Aesculapian Club

Last updated

The Aesculapian Club of Edinburgh
Formation1773 (1773)
Founder Dr Andrew Duncan, and others
TypeMedical dining club
PurposeTo encourage convivial relations between Fellows of the two medical Royal Colleges in Edinburgh
Location
Original Minute Book of the Aesculapian Club MinuteBookCover.png
Original Minute Book of the Aesculapian Club
Extract from minutes of an early meeting of the Aesculapian Club Early Members of Aesculapian Club.png
Extract from minutes of an early meeting of the Aesculapian Club

The Aesculapian Club of Edinburgh is one of the oldest medical dining clubs in the world. It was founded in April 1773 by Dr. Andrew Duncan. [1] [2] [3] Membership of the club is limited to 11 Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and 11 Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. 'Extraordinary Membership' is given to members aged over 70 years. The club was established during the Scottish Enlightenment to encourage convivial relations between Fellows of the two Colleges and to stimulate intellectual discussion. The Club dinners are held in the New Library of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh on the 2nd Friday of March and October each year. [4] The principal guest at each dinner is invited to give a short talk on a non-medical subject and this is followed by a round-table discussion. [4] [5]

Contents

Founding members

There were 10 founding members of the Club who attended the first dinner on 2 April 1773. [4] The minutes of that meeting record that 'The Aesculapian Club was conceived in a happy moment, and in due time brought forth. Doctors Duncan and Hamilton, Messrs Hay, Bell, McLure, and Dewar assisted at the birth on the first Friday of April 1773. They also stood as godfathers at the christening. The usual rites and ceremonies usual on these occasions, such as eating a good supper, etc., were concluded with a bumper recommendatory of the club to the peculiar care of Apollo, of Bacchus, and of Venus, Floreat Res Medica. Vivat Veritas.' The club was named after Asclepius, the Greek God of medicine, more usually known by the Roman name, Aesculapius. Aesculapius was the son of Apollo, who was himself both the God of physic and the sender of disease. [6] The badge of the Club consists of the Latin motto 'Floreat Res Medica' (Let the medical field flourish) and a cockerel. Cockerels adorn many of the fixtures and fittings of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. [7] In Greek mythology cockerels were dedicated to Apollo (because their crowing gave notice of the rising sun) and to Aesculapius (because their example of 'early to bed and early to rise' was associated with good health). [8]

List of Founder Members [1] [3] [4]
NumberNameYear of ElectionYear of Resignation/Death
1 Dr. Andrew Duncan 'The Elder' 1773Died 1828
2Mr. William Chalmer1773Died 1784
3Mr. Andrew Wood1773Resigned 1803
4 Dr. James Lind 1773Resigned 1774
5Dr. James Hamilton "Senior"1773Resigned 1798
6 Mr. Benjamin Bell 1773Resigned 1798
7Mr. Thomas Hay1773Resigned 1803-11
8 Mr. Forrest Dewar 1773Resigned 1803-11
9Mr. Hamilton McLure1773Died 1789
10 Mr. Colin Lauder 1773Resigned 1792

Many of these individuals were founder members of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh, which was established in 1782 and still meets on an annual basis.

Former members and previous meetings

There have been 313 past and present members of the Aesculapian Club. Notable former Aesculpians include James Lind, Daniel Rutherford, Thomas Hope, James Syme, Sir James Young Simpson, Lord Joseph Lister, Joseph Bell, Douglas Argyll Robertson, Sir Thomas Clouston, Daniel Cunningham, James Haig Ferguson, Sir James Learmonth and Sir Stanley Davidson. [4]

