The Bristol Medico Historical Society
The Bristol Medico-Historical Society - next meeting
History around us
NEW DATE
Saturday 14 March 2026,
at Tyndale Baptist Church by Clifton Down shopping centre (opposite Redland Library).
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Programme:
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10.00 Registration (with Tea & Coffee)
10.30 Margaret Crump: Dr. Prichard: The professional and social life of a Bristol physician in the early 19th Century
Aged 24 and boasting an impressive ‘MD, Edin’, Dr. Prichard arrived in Bristol ready to build a successful career as a physician to Bristol’s elite. It was ‘who you knew’ more than ‘what you knew’. While his father supported him initially, he looked and acted the part, joined the right societies and got himself elected physician to some medical charities. Soon he was firmly established at the head of Bristol’s medical hierarchy, engaging in not a few professional disputes, promoting science and education and happily collecting his patients’ guinea consultation fees. Ms Crump has recently written the definitive Biography on Dr James Cowles Prichard.
11.15 Dorian Haskard - the Gout.
Prof Haskard is Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine & Rheumatology at the National Heart and Lung Instiute. He has recently published a book on Gout and will talk about Gout through the ages - Social and Professional Perceptions and treatments.
12.00 Peter Carpenter - Samuel Hitch founder of the Royal College of Psychiatry: Saint or sinner?
For the last 50 years Samuel Hitch of Gloucester has been seen as a worthy founder in 1841 of the predecessor of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, with his modern methods of treatment and very high cure rates. However when he resigned as the founding secretary he was never made an honorary member of the Association and no obituary was published at his death. Did he have feet of Clay? Dr Carpenter has recently pubished the definitive biography on Dr Hitch.
​12.30 Lunch [hot buffet lunch]
1.30pm David Evans – From the Medical Officer of Health to the NHS and back again: a century of public health in Bristol.
Prof Evans is Emeritus Professer in Health Services Research at UWE and has had a long term interest in the history of healthcare.
2.00 Leslie Shutt - The Budd Family of North Tawton, Devon
​William Budd has been said to be the most famous physician of Bristol, involved in controlling a Typhoid and a Cholera outbreak as well as being physician at the BRI from the 1850s. He was one of 8 sons, 6 of whom studied medicine. Dr Shutt plans to talk about William Budd, his work and siblings.
2.30 Break (T&C)
3.00 Stephen Mawdsley – Toxic Fumes: Historical Debates over Aircraft Cabin Air Quality
Dr Mawdsley is a senior lecturer at the University of Bristol, specialising in the the social history of American medicine, public health and disability. Flight crews on commercial aircraft reported an illness called Aerotoxic Syndrome. They blamed it on contaminated cabin air. How the debate evolved is a worthy story.
3.30 Michael Whitfield – William Johns, Baptist druggist, missionary and physician.
It is fitting that the life of a Baptist should be presented at this Baptist church where we are meeting. Dr Whitfield has researched extensively on the lives of Bristol and Baptist medical men and presents his work on this man.
4pm End
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Cars are able to park free in the nearby University Carpark as it is Saturday (old Clifton Down Station Carpark)
Lunch will be a 2 course hot buffet.
Cost of meeting to cover food, drink and refreshments is £20 - £10 for trainees and students.
Please contact bristolmedhist@gmail.com for more details and to book a place.
Please register before 20 February.
Deadline for registrations 6 March.
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This organisation, named the Bristol Medico-Historical Society was set up in 1986 by Prof John Clamp and Mr Michael Wilson, is dedicated to the research and discussion of all aspects of medical history. The society has a particular interest with history related to Bristol and the West of England.
It first met four times a year on a Monday evening, with members expected to present short papers – these were published in the Proceedings, and more recently in the West of England Medical Journal.
Due to dwindling membership and difficulties sustaining an evening meeting with the aging membership, it was decided to close the society to regular meetings in 2022. However we have occasional Saturday meetings that are advertised through the Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society. The meetings are open to all but there may be a charge for refreshments. We try to have these meetings in the Create Centre when the Bristol Archives Office is open and when it is not likely to be needed for local elections.
Eight volumes of the proceedings have been published and are still available from bristolmedhist@gmail.com