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British Society for the History of Medicine
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[Below are links to reports in the BSHM 2006 Web News. We have a separate page of current contacts for Affiliated Societies]
The society has met 4 times this year as usual at Frenchay Hospital Postgraduate Centre on the third Monday evening of the month. The officers remain with Dr J Bird as President, P. K. Carpenter as Hon Secretary and J.M.B. Roberts as Treasurer, though we are currently seeking a new treasurer. Inevitably several members have died or resigned during the year but other members have applied and joined, including two from Bath and West Medical History Society which recently folded. Turn out remains at about 30 - 35 for the meal prior to the meeting. The two talks given at each meeting remain of good standard, and the last cycle of proceedings is just about to be published. We have no immediate plans for a change to the society. Locally the collections of the Monica Britton medical Museum have now been dispersed. The Glenside Hospital psychiatric museum is drifting.
The highlight of the Society's year was the hosting of the 37th International Congress for the History of Pharmacy in Edinburgh, 22 to 25 June 2005. 310 delegates representing 28 countries attended.
Members of the Society were involved in the publication of a new textbook in August, 2005 on the history of pharmacy, 'Making Medicines: A Brief History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals' edited by Dr Stuart Anderson and published by the Pharmaceutical Press.
The Society organised another full programme of events during 2005. Four evening meetings were held jointly with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. In February Dr Mary Samuel presented a paper entitled: 'The History of Chinese Herbal Medicine' and in April the Foundation Lecture was 'Patients, Drugs and Doctors'by Dr Robert Bud. The subject of the September meeting was 'From Chemicals to Biotech: the transformation of ICI in the 20th century'. The final meeting of the year in November was a joint meeting with the National Association of Women Pharmacists, who celebrated their centenary. Dr Sue Symonds presented a paper entitled 'An Occasion at Once Historical and Novel; the foundation of the National Association of Women Pharmacists'. Details of future events are available on the Society's website www.bshp.org
The British Society for the History of Radiology, formerly the Radiology History and Heritage Charitable Trust (RHHCT) continues to flourish. The inaugural meeting of our new society took place on the 27th February 2006 with our first AGM and annual lecture. Our past-chairman Professor Ian Isherwood was made our honorary life-president. The annual lecture was given by Robert Clark, M.D. who is professor and chairman of radiology at the H Lee Moffitt Cancer Centre in Tampa, Florida USA and was entitled 'The Art of Radiography: how Positioning in Radiography by radiographer Kathleen Clara Clark influenced the art of Francis Bacon.'
We produce our journal 'The Invisible Light' twice a year and we organise a radiology history session at the annual UK Radiology Congress 'UKRC' which this year was held in Birmingham. The theme of the display on our stand in the technical exhibition at UKRC was Kathleen Clark and Francis Bacon and the stand was well attended.
I spoke at the historical scientific session on 'Recent developments in the history of radiology.' One of the aims of the RHHCT when it was founded was to stimulate the celebration of the Röntgen Centenary of 1995. The Röntgen Centenary Congress is now 11 years ago and it is now appropriate to reflect on the future of radiological history.
The further aims of the RHHCT were to facilitate the cataloguing and recording of historical material and the stimulation of work on the history of radiology.
There are currently various developments in radiological history:
There are important factors for the future to he considered:
Tom Sorahan, Professor of Occupational Epidemiology in Birmingham spoke on "Alice Stewart - Truth is the daughter of time." This was followed by Dr Bob Arnott, Reader in the History and Archaeology of Medicine and Director of the Centre for the History of Medicine at The University of Birmingham who spoke on "Why is history important to the modern doctor?" Finally Liz Beckman from Landmark & Dr Stephen Golding from the University of Oxford spoke on "The impact of Sir Godfrey Hounsfield: a joint view from science and medicine."
Further information about the BSHR can be obtained from either myself or our honorary
secretary Jean Barrett
(103 Slaithwaite Road, Meltham, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire HD9 5PW
jean.barrett@ntlworld.com)
Our website is wwwrhhct.org.uk. We are in the process of updating our website.
Adrian M K Thomas, Chairman. adrian.thomas@btinternet.com
The Historical Medical Equipment Society was founded in 1996. It aims to promote education and research into the history and evolution of instruments, apparatus, and equipment employed in medicine and related health care professions. Membership is £15 per year and is open to anyone with an interest in medical, surgical, pharmaceutical and dental instruments and equipment. Activities of the Society usually include twice yearly meetings with discussion papers, visits to collections and equipment identification sessions. There are currently 62 members. Two bulletins are published each year.
