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Presidential Address 1979
Dr Lawson D. Davidson
The Origin and history of the Scottish Society of Anaesthetists
When I was considering topics for this occasion, it occurred to me that although I knew that our Society was old, I knew very little about its origin and history. It seemed possible that the members of the Society might share my interest in this subject. I am not aware of such a review having been made before but even if it has, it is something which can bear repetition. Furthermore, 1979, being the sixty-fifth anniversary of the- Foundation of the Society, seemed an appropriate time to look into our past.
The formation of the Society is described thus in the Minute Book and I now quote: "Foundation On February, 20th 1914, a dinner was held at the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh, of gentlemen practising the speciality of Anaesthetics in Scotland. The following were present::
Dr. D.C.A. McAllum of Edinburgh in the Chair, also the following, from Edinburgh, Dr. Torrance Thomson, Dr. J.H. Gibb, Dr. M.H. Jones, Dr. J.S. Ross: from Glasgow, Dr. Boyd, Dr. Lamb, Dr. Napier, Dr. Fairlie: from Aberdeen, Dr. Johnston: from Dundee, Dr. Mills. Apologies for absence were sent by Dr. Home Henderson of Glasgow and from Dr. Ogston and Dr. Robertson of Aberdeen."
After dinner a business meeting was held and it was resolved unanimously that a Society of Anaesthetists be formed for Scotland. The rules which were formulated and adopted are largely the rules which govern the Society to-day. From them, I would mention three. First Two ordinary meetings are to be held every year upon the third Saturday of April and October at a time and a place to be appointed by the Executive. (To-day is, of course, the fourth Saturday in April, but this rule is the reason we are here to-day). Second Definite time was to be allocated at every Scientific meeting for the bringing forward of short notes of any case of unusual nature. This rule seems to have fallen into abeyance. Third the annual subscription was to be half a guinea which was no mean sum in 1914. The penalty for non-payment of subscription, in 1914, was five shillings, now it is loss of membership. The following were appointed as first office-bearers of the Society until April, 1915.
President: Dr. D.C.A. McAllum; Vice President: :Dr. Boyd; Secretary-Treasurer: Dr. J.S. Ross, |
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These pages are an attempt to publish some items of interest regarding the history of the Society.
I have copied the History of the Society prepared by Lawson Davidson for his presidential address in 1979. Also from the Annals of 2005, Alastair Spence’s article which expand on the Society’s dealings with the early anaesthetic journals here and in the USA.
There is also a list of the Presidents down the years at least as far as I can establish at the moment.
If anyone would like to see anything else put up on these pages or would simply like to know something – don’t hesitate to ask me! |