Epidemiological Society, for the Investigation of Epidemic Diseases.

  • Epidemiological Society of London.
Date:
[1852]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Epidemiological Society, for the Investigation of Epidemic Diseases. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    tions with the various countries of Europe, and with foreign as well as with our owu Colonial possessions, a Committee has for some time had under consideration the subject of the appointment of foreign secretaries. Some progress has already been made in their arrangements, and tlie list of secretaries will doubtless soon be complete. From Bengal two important letters have been addressed to the President and the Secretary of the Society, on the subject of small-pox and vaccination in India, by Mr. Bedford, a medical officer in tire Company’s service. A pamphlet by the same gentleman has more recently reached this country, in which the Author submits some very important suggestions for the extension and perfection of vaccination, simultaneously with the systematic study of epidemic and endemic disease in India. I cannot, gentlemen, resist the temptation to read the following passage from this publication :—“' Epidemic diffusion ’ is the most important medical question of the day, and can only be studied through syste- matic and parallel observations, conducted by a number of intelligent men working under one head. India, from its climatic peculiarities, and the nature of its ‘ services,’ offers, I hesitate not to affiiin, the most magnificent field in the world for carrying out such a series of connected observations as may tend to elucidate the laws of the most terrible chseases which ' flesh is heir toand it will redound to her eternal honour to be in advance in such inquiries. So pressing has the question now become in Europe, that an Epidemiological Society has been formed for the special puroose of collecting information in regard to this class of disease.” Having thus. Gentlemen, given you a hasty and, I fear, but an imperfect sketch of the past proceedings of the Society, I feel it ray duty, before concluding, to say a few words as to the future. I have already alluded to our working Committees, who are, so far as their means will admit, actively and zealously engaged in the prosecution of their respective inquiries. Able and hearty co-operation is offered to the Society, both at home and from abroad; and, for so young an Institution, it may be truly said, that the Epidemiological Society has excited an unwonted degree of in- terest and sympathy among the lay as well as the professional community. But our finances, like those of other societies not yet emerged from their infant state, are not in a very fiomishing condition. The heavy outlay consequent upon the earlier meetings, and upon other means of giving due publicity to the existence of the Society; the expense of printing and distributing the rules and objects of the Society ; of the printing and postage of the queries issued by the various Committees, with other unavoidable sources of expenditure, have, (notwithstanding the kind and courteous liberality of the Council of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society, in granting us the gratuitous use of their rooms during the past and present session), exhausted the amount received in donations and subscriptions during the past year. But there is no reason to despair. The active and enlightened benevolence of this country, is not likely to turn aside from a Society, whose labours, devoted as they are, directly to the physical welfare of mankind, cannot be successfully prosecuted, without influencing likewise their moral condition. M e, therefore, rely much upon public feeling and individual exertion, to induce others to join our ranks, and to aicl us by pecuniary grants Already have some public bodies given us substantial proofs of the interest they take in our cause; and when, by tlie publication of one or more of our Com- mittee reports, the attention of the Government and of the Honourable East India Company shall have been more immediately called to the importance of the objects and aims of the Society, we may reasonably expect some assistance from tnose quarters in furtherance of the good work. For ourselves, we have only to do our duty, by endeavouring, as far as lies in our power, to accomplish the noble ends the Society has in view.