Dr John Prosser is Chairman, Mr John Kirkup is Bulletin Editor and Dr Tim Smith is Honorary Secretary. For membership application or further information please apply to Dr Tim Smith tel: 01249 782218 e-mail drtgcsmith@aol.com
In October 2005 the Society met at the Army Medical Services Museum, Keogh Barracks, Ash Vale. The museum includes the collections of the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps and Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. The meeting was organised by Captain Peter Starling RAMC (retd).
The meeting of the Society on 17th October 2006 is at the Association of Anaesthetists, in London.
Dr Tim Smith Hon. Secretary HMES
HONORARY SECRETARY'S REPORT 2005-2006
Since my first Annual Report the History of Anaesthesia Society has enjoyed a very successful year. In September 2005 the Society jointly with the Department of Anaesthesia of the West Suffolk Hospital were the hosts at Queens' College, Cambridge of the Sixth International Symposium on the History of Anaesthesia. This was a very successful meeting. It was attended by over 180 Anaesthetic Historians from 22 countries. Many old friends of the Society travelled from afar. Tribute must be paid to the organisers who, under the guidance of lan Mclellan, Jean Horton and Neil Adams faced an enormous task in the organisation of a large gathering. Neil, who worked like a Trojan, is grateful for the help and support which he received from Jean who undertook the task of booking Queens' College and overseeing all the events within the College and the programme for accompanying persons. Neil was also valiantly supported by the secretarial staff of his Department to whom the Society are grateful. Particular thanks must also be given to his entire family and to members of his junior staff who played an important role both before and during the meeting from the 14th to 18th of September.
Response to a 'Call for Papers' produced so many entries that an extra lecture room had to be commandeered for additional sessions daily. One of the important contributions to the Academic Programme was the John Bullough Prize for Trainees sponsored by his widow Mrs Regina Bullough. Five papers of high quality were selected for presentation. Officers and Members of the Society attended a joint meeting of the History of Anaesthesia Society, the American Anaesthesia History Association and the Anaesthesiologists of the Mayo Clinic which was held at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota from the 22nd to 24th June 2006. The meeting introduced us to the history of the Clinic founded in 1863 by William Worrall Mayo, a "little" country doctor who was born in Eccles, Lancashire and had begun his working life in childhood as a weaver's assistant soon after the Industrial Revolution before drifting into medicine . As is frequently the case he was soon over-shadowed by the accomplishments of his sons, both surgeons. Throughout the meeting we heard about the achievements of the entire family and their links with the Clinic until recent years. Alas, while they are medically qualified none of the present generation are associated with the Clinic or Rochester. The social events took place in magnificent surroundings. The welcome reception was held 'out in the country' at the home of the founder's grandson, Chuck, set in the hills in a magnificent setting. On the Friday we had lunch at Foundation House the former 'baronial home' of Mr and Mrs William J Mayo which they had donated to the Mayo Foundation in 1938 for Medical Education and Research. We dined in the hall adorned by a spectacular stained glass window.
Saturday was the day set aside for 'education' with a full day of papers kicking off with a memorable, musically illustrated talk by a retired Ophthalmologist and banjo player recounting the history of the Mississippi Steamboats entitled "Mississippi and the Mayo Brothers". That evening, a Gala Dinner, held in the Entrance Hall of the Clinic brought the meeting to a close.
As an addendum a small party spent an interesting day at the Paul Wood Library and Museum in Chicago.
At the Annual General Meeting in Cambridge, Dr lan Mclellan was elected and admitted as an Honorary Life Member of the Society in recognition of the major role he has played in the Society over the years.
This year the Annual Summer Meeting and the AGM are to be held in Great Malvern from the 6th to 8th September 2006.
President Dr. David Powell FRCPath
Secretary. Dr Margaret R Jones, FRCR, 7 Windsor Avenue, Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8BW.
Telephone (0)2920419121; e-mail: margaretjones80@ntlworld.com
The first meeting was held at Cardiff on October 29th 2005. It was an extraordinary meeting entitled: 'Celebrating the merger of the Welsh National School of Medicine/College with the University of Cardiff.' The meeting was chaired by the President Dr David Powell FRCPath. and there were four speakers.
Distinguished guests, Professor K T Evans and Professor David Moffat, who had played a significant role in the story, attended the meeting with 65 members of the Society.
The Spring meeting was held at the National Botanic Garden Carmarthen on the 29th of April, 2006. It was chaired by the President and there were four speakers.
After lunch members enjoyed a visit to the Garden and Victorian Pharmacy.
The Summer meeting was held at the National Library Aberystwyth on the 24th June 2006, chaired by the President, with three speakers.
There was an Executive committee meeting at the end of the scientific meeting followed by lunch.
The Autumn meeting, Royal Welsh Showground Builth Wells on the 2nd September 2006, chaired by the President with three speakers.