A photograph or picture of Aesculapians from 1821 to the present day is preserved in a 2-volume album. The first volume, which extends to 1939, is kept with other historic papers of the club (including the minutes of previous meetings) in the library of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The Club owns a considerable number of silver cups or pocula and other table adornments. These include six silver cups with circular rows of hooks, on each of which is hung a medallion with the engraved name, date of election and crest of a former Aesculapian. Three of these cups were presented by the Gymnastic Club (also founded by Dr. Andrew Duncan) on its dissolution in 1836. [3] One of the cups, which contains 9 medallions from 1788 to 1792, is on display in the National Museums of Scotland. [5]

The Aesculapian Club was originally a supper club and met on the first Friday of every month in local taverns. In 1810, it was converted into a dinner club, with quarterly meetings in March, June, September and December in Edinburgh hotels. In 1924, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh granted permission for the dinners to be held in the New Library. [9] Although the frequency of dinners has been reduced over the years, the club has met almost continually since its inception. The only times when the Club did not meet were between March 1915 to December 1919 (due to the First World War), October 1939 to December 1945 (due to the Second World War) [5] and March 2020 to October 2021 (due to the COVID pandemic). [4] Several toasts are given throughout the dinner with the final one being "Floreat res medica"; this is a traditional toast, attributed to Andrew Duncan, which is given at the end of many medical dinners in Edinburgh.

Current members and extraordinary members

List of current members and extraordinary members [4]
NumberNamesYear of ElectionMembership Status
264 Professor Sir David C Carter 1987Extraordinary
268 Professor Sir Christopher RW Edwards 1992Extraordinary
270Mr. Iain Macintyre1992Extraordinary
275Professor John Hunter OBE1997Extraordinary
276Mr. Simon Paterson-Brown1998Surgeon
278Dr. Niall Finlayson CBE2001Extraordinary
280Professor Stuart Macpherson OBE2003Extraordinary
281Professor Ian Campbell2004-2008Extraordinary
282Dr. Nicholas Boon2004-2008Extraordinary
283 Professor O James Garden CBE 2004-2008Extraordinary
284 Professor Sir John Savill 2004-2008Extraordinary
285Professor Robert Steele CBE2008Extraordinary
286Dr. Kelvin 'Kel' Palmer2008-2010Extraordinary
287Professor Brian Williams2008-2010Extraordinary
288Mr Robert Jeffrey2008-2010Extraordinary
289Dr. Alastair MacGilchrist2010Physician
290Professor Allan Cumming2012Extraordinary
291Mr. James 'Sam' Patton2012Surgeon
292 Professor Michael Griffin OBE 2012Surgeon
293Professor James Hutchison2012Surgeon
294Professor Sir John Iredale2013Physician
295Mr. Murat Akyol2014Surgeon
296Professor Mark WJ Strachan2014Physician
297Dr. Andrew Flapan2014Physician
298Professor Stephen Wigmore2014Surgeon
299Professor Ian Finlay CBE2015Extraordinary
300Dr. Ian Penman2015Physician
301Professor Colin Howie2015Extraordinary
302Professor Andrew Morris CBE2015Physician
303Professor John McKnight2016Physician
304 Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie OBE 2018Extraordinary
305Dr. Caroline Whitworth2020Physician
306Professor Stephen Lawrie2022Physician (Psychiatrist)
307 Professor Angela Eleine Thomas OBE 2022Physician (Haematologist)
308Mr. John Casey2022Surgeon
309Ms. Rachel Guest2022Surgeon
310Dr. Elaine Henry2023Physician
311Mr. Andrew Duckworth2024Surgeon
312Professor Farhat Din2024Surgeon
313Mr. David Boddie2024Surgeon

