Medical and Chirurgical Society of London
Encyclopedia
The Medical and Chirurgical Society of London was a learned society of physician
s and surgeon
s which was founded in 1805 by 26 personalities in these fields who had left the Medical Society of London
(founded 1773) because of disagreement with the autocratic style of its president, James Sims
. Among its founders there were Sir William Saunders (1743-1817), its first President; John Yelloly (1774-1842), Sir Astley Cooper
(1768-1841), the first Treasurer; Alexander Marcet (1770-1822) and Peter Mark Roget (1779-1869).
According to its charter, the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London was founded "for the purpose of conversation on professional subjects, for the reception of communications and for the formation of a library" and served "several branches of the medical profession".
In 1834 the Society received a Royal charter
, thus becoming the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London. This society merged with several other specialist societies, from 1907 to 1909, to form the current Royal Society of Medicine
.
The societies which merged to form the Royal Society of Medicine were:
Honorary Fellows of the society included luminaries such as Charles Darwin
, Louis Pasteur
, Edward Jenner
and Sigmund Freud
. Other presidents of note were the "three great from Guy's Hospital
", Richard Bright
(1837); Thomas Addison
(1849) and Sir James Paget
(1875), as well as Joseph Hodgson
(1851) and Frederick William Pavy
(1900).
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s and surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
s which was founded in 1805 by 26 personalities in these fields who had left the Medical Society of London
Medical Society of London
The Medical Society of London is one of the oldest surviving medical societies in the United Kingdom ....
(founded 1773) because of disagreement with the autocratic style of its president, James Sims
James Sims
James Sims, Jr. is an American football running back in the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He played college football at the University of Washington....
. Among its founders there were Sir William Saunders (1743-1817), its first President; John Yelloly (1774-1842), Sir Astley Cooper
Astley Cooper
Sir Astley Paston Cooper, 1st Baronet was an English surgeon and anatomist, who made historical contributions to otology, vascular surgery, the anatomy and pathology of the mammary glands and testicles, and the pathology and surgery of hernia.-Life:Cooper was born at Brooke Hall in Brooke, Norfolk...
(1768-1841), the first Treasurer; Alexander Marcet (1770-1822) and Peter Mark Roget (1779-1869).
According to its charter, the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London was founded "for the purpose of conversation on professional subjects, for the reception of communications and for the formation of a library" and served "several branches of the medical profession".
In 1834 the Society received a Royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
, thus becoming the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London. This society merged with several other specialist societies, from 1907 to 1909, to form the current Royal Society of Medicine
Royal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
.
The societies which merged to form the Royal Society of Medicine were:
- Pathological Society of LondonPathological Society of LondonThe Pathological Society of London was founded in 1846 for the "cultivation and promotion of Pathology by the exhibition and description of specimens, drawings, microscopic preparations, casts or models of morbid parts." Its first meeting was held in February 1847...
(1846-1907), - London Epidemiological Society (1850-1907),
- Odontological Society of Great Britain (1856-1907),
- Obstetrical Society of London (1858-1907),
- Clinical Society of London (1867-1907),
- Dermatological Society of London (1882-1907),
- British Gynaecological Society (1884-1907),
- Neurological Society of London (1886-1907),
- British Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Association (1888-1907),
- Laryngological Society of London (1893-1907)
- Society of Anaesthetists (1893-1908),
- Dermatological Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1894-1907)
- British Balneological and Climatology Society (1895-1909),
- Society for the Study of Diseases in Children (1900-1908),
- British Electrotherapy Society (1901-1907), and
- Therapeutical Society (1902-1907).
Honorary Fellows of the society included luminaries such as Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
, Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur was a French chemist and microbiologist born in Dole. He is remembered for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes and preventions of diseases. His discoveries reduced mortality from puerperal fever, and he created the first vaccine for rabies and anthrax. His experiments...
, Edward Jenner
Edward Jenner
Edward Anthony Jenner was an English scientist who studied his natural surroundings in Berkeley, Gloucestershire...
and Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
. Other presidents of note were the "three great from Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
", Richard Bright
Richard Bright (physician)
Richard Bright was an English physician and early pioneer in the research of kidney disease.He was born in Bristol, Gloucestershire, the third son of Sarah and Richard Bright Sr., a wealthy merchant and banker. Bright Sr. shared his interest in science with his son,encouraging him to consider it...
(1837); Thomas Addison
Thomas Addison
Thomas Addison was a renowned 19th-century English physician and scientist. He is traditionally regarded as one of the "great men" of Guy's Hospital in London....
(1849) and Sir James Paget
James Paget
Sir James Paget, 1st Baronet was a British surgeon and pathologist who is best remembered for Paget's disease and who is considered, together with Rudolf Virchow, as one of the founders of scientific medical pathology. His famous works included Lectures on Tumours and Lectures on Surgical Pathology...
(1875), as well as Joseph Hodgson
Joseph Hodgson
Joseph Hodgson was a British physician.He was born in Penrith, Cumberland the son of a Birmingham merchant and educated at King Edward VI School, Birmingham, after which he was apprenticed to George Freer at Birmingham General Hospital. He then transferred to St...
(1851) and Frederick William Pavy
Frederick William Pavy
William Frederick Pavy was a British physician and physiologist and the discoverer of Pavy's disease, a cyclic or recurrent physiologic albuminuria....
(1900).