After lunch, an optional visit to Hay on Wye.
The Winter meeting at DeCourceys Manor Cardiff on the 28th October 2006. Chaired by the President with three speakers.
AGM at the end of the Scientific Meeting, followed by lunch.
Guests are welcome to attend the meetings and membership forms may be obtained from Dr Margaret R Jones Tel: 029 20419121 e-mail margaret.jones80@ntlworld.com. 01/06/2006
The Lindsay Society for the History of Dentistry was innovative by holding their 2005 Annual Autumn Conference in Malta under the chairmanship of Dr. Geoffrey Garnett. It was the first time the Society had ventured outside the UK, and the close links that exist between Malta and the UK was illustrated by the island being the venue for the recent Heads of Commonwealth meeting in Valetta.
The Conference which was based at the excellent Corinthia Palace Hotel, adjacent to the Presidential Palace, also incorporated a fascinating day at the University of Malta's Medical and Dental School through the kind invitation of the Dean, Professor John Portelli and the previous Dean, Professor George Camilleri.
There were five excellent lectures, and initially the scene was set by a Maltese expert Dr. Vincent Zammit who reviewed the ancient and continuing history of the Maltese archipelago from 4000 BC, through the middle ages of the Knights Templers up to World War 2. He finished his presentation with a look at the current situation since Malta had become a Republic and the recent adoption of European Union membership, the only English speaking member apart from Great Britain.
Geoff Garnett presented a well illustrated paper on the life and times of Thomas Bell, one time teacher, friend and confident of the so called father of British dentistry, John Tomes, and friend of Charles Darwin. Eminent dentists of the early nineteenth century were distinguished members of society, and were well respected for their knowledge of comparative anatomy which made a substantial contribution to understanding of the development of species. Bell was also a distinguished author of a number of dental textbooks relating to anatomy and physiology. He also had definite ideas on the cause of dental disease not entirely valid in the light of today's knowledge!
Stuart Robson followed by recounting the circumstance when the President disappeared in 1893. The USA President, Cleveland Grover was diagnosed with a sarcoma of the hard palate which had to be removed. However his country was facing a huge financial depression over whether the economy should be linked to the European gold standard, or whether to do its own thing and link to the silver standard. To preserve secrecy and therefore to avoid loss of confidence in the President who was personally driving financial reforms through Congress, the major surgery was undertaken on a private yacht, the Oneida, whilst at sea. It was the first recorded instances of such a procedure being undertaken using general anaesthesia (nitrous oxide and ether), and the first time galvanocautery was used to cut tissue and minimise haemorrhage. The President was back in Congress three weeks later wearing an obturator and successfully won the financial debate thereby saving the nation from disaster. It was only fifteen years later when Grover died of cardiac problems that the remarkable, successful and secret procedure was revealed.
The Conference visit to the dental school was led by George Camilleri, and whilst a small school (intake of 12 students), the education is very akin to the traditional UK curriculum, a point emphasized by his paper relating to the 'Influence of Great Britain on Maltese Dentistry'. Many of the graduates spend some time in the UK both undertaking research and obtaining postgraduate qualifications before often returning to their home island. It was apparent that the close links that exist between the University of Malta, not only relating to the medical and dental faculties, and British Universities was greatly appreciated.
Professor Stanley Gelbier presented a very well researched and well illustrated paper on the development of mobile dental surgeries from the turn of the present century through to the early 1950's. These were not only from rural communities where dentistry had to visit the patients due to poor local transport in the more remote areas, but also from socially disadvantaged city areas; and the surgeries used by the armed forces during two world wars. Indeed today, based on these earlier experiences, mobile dental clinics still undertake a valuable health care role.
The meeting concluded with the President of the BDA Dr John Craig, and three former BDA Past Presidents (Professor R. Bettles, Drs G. Garnett and S. Robson) being invited to the headquarters of the Maltese Dental Association. Very useful discussions took place on international relationships, and on the work of the Commonwealth Dental Association. Both the BDA and MDA were founder members of the CDA in 1989, and it was surprising and interesting that on the Board Room picture gallery both Geoff Garnett and Stuart Robson featured at the founders meeting photograph held at the Royal Society of Medicine in London. At the Society's AGM, Dr. Bob McKecknie from Paisley was elected Chairman Elect to take the Chair in 2006, and Professor S. Gelbier took on the position of editor of the Society's 'The Dental Historian'. The editor would welcome enquiries from potential contributors to the journal, whilst membership enquiries should be made to the secretary Stuart Robson on 01904 794929, or through the BDA Museum at Wimpole Street.