Honorary Secretary

The Secretary of the Aesculapian Club acts also as the Treasurer and is responsible for the management of all affairs of the club. The Secretary is appointed ad vitam aut culpam . [3] There have been 16 secretaries of the club: Dr. Andrew Duncan (1773-1827); Dr. Richard Huie (1827-1842); Dr. Robert Omond (1842-1877); Dr. Daniel Rutherford Haldane (1877-1887); Dr. John Smith Jr. (1887-1905); Dr. Charles Edward Underhill (1905-1908); Sir George Andreas Berry (1908-1924); Dr. William Fordyce (1924-1933); Dr. William James Stuart (1933-1949); Lt-Col Alexander Dron Stewart (1949–55); Professor Robert William Johnstone (1955-1958); Dr. Clifford Kennedy (1958-1978); Mr. Iain MacLaren 1978–2004; Dr. Anthony 'Tony' Douglas Toft (2004-2014); Dr. Kelvin 'Kel' Palmer (2014-2022); Professor Mark William John Strachan (2022–present). A badge for the Secretary was designed by Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan in 1857. The badge consists of a silver medal bearing the name of the club with a series of silver bars on the ribbon, each inscribed with the name of a Secretary and their years of office. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Bell</span> Scottish surgeon (1749–1806)

Benjamin Bell of Hunthill FRSE FRCSEd is considered to be the first Scottish scientific surgeon. He is commonly described as the father of the Edinburgh school of surgery, or the first of the Edinburgh scientific surgeons. He published medical works of significance, notably his surgical textbook A System of Surgery which became a best seller throughout Europe and in America. His treatise on venereal disease was one of the early works that suggested syphilis and gonorrhea were different diseases, a hypothesis which was not accepted by mainstream medicine until many decades later. Bell's main contribution to surgical practice was his adage 'save skin', which led to improved rates of wound healing in operations like mastectomy and limb amputation. He was also an early advocate of routine pain relief in surgery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Medical Society</span> Student society in Edinburgh

The Royal Medical Society (RMS) is a society run by students at the University of Edinburgh Medical School, Scotland. It claims to be the oldest medical society in the United Kingdom although this claim is also made by the earlier London-based Society of Apothecaries (1617). The current president of the 287th session is fifth-year medical student Miss Nanna Sivamanoharan. The RMS is a professional society engaged in the advancement of medical knowledge and provision of assistance to medical students and professionals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Douglas Maclagan</span> Scottish surgeon (1812–1900)

Sir Andrew Douglas MaclaganPRSE FRCPE FRCSE FCS FRSSA was a Scottish surgeon, toxicologist and scholar of medical jurisprudence. He served as president of 5 learned societies: the Royal Medical Society (1832), the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1859–61), the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (1884–87), the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1890–5), and the Royal Scottish Society of Arts (1900).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hope (botanist)</span> Scottish physician and botanist

Professor John Hope was a Scottish physician and botanist. He did enormous work on plant classification and plant physiology, and is now best known as an early supporter of Carl Linnaeus's system of classification. He did not publish much.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Duncan (physician, born 1744)</span> British physician and founder of Royal Edinburgh Hospital

Andrew Duncan, the elder FRSE FRCPE FSA (Scot) was a British physician and professor at the University of Edinburgh. He was joint founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. As first proposer of an asylum in Edinburgh he gives his name to the Andrew Duncan Clinic which forms part of the Edinburgh City Hospital.

Andrew Duncan, the younger was a British physician and professor at the University of Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Wood (surgeon)</span> Scottish surgeon (1725–1807)

Alexander Wood was a Scottish surgeon, who was active in the convivial clubs which flourished in Enlightenment Edinburgh and was the founder of two of these. Owing to his lean, lanky physique he was better known to his contemporaries and to posterity as "Lang Sandy" Wood. His treatment of and friendship with the poet Robert Burns contributed to the local celebrity status which he attained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Maclagan</span> Scottish medical doctor and military surgeon

David Maclagan MD, FRSE, FRCSEd, FRCPE was a prominent Scottish medical doctor and military surgeon, serving in the Napoleonic Wars. He served as President of both the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He was Surgeon in Scotland to Queen Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Dunlop</span>

Sir Derrick Melville Dunlop was a Scottish physician and pharmacologist in British medical administration and policy-making in the late 20th century. He established the Dunlop Committee which investigates the side-effects of new drugs in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Duncan (surgeon)</span> Scottish surgeon

