The Medico-Chirurgical Society of Glasgow, 1814-1907 : presidential address delivered at the opening meeting of the session on 6th October, 1907 / by Walker Downie.

  • Downie, James Walker.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Medico-Chirurgical Society of Glasgow, 1814-1907 : presidential address delivered at the opening meeting of the session on 6th October, 1907 / by Walker Downie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    THANKS TO THE SOCIETY. And now, having spoken of the long and honourable career pursued by this Society, and having made mention of but a few of the many eminent men who have pre- sided over its deliberations, I wish to thank you, the present-day members of this Society, representatives of a long line of honourable professional men, for the gi'eat honour you have conferred upon me in electing me to be your president. I assure you that I appreciate the honour very highly. But the feeling of happiness, consequent on my election to the chair, is turned to a spirit of heaviness when I think of and compare myself with the many out- standing members of our profession who have occupied the same post in days gone by, and who each felt honoured in being called to the presidency. Further, I take up the reins of office with much trepidation, following immedi- ately, as I do, Dr. John Lindsay Steven, who was one of the most popular presidents of recent times, a man well versed in the conduct of public meetings, full of knowledge relating to medical education, a keen debater, and an eloquent speaker. As I am lacking in these qualifica- tions, I desire in taking office to bespeak your forbear- ance, and to ask your hearty support in the work of the Society during my term of office. This Society, while it has on its roll of membership almost every phy.sician and surgeon who is a teacher in the world- famous school of medicine of Glasgow, is largely composed of men engaged in general practice. I, on the other hand, am one of a smaller band, the members of which have chosen to practise in a special department of surgery, and so as a specialist, and thus one of a numericaly small, though not now a despised, set, I accept my election as a compliment, and as a source of encouragement, to those who, like myself, have embraced specialism.