The next meeting on the schedule is the Annual Lillian Lindsay Memorial Lecture, held in conjunction with the British Dental Association Conference on Saturday, 20 May 2006 at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, with Mrs Rachel Bairsto, Head of Museum Services at the BDA, as guest lecturer speaking on 'The Stories Behind the Museum Collections'. Many of the items in the BDA Museum have fascinating background tales attached to them.
Some dental graduates may be interested to learn that Durham University is taking applications to study for a one year MA in the History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine. The programme is taught at an internationally recognized faculty with instruction in a tutorial setting. Space is limited so early application is recommended. More information is available on the department website www.dur.ac.uk/hpsm.ma or from the course director Dr. Mathew Eddy at M.D.Eddy@durham.ac.uk or telephone 0191 334 6554.
Dr J.Stuart Robson. January 2006
For further information, please contact the Honorary Secretary :
Avril Brodey, c/ o The School of History, The University of Liverpool,
9 Abercromby Square, Liverpool, L69 7WZ
2006
5 October. Annual General Meeting, followed by Professor O Conor Ward (University College, Dublin), The Liverpool Infirmary for Children 1851 - 1920
20 October. War and Peace : day conference on the life and work of Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat, FRS, Nobel Peace Laureate (Note : this conference was additional to the regular programme of meetings . For conference programme, etc. see Liverpool University announcement )
Rotblat came to Liverpool from Poland in 1939, attracted by the fame of Professor James Chadwick and the potential of the newly-built cyclotron. He stayed for more than ten years during which time he worked extensively on nuclear physics, before joining the Manhattan Project in 1943. He was the only physicist to leave the project on conscience grounds and, after the war, helped to found the Pugwash Conferences, which led to his receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace, a rare honour for a physicist. At the same time, he moved into the newly-developing field of medical physics, which he continued with great distinction at St Bartholomew's Hospital.
Although he left Liverpool in 1950, he returned on many occasions, the last time in 2003, when he gave a brilliant lecture at the age of 95.
The conference brought together speakers who will recall his contributions in nuclear physics, medical physics, and the movement for the abolition of war. There was an exhibition of photographs and other material, together with video and sound recordings.
Delegates were presented with a hardback book containing all the speakers' contributions plus much additional material. Copies of the hardback conference volume, which runs to 350 pages, can be purchased (£15.00 plus £2.12 postage) on application to Adrian Allan, University Archivist, Sydney Jones Library, University of Liverpool, PO Box 123, Liverpool, L69 3DA ; email : ara@liv.ac.uk. Remittances payable to 'The University of Liverpool'.
Speakers at this conference:
Mrs Diana Preston: Before the Fall Out - Joseph Rotblat, James Chadwick and the Road to
Los Alamos
Mrs Sally Milne: Working with a Visionary Thinker
Dr John Curry: Sir Joseph before and after the Bomb
Mr Bryce Halliday: Professor Rotblat and the Atom Train
Dr Philip Mayles: Radiation, Cause of Cancer or Cancer Cure
Dr Jack Harris, MBE FRS, FRAEng: Sir Joseph Rotblat
and the Pugwash Organisation
Bruce Kent: Sir Joseph Rotblat: From Nuclear Disarmament to
the Abolition of War
Simon Coleman: The Archival Record of a Unique Scientist:
Making it Accessible to the World.
2 November. Professor Colin Suckling (Strathclyde): Recollections and reflections on the discovery of Halothane
7 December. Professor Andrew Grieve (Pfizer): Statistics, Warrington and their role in the evolution of Medicine as an evidence based Practice
2007
1 February. Professor Bryan Hibbard (Cardiff): The Secret Treatment, A History of the Obstetric Forceps
1 March. Dr Sally Sheard (University of Liverpool): Medicine in Whitehall in the 20th century
The annual programme of the Osler Club of London continues to be full. The Osler Club of London was founded in 1928 (the year of Lady Osler's death) to encourage the study of the history of medicine, and to keep fresh the memory of Sir William Osler (born July 12th 1849 & died December 29th 1919).
The members of the Club, either medical or those engaged in some activity related to medicine, are devoted to the humanistic approach to medicine, as exemplified in the life and works of Sir William Osler.
Membership of the Osler Club is open to medical men and women, medical students, and persons associated with the history of medicine and in allied sciences.
Unfortunately our first speaker was prevented by illness from attending and our President-elect Professor John Walker-Smith stepped in at the last minute with a masterly talk on "Sir George Newman and infant diarrhoeal mortality with an Oslerian footnote."
For the second session, Professor Jock Murray from Dalhousie University in Canada spoke on utopias in literature and life and reviewed utopian ideals in current models of medical care. Jock Murray has been a member of the London Osler society for many years and has spoken to the club on three previous occasions.
