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MEDICAL HISTORY Lunar Society of Birmingham

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MEDICAL HISTORY Lunar Society of Birmingham 15 October 1966 15 Radiation and Genetics ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MEDICALBRDICSN 94594 JOURNAL more easily recognized homozygous forms. permanent sterility. On the other hand, tion, and discussed how this technique could The more severe the mutational effect the doses of 30 to 100 r to the ovaries of infertile be adapted for radiological dosimetry. A sooner it was eliminated from the population, patients had stimulated fertility without pro- proportion of the cultured cells showed Br Med J: first published as 10.1136/bmj.2.5519.945 on 15 October 1966. Downloaded from and many effects were never passed on. Con- ducing abnormalities in three subsequent chromosomal aberrations, which were either cluding, Dr. Stevenson said that mutations generations. In Britain every year the aver- stable or unstable. The latter were recog- produced experimentally by radiation more age person received radiation from the follow- nizable as multncentric or acentric pieces. closely resembled the spontaneous form than ing sources (in millirads): diagnostic radio- The proportion of stable aberrations re- those produced by chemicals or ultraviolet logy 14.1 ; radiotherapy 5.0; fallout 3.7; mained constant over 10 years after partial rays. industrial radiation 0.5 ; and natural back- body irradiation for ankylosing spondylitis, Dr. Roy ELLIS (St. Bartholomew's Hos- ground radiation 100. while the proportion of the unstable type fell. pital Medical College, London) said that Dr. W. M. COURT BROWN (M.R.C. Clini- Dr. Court Brown forecast that automatic biopsy studies had shown that 15 r to the cal Effects of Radiation Research Unit, chromosome analysis would be in routine use testes could produce temporary depression of Edinburgh) described the chromosome in 10 years' time and that this would allow spermatogenesis for up to a year, and that changes seen in lymphocytes cultured from the value of such methods to be more fully 600-1,000 r to the testes or ovaries caused the peripheral blood after medical irradia- explored. MEDICAL HISTORY Lunar Society of Birmingham [FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] On 12 October the University of Birmingham was due to confer several research institutes, none of them successful: one for honorary degrees on several distinguished men of science, pottery, one for the Cornish mines, in which Boulton and Watt including Sir John McMichael, F.R.S., to mark the bicentenary had heavily invested, and a Pneumatic Medical Institute, in of the Lunar Society. This body was remarkable both for the which Thomas Beddoes employed the young Humphry Davy. distinction of its members and for their influence on each More successful, however, was the committee which was formed other's thoughts, writings, and work. It was so named from in 1765 to establish a general hospital in Birmingham: its meeting each month near the time of the full moon, so that among its members were Ash, Boulton, Small, and Samuel the journey home should be easier. Members met in each Galton. other's houses at about 2 o'clock, departing at about 8 in the One of the most famous medical men to belong to the Lunar evening. Society was William Withering, who was born in Wellington, The Society was founded in 1766 by Matthew Boulton, the Shropshire. When Small died William Withering took over Birmingham manufacturer; by Erasmus Darwin, who his practice, and also became a member of the Lunar Society. flourished as a physician in Lichfield, and was the grandfather His interests beyond medicine were wide, and he wrote on of Charles; and by John Whitehurst, an instrument-maker geology, chemistry, and very extensively on botany. Withering of Derby. These men pooled their ideas in the development of fell out with Erasmus Darwin over the latter's writing about various instruments-pyrometers, hygrometers, and barometers the use of digitalis without any reference to Withering, and http://www.bmj.com/ -about the steam engines which were to be made in they remained enemies. Erasmus Darwin's long semi-scientific Boulton's new foundry at Soho, and in geology, meteorology, poem, The Botanic Garden, contains many references to his and electricity. fellow members and their work, and it was very popular in The next two men to join the Society were Dr. William Small its day. Darwin also had a gift for making strange machines, and Josiah Wedgwood. Small graduated from Marischal Col- among them a mechanical bird and a speaking machine which lege at Aberdeen, and became professor of natural philosophy could say Papa and Mama. at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia. Among When Joseph Priestley left London in 1780 he was persuaded his pupils there was Thomas Jefferson. When Small returned to settle in Birmingham and join the Society. All its members on 26 September 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. to Britain he arrived in Birmingham with a letter of recom- became involved in the controversy between Priestley and mendation from Benjamin Franklin, who had already toured Lavoisier about phlogiston and oxidation, but in 1791 the the Midlands visiting scientists. Subsequently Small shared a Society was dealt a blow when Priestley left Birmingham after house in Birmingham with Dr. John Ash and gradually suc- his house had been wrecked by a rioting mob (he was a well- ceeded to his practice. Josiah Wedgwood, a member of the known dissenter). The Society was often visited by distin- famous Staffordshire family of potters, met members of the guished men, from both Britain and other countries, including Society in his campaign to build more canals in the Midlands. Sir Joseph Banks, Emil Raspe (the creator of Baron Mun- It was also a transport problem which brought another member chausen), and Peter Camper, the Dutch anatomist. A vast into the Society. Richard Lovell Edgeworth-father of Maria number of letters passing between members of the Society Edgeworth, the novelist-shared an interest with Erasmus are extant, and these often contain intriguing sidelights such Darwin in the design of carriages, and later he added to the as: " Mr. Hunter desires compliments to you, and wou'd be work of McAdam on the building of roads. Through friend- exceedingly glad to have as much of the skeleton of the Cat ship with Edgeworth, Thomas Day also became a member of as you can conveniently send to him." the Society. He is best remembered for his authorship of The In the 1780's the became in the mania for a children's book which was Society caught up History of Sandford and Merton, sending up balloons, but in the next ten years it gradually very popular in its day. Other distinguished members of the with ceased its regular meetings as its members became too old to Society included James Watt, who went into partnership attend, and died. its influence on the course of steam and James Keir, a chemist Nevertheless, Boulton to produce engines, the Industrial Revolution in the Midlands was considerable, and and a manufacturer. it is fitting that the University of Birmingham has com- memorated its activities in the fields of medicine, science, Withering and Darwin and industry-also honouring two descendants of the Members of the Society were frequently active in the Royal Society's members, Sir Robin Darwin and the Hon. Josiah Society and the Society of Arts, and the Society sponsored Wedgwood..
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