An account of the first meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association : held in the board room of Worcester Infirmary, on Thursday, July 19th, 1832 / containing an address, delivered by Charles Hastings ; together with a correct report of the proceedings at the meeting.

  • Hastings, Charles, 1794-1866.
Date:
[1832]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the first meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association : held in the board room of Worcester Infirmary, on Thursday, July 19th, 1832 / containing an address, delivered by Charles Hastings ; together with a correct report of the proceedings at the meeting. 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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    \ 7 it has derived from the opportunities of observa- tion afforded by congregating the sick in hospitals^ it has often struck us with surprise^ that so little should be known of the many interesting cases that must have occurred in provincial hospitals. If^ from the establishment of these institutions, faith- ful records of the valuable cases that have occurred in them had been handed down to us, our present limited knowledge of morbid anatomy, the only cor- rect elucidator of disease, would have been greatly extended. We know well that great difficulties must present themselves in effecting an object so desirable as making public these instructive cases. The daily anxieties and fatigues to which those in general are subject, who have the professional care of these institutions, are such as to leave little time for literary pursuits, and appear to present an almost insurmountable barrier to such an under- taking. It is not, however, to be denied that, by zeal and industry, much may be effected.” Such were the anticipations with which the Editors commenced the publication of the Midland Medical and Surgical Reporter, and many were the desponding forebodings with which the undertak- ing was greeted by some of their friends. But four years’ experience in conducting that work, has con- vinced those who were engaged in it,* that provin- cial labourers are neither few nor of small value, and the knowledge of this fact was the circum- * I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of recording the names of my fellow Editors in this work, and of expressing my gratitude to them for their valuable assistance. They were my friends Dr. Malden, James P. Sheppard, Esq. and John Rayment, Esq. all of Worcester; Dr. Darwall, of Birmingham; and Dr. Burne, of London.