Dr David Green gave our Presidential Address which he entitled "Dr. Louis Boyd Neel: a forgotten musical pioneer. A 100th anniversary appreciation' " Louis Boyd Neel was trained as a medical doctor but gave up that career in 1932 to become a professional conductor. In 1934 he conducted the first performance of any opera at Glyndebourne. He appeared at the Salzburg Festival in 1937, and conducted his own orchestra that toured Great Britain and Europe until 1939.
Dr Ted Reynolds addressed the club in February 2006 on "Todd, Faraday and the electrical basis of brain activity." The physician Robert Bentley Todd (1809-1860) died prematurely at the age of 50. Following his death his medical colleagues erected a statue in his memory, which may still be seen at King's College Hospital in South London. Since his death his memory has faded and he is now remembered only for the paralysis following an epileptic convulsion that he described.
In February 2006 we also had a joint meeting with the Medical Society of London when Professor Brian Livesley addressed us on "New Aspects of William Osler."
Timothy Walker, the Director of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden & Harcourt Arboretum next spoke on "The Healing Power of Plants." Timothy Walker started work at the Oxford Botanic Garden in 1980 as a trainee gardener and in 1987 was elected to the Ernest Cook lectureship at Somerville College Oxford.
For our members' papers evening we had three talks. Prof. Neil McIntyre spoke on "Josephine Butler or Mrs George Murray Smith - a medallion mystery," Emmakate Buchannan spoke on "An Enlightened Age: Building the naval hospitals" and Brian Livesley on "Malloch's 1938 Osler Oration."
Our last meeting for the session was brought to a fine conclusion when Professor Michael Biddiss gave our Oslerian Oration on the sombre subject of "Nazi Medicine."
Please visit our web site www.osler.org.uk for our current programme.
Adrian M K Thomas, Honorary Secretary, adrian.thomas@btinternet.com
1 Wimpole Street, London, W1G OAE
President: Dr John Harcup. Honorary Secretary: Dr Tina Matthews
General Theme: The medical history of medical specialties
Meetings are generally at 6.p.m.
See RSM website for
Further details of meetings
Wednesday 4 October 2006, 1.00 pm
Afternoon symposium with History of Medicine Society of
Australia, in association with Australia Medical History Abroad
Topics include:
The black death; physic garden its role in evolving pharmacy and medicine; the new Wellcome
Library; medical milestones in military history; anatomical drawings of Leonardo da Vinci;
Randal Keynes, great-great grandson of Charles Darwin in conversation. With
Australian wine tasting and seated supper.
Saturday 14 October 2006, 1.15 pm
A medical walk along the South Bank, led by Sue Weir
Meeting at the
Florence Nightingale Museum at St Thomas's Hospital we will first enjoy hearing of
the life of this remarkable lady through the museum artifacts and the audiovisual.
Then it is off on a walk along the South Bank, past the London Eye, the newly refurbished
Festival Hall, the Oxo Tower, Tate Modern and Southwark Cathedral until we finally reach
The Borough in Southwark. Here we will explore the Old Operating Theatre & Herb Garret.
Hidden in the roof of a church ascended by a narrow spiral stairway this is the oldest
pre-anaesthesia operating theatre in the country. Hear how the female patients survived
their surgery and how the hospital apothecary made his medicines. This is a fairly long
flat walk finishing with a narrow spiral staircase so please wear flat shoes and suitable
clothing.
Wednesday 1 November 2006
Ancient Egyptian Mummies: a resource for studying disease
Professor Rosalie David OBE, Director of KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology,
University of Manchester
Seated buffet
Wednesday 6 December 2006
The history of medical photography
Professor Ralph Marshall, Emeritus Professor of Medical Illustration, University of
Wales College of Medicine
Seated buffet
Wednesday 7 February 2007
Norah Schuster Essay Prize Evening
Seated buffet
Thursday 22 February 2007, 2.00 pm
The history of aspirin, insulin and streptamycin
Joint symposium with the Pharmaceutical Medicine and Research Section
Wednesday 7 March 2007
Rymsdyk
Dr Tina Matthews, Consultant Cytohistopathologist, Kingston Hospital, Surrey
Seated buffet
Wednesday 4 April 2007
The history of perinatal medicine in the UK
Professor Peter Dunn, Department of Child Health, Southmead, Bristol
Seated buffet
Wednesday 2 May 2007
AGM, Presidential Address and Annual Dinner
Charles Hastings - medical man of the moment
Dr John Harcup
Wednesday 9 May 2007 2.30 pm
A medical walk around Soho, led by Sue Weir
Meeting outside the Dominion Theatre,
next to Tottenham Court Road underground station. We shall explore the last of London's
villages. When the City expanded west on the hunting fields of Soho, buildings started to go
up in the mid seventeenth century. Although once fashionable with large country houses
the smaller charming houses erected by entrepreneurial builders are now offices and shops of
the entertainment industry. We shall weave our way through the narrow streets and squares
to emerge in Regent Street having seen where doctors, artists, reformers and writers lived.
