West London Medico-Chirurgical Society

The West London Medico-Chirurgical Society was formed in 1882 on the proposal of Charles Robert Bell Keetley (FRCS). The Society was formed at the West London Hospital in 1882, attended by approximately 50 medical men. The first meeting of the society was on 6 Oct 1882, with the inaugural address given by Dr Hart Vinen, the first President. The purpose of the Society was the cultivation and promotion of the science and practice of medicine, for the use, advantage and association of medical men of the district of west London. The Society announced an annual lecture in 1884, to be called the Cavendish Lecture, after the natural philosopher, Henry Cavendish (1731-1810). Distinquished men of the day were invited to give the lecture, mostly on clinical subjects related to medicine and surgery, with occasional lectures on related subjects. Also in 1884 the Society resolved to publish their Proceedings. In 1896, this became the West London Medical Journal, edited by Mr Percy Dunn, and was published on a quarterly basis. The Society proposed the formation of a library in 1885, where the Proceedings of the Society could be accessed by all members. The Society contained Honorary members and Members. The affairs of the Society were carried out by a governing body of thirty three members, including a President, six honorary vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, two Secretaries, an editor of the Journal, an Editorial Secretary, a Librarian and twelve other Members.