The Manchester
Medical Society is one of the oldest provincial medical societies in the United
Kingdom. Its origins can be traced back as far as 1781, when local doctors first
exchanged ideas at meetings held in the rooms of the Literary and Philosophical Society.
The Society was officially formed on
September 4th 1834 at a meeting held at the York Hotel, Manchester. It was resolved
by the 70 doctors in attendance to establish a medical library and reading room, and to
further the "cultivation and promotion of medicine and all related sciences".
During his appointments as Honorary
Librarian (1855-63/1879-1881) Dr Thomas Windsor enriched the Society's medical library by
some 10,300 volumes. Dr Windsor purchased material often for only a few pence whilst
travelling throughout Europe. Today some individual items are worth well into five figures
and this valuable archive has been donated to the John Rylands University Library. It can
now be viewed as part of "The Manchester Collection", housed at the Deansgate
site with the collection also including a first edition of Andreas Vesalius's De
Humani Corporis Fabrica (Basel, 1543) and the Aldine edition of Gealen's complete
works in Greek (Venice, 1525).
In addition to these archives
the Society is fortunate to house relics belonging to pioneer surgeon John Hunter. Items
include letters, papers and photographs. The highlight of the Hunterian Collection is a
blue lacquered long case clock with Japanese design, once owned by the late surgeon which
is currently on display in the Fellows Room of the Society's offices.
Throughout it's history the Manchester
Medical Society has been privileged to count amongst its Fellows the most eminent medical
men and women in the region including Catherine Chisholm CBE (1878-1952) and
Evelyn Davidson Telford MA,MSc,FRCS (1876-1961). An outline of their
achievements and those of other medical pioneers can be found in "Some
Manchester Doctors"-a history of medicine in Manchester- published by the
Manchester Medical Society.
The Society continues to flourish with
successful links recently established with the Liverpool Medical Institution, the Royal
Society of Medicine and meetings hosted jointly with the British Dental Association, North
West Regional Association of Physicians, Liverpool Paediatric Club and the Liverpool and
Yorkshire Societies of Anaesthetists.
If you wish to apply to become a fellow or
require further information on the Society, its archives and Hunteriana please contact the
Administrator.
At a recent
dinner held in honour of the Past-Presidents of the Society on 20th June 2003,
Professor Ian Isherwood CBE
(currently Honorary Librarian) gave a brief history of the Society, the transcript of this address
can viewed by clicking here.
MANCHESTER
MEDICAL SOCIETY