18 May 2007, 6.30 pm
Historical perspectives: Where have we come from and where are we going
Joint meeting led by the Obstetric and Gynaecology Section
Thursday 24 May 2007, 5.30 pm
Celebrating the centenary of the first Section of Dermatology meeting
Joint meeting with the Dermatology Section
Wednesday 20 & Thursday 21 June 2007, Summer outing to Worcester and Malvern
Two day meeting to include a visit to Elgar's birthplace (Elgar's medical history),
Malvern as a Spa, Medieval Medicine in Worcester Cathedral Library, Worcester's Medieval
Hospital, Dr Wall and Worcester porcelain and the beginnings of the British Medical
Association
All meetings start at 6.00 pm, registration at 5.30 pm, unless otherwise stated.
For more information call 020 7290 3947
or email history@rsm.ac.uk.
Book online at www.rsm.ac.uk/history
Registrations will not be accepted over the telephone and must be received
four working days before the meeting.
EXPLOITING MEDICAL HISTORY RESOURCES; A PRACTICAL APPROACH
A two day conference organized by the RSM, RCSEng, Wellcome Centre, and Centre for the
History of Medicine of Birmingham University. Monday - Tuesday 23-24 October 2006.
The Society has completed another successful year. The AGM took place at the end of October 2005 during a meeting at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. There are no changes in the officers of the Society: Dr Bryan Ashworth (President), Mr Roy Miller (Vice-President), Dr Tony Butler (Secretary) and Dr Morrice McCrae (Treasurer).
After the business meeting two papers were delivered. Professor Dugald Gardner gave a brief account of the life of the soldier/surgeon Henry Wade, about whom Professor Gardner has written a book. This was followed by a talk on the life and work of Charles Grenfell in Labrador by Christine Short.
The Society holds no meetings during the winter months and the first meeting of 2006 was in March at the Royal College in Glasgow. Professor Elizabeth Craik spoke on Hippocratic medicine and Dr Iona McCleery on medieval healthcare.
One of the highlights of the Society's year is the Haldane Tait Lecture. This year it was given by Sir Kenneth Calman. His topic was 'Medicine and Cartoons'. After the lecture there was an excellent dinner, making the event both an academic and social success.
The final meeting of the year was in Aberdeen on the theme of highland medicine. In spite of the remoteness of the venue there was a good attendance. Dr Agnes Walker spoke on the history of highland medicine and Professor lan Poxton gave an entertaining account of his work on the causes of neonatal death amongst the community of St Kilda.
Several members published articles or books on the history of medicine and the Guthrie Trust, which gives grants for assisting such publications, supported a number of projects.
Secretary, Dr A.R.Butler, PhD arb3@st-and.ac.uk
The Suffolk Medical History Society has continued to thrive, with volunteer speakers coming from the membership. On 28 October 2005 Dr Giles Youngs, gave a very well received talk entitled 'Dobson's Complaint - the story of a mystery illness in a large family'. The mystery illness was porphyria and the family lived in Chester, where Dr Youngs practised before his retirement. Then on 17 February 2006 Mr Andras Barabas gave an interesting and very well illustrated lecture entitled, 'Hungarian surgeons in Britain; past present and ?future'.
This year we will not be travelling far for our summer outing. On 7 June we will be having lunch at the Victoria Pub in Felixstowe, and this will be followed by a trip to the recently refurbished Felixstowe Museum, where there are some artefacts from St Audry's Hospital.
For the moment, the Society is still paying the rent for the Suffolk Medical Biographies website. This contains biographical details of medical men (and some women) who practised in Suffolk from the 11th century up till 1900. The material was collected by the late Dr David van Zwanenberg and has been edited by E E Cockayne. The address of the website is http://suffolkmedicalbiographies.co.uk.
Ted Cockayne Secretary, Suffolk Medical History Society
Office of Archive, King Edward Building, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road Belfast BT12 6BL Telephone : 028 9024 0503 Ext 3686
During the year our members contributed to the Student Selected Component in the History of Medicine, which is part of the Autumn and Spring terms of the third year medicine course at Queen's. In addition to giving talks relevant to their particular historical interests our members are often called upon to supervise the dissertations allocated to each Student. Recent examples of topics chosen by our students include the History of Thalidomide, the medical contents of the papyrii of ancient Egypt, the life and work of Avicenna, and the history of the discovery of DNA. Our course incorporates a walking tour of the places in the centre of Belfast which are of interest to medical historians, and there is also a visit to the National Trust property Rowallane Garden, where botanical specimens are viewed and our students learn of the contribution of ancient medical plants to medicine.
