Inaugural address to the Epidemiological Society, delivered on November 3, 1880 / by Sir Joseph Fayrer.

  • Joseph Fayrer
Date:
[1880]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Inaugural address to the Epidemiological Society, delivered on November 3, 1880 / by Sir Joseph Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    n INAUGURAL ADDRESS TO THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Delivered on November 3,1880. By Surgeon-General SIR JOSEPH FAYRER, K.C.S.I., M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., Q.H.P. Before we proceed to the regular business of the first meeting of our thirty-first session, it seems right that I . sh ould make a few preliminary remarks on the actual con- dition of the Society, and on the work that it has done during the past year. But let me first thank you for re- appointing me to the office of President, and repeat that I shall endeavour to discharge as efficiently as possible the duties of the trust you have been pleased again to repose in me. I am happy to congratulate you on the continued pros- perity of the Society, and on the results of its working during the past session. The increase in number of members, the substantial addition to the funds, and the character of the subjects that have been discussed, are such as may, I think, give cause for satisfaction both as to our present and future prospects. The Epidemiological Society ought to exercise a wide and beneficial influence on the important questions regarding the origin and diffusion of disease that are constantly presenting themselves for consideration, and I believe we have grounds for hoping that this expecta- tion is in some measure realised, and that its influence is gradually growing and becoming more widely diffused, as I hope to show by a brief reference to the subjects that have been discussed, especially those which have given opportunity of comparing certain diseases in tropical climates with the same diseases as they present them- selves here. Let us hope that, as in former years it did in respect of small-pox and vaccination, so it may in future exercise its influence in regard to other questions concerning public health and the investigation of matters that are still the subjects of uncertainty in epidemiological science. It appears we have had an accession of twenty- three members during the past year, the great proportion being officers of the Navy, Army, and Indian Medical De- partments ; only six were unconnected with the public services. Whilst fully recognising the advantage arising from the co-operation of those who have had opportunities of studying disease on a large scale and under varying con- ditions in different quarters of the globe, I must say—and I think you will agree with me—that we should be glad if our ranks were more largely recruited from the profession gene- rally, and also from other sources. Our Society is essentially catholic in its aims, and its.object is the study of epidemi- ology on the broadest general principles, and under all conditions in which disease appears. It seeks information from medical men or others, whether in the public services, colonies or other foreign countries, or among the large