Essays and Dissertations of the Scottish Royal Medical Society, 1751-1801 - Key Data

This collection contains over two hundred dissertations and essays submitted to the Royal Medical Society throughout the period 1751–1801. The Royal Medical Society was founded by students at the University of Edinburgh in 1737. It was granted a Royal Charter in 1778. The Royal Medical Society still exists—it supports medical students at the University of Edinburgh and is the world's oldest student society. The Royal Medical Society boasts notable alumni, such as William Cullen, Charles Darwin, Thomas Addison, Sir Charles Bell, and Sir Joseph Lister. It is deemed to have made a significant contribution to the development of modern medicine. 

Subjects covered in these essays and dissertations include the treatment of rare bacterial diseases, diabetes, epilepsy, smallpox, scurvy, and tetanus. There are also essays on psychology and mental health. Significantly, the collection contains essays positing the existence of bacteria and advocating the use of antiseptics. A fascinating collection, Essays and Dissertations of the Scottish Royal Medical Society, 1751–1801 provides students and researchers with unique insights into the development of modern medicine.