On 23rd February 2006 our annual Professor Gary Love Lecture was a joint meeting with the Ulster Medical Society. For this special occasion, our lecturer was Dr Chris Gardner-Thorpe, who gave an erudite and wide-ranging talk on "Aspects of Medical Biography". Afterwards he spoke to our medical students and encouraged them to consider writing up their topics for publication. In the tradition of Sir William Osler, we like to actively promote the participation of medical students in our Society.
Our committee is now in the final stages of setting up a prize to encourage those who would be interested to write about the History of Medicine in Ireland, and we hope to provide details in next year's newsletter.
Dr Robert Montgomery Chairman, U S H M.
2006 Autumn Lecture Programme
Saturday 30th September, at the Haslemere Natural History Educational Museum
Celebration of the life and work of Dr Jonathan Hutchinson, founder of the Haslemere
Educational Museum
Part one: "Dr Jonathan Hutchinson, Victorian Medical Educationalist"
Part two: "Hutchinson's Museums". Professor Robert Jackson MD Ontario Canada
Part three: "Hutchinson, the Surgeon". Professor Harold Ellis CBE MA DMMCH FRCS FACS FRCOG
Saturday l4th October VENUE. Chichester Medical Education Centre as usual
Vaccination Rediscovered.
Self-publishing your history project
Patrick J Pead MSc M1Biol FIBMS
Saturday 28th October
Leeches: Dr Mary R. Medhurst MB ChB
Maggots: Mr Andrew C.M. Jarvis MB BChir FRCS
Saturday 11th November
War and Medicine
Experience of conflicts and the human dimension of deployments.
Major-General Alan Hawley OBE DHMSA DGAMS
Saturdav 25th November
The Anatomist and Art, The Artist and Anatomy
Professor Harold Ellis CBE MA DM MCh FRCS FACS FRCOG
George B Gordon: His Life and Medical Problems
Dr Winston Leigh BA MB ChB MRCGP
Meetings are held at 10am -12am at the Chichester Medical Education Centre,
St Richard's Hospital, Spitalfield Lane, Chichester P019 4SE.
All are welcome. The West Sussex History of Medicine Society is always delighted to welcome new members.
There is no subscription. Cost of meetings including coffee and biscuits is £5 per session.
Concession: St Richard's Hospital staff and students free.
Certificates of attendance for
Continuing Professional Development will be provided. For further details contact
Professor John Richardson 01243-780786 e-mail: RichardsonDrJ@aol.com
The Faculty was founded in 1959 as a separate body within the Society of Apothecaries to foster and extend interest in medical history. Academic in character and a charity by constitution, membership is open to the public and any interested person or organisation is welcome to join.
Every year a series of named lectures is held in the splendid setting of Apothecaries' Hall, the oldest livery company Hall in the City of London, and said to be the oldest building in Britain in continuous medical use. It was rebuilt in 1688 after the Great Fire of London. Each lecture is followed by a subscription buffet supper.
Visit to The Army Medical Services Museum, Keogh Barracks, Ash Vale, Aldershot, GUI2 5RQ
Wednesday 13th September 2006 at 2.30 p.m.-
With introduction by Captain Pete Starling, Curator
GEOFFREY FLAVELL LECTURE: Monday, 2nd October 2006
'The History of Cardiac Diagnosis'
Dr Arthur Hollman, MD, FRCP, FLS, Emeritus Consultant Cardiologist, University College Hospital
London. Archivist, British Cardiac Society
SYDENHAM LECTURE: Monday. 13th November 2006
'The Volcano of Civilisation: Allergy, Medicine, and Modernity'
Professor Mark Jackson, BSc, MB BS, PhD, Director, Centre for
Medical History, University of Exeter
APOTHECARIES' LECTURERS & LECTURERS ON THE HoM COURSES SYMPOSIUM
Thursday 16th November 2006
'Does the History of Medicine Matter?' (by Invitation only)
JOHN LOCKE LECTURE: Wednesday 24th January, 2007
"Regulating Risk or Advancing Therapies?'
Dr Christopher Hodges, MA, PhD, FSLAS, Associate Fellow, Centre for Socio-Legal Studies,
University of Oxford, Vice-Chairman, Association of British Healthcare Industries
OSLER LECTURE: Tuesday, 2Oth February 2007
'Conkers to Conquer Hitler'
Dr Elizabeth Hardy, BA, MB BS, DHMSA.
