Royal Medical Society

Royal Medical Society
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 286th session is fourth year medical student Miss Prithi Natarajan. The RMS is a professional society engaged in the advancement of medical knowledge and provision of assistance to medical students and professionals.
History
In 1737 it was established as 'the Medical Society' in 1737. It was granted a Royal Charter in 1778. Earlier the Society was conceived in 1734 by a group of students who dissected the same body in the anatomy dissection room. They included Dr Cleghorn, Dr Cuming, Dr Russell, Dr Hamilton, Mr Archibald Taylor and Dr James Kennedy and perhaps Dr Fothergill. The source is a letter to Dr Fothergill from Dr Cuming in 1782.
The RMS sold its extensive library, built up throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, at 3 sales at Sotheby's in London in 1969. Much of the collection was purchased by the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Journal
Res Medica is the journal of the Royal Medical Society. It was first published in 1957 which means that it one of the longest-running student-led publications in Britain.
The society today
The RMS owns rooms above Potterrow, the Edinburgh Students Union building, on Bristo Square. During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the rooms are used as a performance venue for Pleasance promoters and host the Performers'/VIP bar (Brooke's Bar). The estate, is managed by the RMS Trust, which has charitable status.
The day-to-day running of the Society is managed by the RMS Council – consisting of a Senior President, three Junior Presidents and 11 Conveners, each concerned with particular areas of the Society.
Notable members
Thomas Harrison Burder
William A.F. Browne, asylum reformer
Robert Cleghorn, Hon President 1781, Senior President 1783
Andrew Combe
James Crichton-Browne, psychiatrist
William Cullen, one of the founders of the society
Charles Darwin
Andrew Duncan, the elder, physician and six time President
William Collins Engledue, phrenologist
Benjamin Franklin
Marshall Hall, elected Senior President in 1811
Francis Home, First Professor of Material medica; elected 1740
Matthew Kaufman
Joseph Lister
Drummond Shiels, a Fellow and Senior President
Sir John Struthers, physician, anatomist
Stuart Threipland, (see also Fingask Castle), physician to Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), President 1766–1770
Jozef Venglos
Hewett Watson, evolutionary theorist and friend of Charles Darwin, elected Senior President in 1831
German Sims Woodhead, a former President
See also
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Surgeon's Hall
University of Edinburgh Medical School
References
Further reading
External links
RMS website
1737 establishments in Scotland
History of the University of Edinburgh
Libraries in Scotland
Medical and health student organizations
Medical schools in Scotland
Organizations established in 1737
Organisations based in Edinburgh
Organisations based in Edinburgh with royal patronage
Professional associations based in Scotland
Scottish Enlightenment
Scottish medical associations
Students' unions in Scotland