The Institute of Biomedical Science

Medical Sciences Historical Society

The Medical Sciences Historical Society (MSHS) was established in 1981 with the express aim of the furtherance of interest in, and promotion of, the history of the diagnostic medical sciences.

It acts as a forum for interested participants who have access to the Society’s meetings and enjoy its regular publications. The Society publishes Medical Sciences History annually and a newsletter biannually. A variety of meetings are held every year - usually in London at the IBMS office.

There is a robust programme of guest speakers during the year on a variety of relevant topics. The following are just a few examples of talks which have been given in the past:

• The development of diagnostic services
• The bugs of war
• Pathology at the Royal London Hospital
• When Titans clash: the Liebig-Pasteur controversy revisited
• Malaria in the Thames estuary
• The archaeology of osteoarthritis
• Counting the dead – the men of the Mary Rose

On a rather more social note, a regular event is that of the MSHS Summer Meeting where members and their guests meet up one afternoon at an interesting venue – often with an arranged guided tour. Examples of such visits have included the Florence Nightingale Museum at St. Thomas’ Hospital, The Royal Institution of Great Britain, the Chelsea Physic Garden at Chelsea and the headquarters of the British Order of St. John at Clerkenwell.

Membership will appeal to those who are or have been involved or even just have an interest in diagnostic medicine. Members are invited to participate in lectures, meetings and to contribute to the Society publications. Membership does provide a useful opportunity for maintaining contact with past or present colleagues from the world of medicine in general – and pathology in particular.

The MSHS is affiliated to the British Society for the History of Medicine and this affiliation provides members with access to the open, national and international activities of all the other affiliated societies and to the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine.

Another important aspect of membership is the opportunity for maintaining contact with past or present colleagues, from the world of medicine in general - and pathology in particular.

Enquiries regarding membership, or seeking further information about the MSHS are welcomed and should be addressed to:

The Hon Secretary, MSHS
117 Woodland Drive
Cassiobury,
Watford
Herts. WD17 3DA