MONCKTON COPEMAN LECTURE: Wednesday. 28th March 2007
"The Red Cross and the Red Sword
in Afghanistan"
Colonel Martin CM Bricknell, DM, MMedSci, FPM, MFOM, MRCGP, DMCC,
L/RAMC Chief Medical Adviser, Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
GIDEON DE LAUNE LECTURE: Thursday. 26th April 2007 (Preceded by the Faculty Annual
General Meeting)
"War of the Mind: Battle and its Psychological Effects, 1914-1945 "
Professor Edgar Jones, MA, DPhil, PhD, FRHistS, DipClinPsych Professor of the History of
Medicine and Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and King's Centre for Military Health
Research
JOINT MEETING with the MEDICAL SCIENCES HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Monday 21st May 2007
A presentation of papers from the MSHS and the Faculty.
SIR HANS SLOANE LECTURE: Monday, 4th June 2007 at 4 p.m. at the Chelsea Physic Garden
'The Barge to Curing - Multidisciplinary Links between Pharmacognosy, Medical Ethnobotany
and the History of Medicines'
Professor Michael Heinrich, Dr.rer.nat.habil, MA, Dipl. Biol.,
FLS Professor of Pharmacognosy & Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London
All lectures at 6 p.m. at Apothecaries Hall, following tea at 5.30 p.m. unless otherwise stated
The Faculty appoints special lecturers to medical schools nationwide to promote and stimulate the study of medical history among medical students and staff.
INTRODUCTORY COURSE IN THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE: A three-day Introductory Course in the History of Medicine is held in association with the Wellcome Trust each Easter in central London. The course is designed to introduce undergraduates to the richness of the subject through lectures and visits to places of medico-historical importance.
DIPLOMA COURSE IN THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE: This course is run in central London from September to June each year on Saturday mornings. It is open to graduates of any discipline, and to others who can demonstrate equivalent standing. The course prepares candidates for the Society's Diploma in the History of Medicine. The examination is not compulsory and many of those who attend the lectures do so purely out of interest in this field of study.
SPECIAL STUDY MODULES (SSMS) IN THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE AND PHILOSOPHY OF MEDICINE: The combined Diploma courses and examinations are approved as SSMs by selected medical schools.
DIPLOMA COURSE IN THE ETHICS AND PHILOSOPHY OF HEALTH CARE: This course also runs on Saturday mornings in central London from September to June. Those attending may take the Society's Diploma in the Philosophy of Medicine although, once again, the examination is not compulsory.
DIPLOMA IN THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE (DHMSA) tests the candidate's general knowledge of the subject, and their depth of knowledge in specific topics in written papers, a dissertation, a presentation and an oral examination.
DIPLOMA IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF MEDICINE (DPMSA) consists of an essay, a written examination and a dissertation to test the candidate's familiarity with the contemporary philosophy of medicine, particularly as it is applied to current ethical problems.
The generosity of benefactors enables the Faculty to award the following prizes:
MACCABAEAN PRIZE AND MEDAL is presented to the best candidate in the examination for the Diploma in the History of Medicine.
SELWYN PRIZE is awarded to the best candidate in the examination for the Diploma in the Philosophy of Medicine.
The six eponymous lectures in 2005-06, plus a visit to the Hunterian Museum, and a joint meeting with the British Society for the History of Pharmacy were all very well attended and extremely well received. The programme was varied, the speakers excellent and a wide range of topics were covered. The two-day Symposium on Apothecaries, Art and Architecture: Interpreting Georgian Medicine was fully subscribed and a great, highly acclaimed, success. The Faculty has continued to run the courses in the History of Medicine and the Ethics and Philosophy of Healthcare. Both courses continue to evolve and develop, incorporating new topics and new speakers. John Walker-Smith and Don Hill continue as Directors respectively. A regular flow of candidates present themselves for the DHMSA and DPMSA examinations and pass rates have been high, including for the SSM students.
The Apothecaries' Lecturers in the universities and medical schools continue to provide a valuable resource in the teaching of the history of medicine. New ones have been and are being appointed. A symposium for them, jointly with those who lecture on the history diploma course is taking place in November 2006. The Faculty continues to subsidise students on both of its courses and those taking its examinations. It has also provided financial support for other bodies working in the fields of the history and philosophy of medicine. The programme for 2006-07 is complete and even more varied, with a very impressive selection of lecturers, plus a visit to the Army Medical Services Museum, and a joint meeting with the Medical Sciences Historical Society.
Details can be found on the Faculty pages of the Society's website www.apothecaries.org .
Professor Rodney Taylor, President
[BSHM Home Page]. Web newsletter 2006
Copyright 2006 British Society for the History of Medicine,
prepared by David Hawgood,
9 Nov 2006, link change 8 Dec 2007