John Duncan, LLD FRCSEd FRSE was a Scottish surgeon best known for his surgical teaching at the University of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Extramural School of Medicine. He was a pioneer of the use of electricity in surgery both for surgical cautery and for tumour necrosis. On the death of his father James Duncan in 1866 he became a director of the major drug manufacturer Duncan Flockhart & Co, which had been founded by his grandfather, also John Duncan. He served as President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 1889 to 1891.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William James Stuart</span> Scottish surgeon

William James Stuart CBE PRCSE FRSE (1873-1958) was a 20th-century Scottish surgeon who served as President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh from 1937 to 1939. He was affectionately known as Pussy Stuart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathaniel Spens</span>

Nathaniel Spens was a Scottish medical doctor who qualified as Fellow of the Incorporation of Surgeons and then became increasingly interested in the practice of physic. He qualified as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and went on to become President of that College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Stockman</span> Scottish professor

Dr Ralph Stockman MD LLD FRCPE FRSE was a Scottish Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics at the University of Glasgow. He was an expert on iron deficiency anaemia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Russell (physician)</span> Scottish pathologist and physician

Dr William RussellFRCPE LLD, was a Scottish pathologist and physician who became Professor of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. He was the first to describe the cellular inclusion particles known as Russell bodies. He was an early supporter of medical education for women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harveian Society of London</span>

The Harveian Society of London, named after the physician William Harvey, is a medical society and registered charity, founded in 1831. Doctors assemble regularly at the Medical Society of London, Chandos Street, Cavendish Square to converse and discuss medical matters through the medium of lectures and conferences.

Dr Thomas SpensPRCPE FRSE (1764–1842) was an 18th/19th century Scottish physician who served as

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Club of London</span> Oldest active medical club in Canada

The Harvey Club of London is the oldest currently active medical club in Canada. It was founded by Drs. James W. Crane and C.M. Crawford in 1919 in London, Ontario. The club was initially founded as a way for practicing physicians to stay abreast of new developments in biomedical sciences, analogous to the modern concept of continuing medical education, a function that it continues to perform with annual presentations of papers. The club also provides academic and financial support to students at the medical school of Western University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harveian Society of Edinburgh</span> Medical society in Edinburgh, Scotland

The Harveian Society of Edinburgh was founded in April 1782 by Andrew Duncan. The Society holds an annual Festival in honour of the life and works of William Harvey, the physician who first correctly described the manner in which blood circulates around the human body. Until 1829, the Society was known as the Circulation Club or the Harveian Club. Membership of the society is by invitation and members are doctors based primarily in Scotland. There are currently over 140 members, who are known as "Harveians".

References

  1. 1 2 Guthrie, Douglas. The Aesculapian Club of Edinburgh. University of Edinburgh.
  2. Smith, John (1888). Records of the Aesculapian. Frank Murray.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Stuart, William J. History of the Aesculapian Club of Edinburgh. Library of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh: Darien Press Ltd, Edinburgh.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Minute Books of the Aesculapian Club. Library of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
  5. 1 2 3 Chalmers, John (2010). Andrew Duncan Senior; Physician of the Enlightenment. Edinburgh: National Museums Scotland. pp. 115–121. ISBN   978-1-905267309.
  6. Stanton, Judith Anne (February 1999). "Aesculapius: A Modern Tale". JAMA. 281 (5): 476–477. doi: 10.1001/jama.281.5.476-JMS0203-4-1 . PMID   9952212.
  7. Emslie Smith, D (March 2008). "Is the College an Aesklepieion?" (PDF). J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 38: 78–84.
  8. Dunlop, JM (1993). "Apollo and the College cocks". Proc R Coll Physicians Edinb. 23: 68–72.
  9. Jenkinson, Jacqueline (1993). Scottish Medical Societies 1731-1939. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 122. ISBN   0748603905.