the four year term of office of the serving secretary. This gives scope for a smoother handover, and gives the incoming secretary some power before taking over the office completely. [This requires a change in the constitution.]
Responsibilities of officers. The secretary, treasurer and ISHM representative have got together, and written down what we consider to be the responsibilities of these posts. These lists are not set in stone, but we hope that they would be useful to anyone thinking of volunteering to help.
Meeting at the Thackray Museum. I attended a meeting at the Thackray museum which was convened with the idea of a greater degree of co-operation between medical museums and societies. Some of the museum representatives were interested in the idea that we as a society could help promote the museums, and some expressed an interest in joining the BSHM.
Archives. All archives are in big white files, several years to a file, and the annual newsletter at the end of each year. There is a comprehensive relevant index at the front of each file, with a copy in the working file used by the secretary. The first two files of the society, 1981 to 1994 have been placed in the archive of the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries, who have kindly agreed to store them for us. We are unable to allow open access to the archive because the archivist at the Apothecaries is too busy, so if anyone has a relevant reason for wanting to see them, please apply to the current BSHM secretary who will withdraw the appropriate file.
Poynter lecture. Following the dissolution of the Friends of the Welcome last year, they donated £2,000 to us specifically to be used for the Poynter lecture. As the Wellcome are rebuilding, they have nowhere to accommodate us next year, so we are holding the lecture at the Royal College of Surgeons, jointly with the Hunterian Museum, and the History of Natural History Society.
THE NEXT NATIONAL CONFERENCE will be in Dundee in 2007, from Wednesday 22nd - 26th September. The 2009 Conference will be in Brighton, from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th September.
We are very pleased that we now have a satisfactory website, sensibly run, and our great thanks go to David Hawgood for his great helpfulness in its setting up.
Ann Ferguson
September 2005
The BSHM News 2005 has been converted to web pages by David Hawgood.
Copyright 2005 David Hawgood and the British Society for the History of Medicine
This page by David Hawgood
was amended 8 Dec 2007