Dear Fellows
Welcome to the 184th Session of the Hunterian Society for 2009-2010. Details of the
programme for this session are enclosed with this letter.
Firstly it is a huge honour and privilege to be elected President of the Hunterian
Society. I will endeavour to work hard to maintain the ethos and high standards which
have been set by my predecessors and to perpetuate the memory of John Hunter.
Richard Cory-Pearce has just completed a very successful year as President. Richard’s
programme commenced with the inaugural meeting at The London Clinic where the
Hunterian memorabilia, displayed in the four new and beautifully designed
illuminated cabinets, was officially opened by Sir David Innes Williams. Richard’s
excellent programme covered a broad range of topics and these lectures were all
delivered by experts in their respective fields. Topics included: vascular grafts;
surgical innovation; complimentary medicine in surgical practice; future surgical
priorities in the NHS; the future of cancer care and training surgeons for the future.
I would also like to extend our depth of gratitude to Betty Smallwood, the Hunterian
Societies General Administrator, for all her hard work for our Society. Betty manages
to balance her workload, for all three of the Societies based at Lettsom House, with
expert efficiency and is always helpful and accommodating when answering either the
telephone or e-mails.
Our grateful thanks also go to our Treasurer Dr Jo Heylen whose fiscal skills make
sure we remain in budget and who also makes sure that the legacies left for the
Society are carefully managed.
We are indebted to the hard work and dedication by Mr Ravi Kunzru, Co-Curator and
other members of the Museum Committee for looking after the Societies Collection.
Sincere thanks also go to Prokar Dasgupta, Honorary Secretary, for all his hard work.
Finally thanks must go to our Trustees and other members of the Council whose help
and advice are always welcome and appreciated.
This year’s programme is biased towards my broad interest in medical history with a
sprinkling of clinical topics. My presidential year gathered early momentum on 13th
July when a small party of us visited Highgate Cemetery for a guided tour by Mrs
Jean Pateman, Chairman of the Friends of Highgate Cemetery. On behalf of the
Hunterian Society I laid a wreath on William Clift’s grave, who was the first
Conservator of John Hunter’s Collection.
This year’s inaugural meeting will again be held at the London Clinic and there will
be a short presentation of the Hunterian Scholarships. The next meeting will be the
Annual Commemoration of the anniversary of the death of John Hunter which is held
at Westminster Abbey. Our first meeting at Lettsom House will be the Hunterian
Lecture when Dr Roy Drucker will address us on: Chindia: A Force for Change in
Clinical Research.
Further meetings include talks on London‘s Medieval Hospitals’; From Cod liver Oil
to Nobel Prizes: Burroughs Wellcome and the Pharmaceutical Industry in Britain,
1880-1940 and The Medical Detective: John Snow, Cholera and the Mystery of the
Broad Street Pump.
The Hunterian Oration will be delivered by Mr Michael Crumplin who has written an
excellent book entitled Men of Steel: Surgery in the Napoleonic Wars. His lecture is
entitled: John Hunter and Medical Aspects of the Peninsular War.
Other lectures include The Facts and Mythology in the Management of the Cruciate
Ligament Knee (Part II) and Jean–Martin Charcot: A Modern European.
My Presidential address is entitled: God Heals and the Doctor takes the Fee:
Benjamin Franklin and Medicine.
We are very fortunate that the Anniversary Dinner, to be held on Monday 15th
February 2010, will take place in the Cholmondeley Room, House of Lords. Our host
will be The Lord Young of Norwood Green. We are also pleased to have the Rt. Hon.
Lord Butler of Brockwell as our Guest of Honour. Lord Butler had a high profile
career in the civil service from 1961 to 1998, serving as Private Secretary to no less
than five prime ministers. He also became Master of University College, Oxford in
1997.
I trust that as many of you as possible can attend our meetings and also hope that you
will continue to bring along guests. In addition it is very important that we try to
encourage new Fellows to join our august society as fresh blood and new ideas are
always very welcome.
I look forward to seeing you and your guests at the meetings during the forthcoming
year.
Yours sincerely
Nicholas Cambridge
Nicholas Cambridge
President