The Heritage of the Med-Chi
A collection of the portraits and medical artefacts in the possession
of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Aberdeen (founded 1789).
A Adam & J D Hutchison
The Medico-Chirurgical Society of Aberdeen was founded in 1789 and, in its long and illustrious existence, has built up a collection of portraits and medical artefacts that is of national importance. This book brings this collection together, with a commentary that sets each item into the context of its time. There are some wonderful portraits by famous artists, many with a North East connection. Each portrait is accompanied by a brief description of that individual's life and work, and their quirks and eccentricities. Mr Adam has been the Society's Honorary Librarian since 1983, and his knowledge of medical history is unrivalled. There are also busts and statuettes, and a large collection of medical bits and pieces, most of which have never been displayed before.
The proceeds from the sale of this book will help towards the funding of a building at the Foresterhill site that will bring the teaching of Anatomy and Clinical Skills together under one roof. This has been called The Matthew Hay Project , a very appropriate title as it fits exactly with the vision of the Joint Hospitals Scheme proposed by Matthew Hay, and promoted by Ashley Mackintosh and Andrew Lewis. The aim is to create a facility of which Aberdeen can be really proud, and one of the best of its type anywhere in the world.
The book is beautifully produced on high quality paper, and would make an excellent gift for anyone with medical connections to Aberdeen . A couple of sample pages from the book are attached.
William Livingston , MD (1760-1822)
(Honorary President of the Society, 1791-1812; President of Medico-Chirurgical Society, 1812)
William Livingston was Professor of Medicine at Marischal College 1793-1822.
When the Society was founded, he was senior physician at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and taught his students there. He was the first qualified member of the profession to be connected with the Society, having been elected Honorary President in 1791. Throughout his life he was a strong supporter of the Society and, when the Society was re-constituted in 1812, he was the first President. In the early years he gave the Society the use of a house of his own, and there the library was stored, meetings were held and dissections carried out. Unfortunately, a resurrected body was discovered there and, owing to the ensuing public scandal, the Society had to move elsewhere.
Dr Livingston was highly regarded as a physician and surgeon. It is recorded that in these pre-anaesthetic days “a female patient was dismissed cured from the infirmary after having had a cancerous breast amputated by Dr Livingston. It measured 26” in diameter and weighed nine English pounds” . William Livingston and his father, Thomas, are said to have been “the makers of the Aberdeen Infirmary” . Thomas Livingston was its first surgeon, and was sent away to learn how to cut for stone and to do amputations which, together with surgery for cataract (performed in Aberdeen at that time by George Rose who had been taught the technique in Leiden ), comprised the entire repertoire of operations. William Livingston was known as “a ‘great grumbler' who constantly complained about defective apparatus” .
His lasting fame is due to the fact that he treated the poet Byron's clubfoot, with some success, by bandaging the foot in a corrected position. The bandaging caused some discomfort and, to distract him at night, his nurse read to him stories from the Bible. This gave rise later to the Hebrew Melodies . Later, Byron moved to England where it is reported that he was treated by a “mere empirical pretender”, who turned his foot round by force and screwed it up in a wooden machine, causing him exquisite torture and doing him no good.
Livingston died in 1822, leaving a legacy and some valuable books to the Society. In the Minutes, it is recorded that “it was resolved unanimously that the late Dr Livingston, having been the only patron and for a long time the President of the Society and having contributed in every way to its, support and final establishment, Mrs Livingston be requested to permit a copy of his portrait in her possession to be taken for the purpose of the main place in the Hall of the Society” . The request was granted, and a copy of the original portrait is that now in the possession of the Society. The original portrait, the work of John Moir, was painted in 1826.
John Moir (1741-1818) was the son of a Peterhead Minister. He studied painting in Rome and became renowned as a landscape painter. In later life, he took up portrait painting, among his subjects being the fourth Duke of Gordon, John Stuart and Dr George French.
This interesting exhibit dates from 1798. At that time, there was a belief that a vital principle lingered in the intestine after respiration had stopped, and it was thought that by stimulating this vital principle the patient's recovery could be accomplished. The instrument consists of a combustion box with two tubes, one from either side of the box, and a bellows. Tobacco was lit in the box, one tube was inserted into the subject's rectum and the other was attached to the bellows; tobacco smoke was then blown into the intestinal canal for as long as two hours if necessary. These instruments were issued to lock-keepers throughout the country.
Ordering Information
Book price £30.00 Postage and Packing £3.50 (within the UK)
For your copy(s) of this limited edition (600 in this first printing), beautifully illustrated hard-back book please contact:
Ms G Earle
Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society
Medical School
Foresterhill
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD
Telephone: (answering service available) 01224 552737 Email: medchi.admin@abdn.ac.uk