1879 Dr Lyon's Jubilee
JUBILEE OF DR LYON, PETERCULTER 1 September 1879
On Saturday afternoon about 40 gentlemen of the medical profession in Aberdeen and the neighbourhood entertained Dr Lyon, Peterculter, to dinner in celebration of his jubilee as a medical man. Dr Lyon completed his 50th year as a practitioner at Peterculter on the 12th ult., and the proposal to do him honour and congratulate him on the event was taken up in a manner which shows the high respect in which he is held by his brethren of the profession. A circular was sent out by Dr Angus Fraser in the names of Dr Fiddes, Rattray, Jackson, Urquhart, Smith-Shand, Wilson (Old Meldrum), Keith (Aboyne), A . Ogston, J Ogilvie Will, and Dyce Davidson; and the dinner of Saturday, which was held in the the Imperial Hotel, was the result. The company consisted of Drs Fiddes, Rattray, Jackson, Urquhart, Alexander Ogston, F. Ogston, sen., Ogilvie Will, Angus Fraser, Simpson, Stephenson, Jamieson, Crombie, Proctor, Maitland, Moir and W.H. Williamson – all of Aberdeen; Drs A. Fowler, Old Meldrum; Keith, Aboyne; Irvine, Tarves; Mackie, Insch; Greig,Fyvie; George, Keith; McHardy, Banchory; Cran, Banchory; Fowler, Woodside; Michie, Cove; Jamieson, Peterhead; Laing, Skene; Davidson, Wartle; Shearer, Ballater; Leslie, Stonehaven; and Dr Polson, Old Aberdeen. Letters of regret at absence were received from Drs Robertson, Indego; Walker, Alford; Geddes, Aberdeen; Anderson, Newburgh; Coper, Elgin; Gaving, Strichen; Coutts, Waterfoot, near Manchester; Thom, Crieff; Pirrie, Aberdeen; Cran, Kildrummy; Paterson, Inverurie; Williams, Tarland; Trail, Strichen; Corbet, Aberdeen; J. Moir, Aberdeen’ Noble, Braemar; Macdonald, Aberdeen; Mr De Lessert, Aberdeen; Dr Garden, Aberdeen; Dr Dyce Davidson, Aberdeen; Mr Williamson, Aberdeen; Dr Mackie jun., Brechin; Dr Divorty, Inverurie; Dr Smith-Shand, Aberdeen; and Cdr Blaikie-Smith, Aberdeen. Dr Fiddes occupied the chair, and Drs Davidson, Wartle and Greig, Fyvie, acted as croupiers. A splendid dinner was served, and the attendance was excellent.
The following is the menu:-
POTAGES
Clear Turtle Hotch Potch
POISSONS
Salmon
ENTREES
Curried Lobster
Veal cutlets with spinach
Sweetbreads with mushrooms
RELEVES
Roast Beef Roast Lamb
Ducklings Boiled Chickens
ROTS
Grouse
ENTREMENTS
Cabinet Pudding
Ginger Pudding
Currant Tarts
Lemon Cream
Wine Jelly
Compots of Pine Apple
Compots of Plums
Strawberry Ice Cream
Pine Apple Water Ice
FRUIT
The Chairman after proposing the toasts of “The Queen”, “The Prince and Princess of Wales” &c., and “The Army, Navy, and Volunteers” (the latter responded to by Dr Patrick Jamieson, Peterhead), gave “The Health of the Guests- Dr Lyon,” which was received with cheers. In doing so he said – I have been a very long time acquainted with Dr Lyon, and perhaps, with the exception of our friends Dr Irvine, Dr Rattray, and one or two others, I think I am his oldest friend here, and I assure you I have had much pleasure in being acquainted with him. He has now been 50 years in practice. In that long time he has had arduous duties to perform, but I am sure he has done so with great pleasure. He is very much liked by his neighbours, and particularly by those who have had the benefit of his professional skill and attention (Applause). He is not only esteemed in that capacity, but also for the kind and friendly way in which he has given his advice to any of his parishioners or friends who consulted him in other matters. In fact Peterculter would not be what it is if Dr Lyon was not there (Applause). In his day he did a great deal to advance the science of anatomy. In his younger days anatomy was beset with great difficulties, and Dr Lyon and a few others assisted very much in surmounting those difficulties and advancing the science to a stage that gained for us the reputation in London of being the best anatomists in the Kingdom. (Applause). I have much pleasure in asking you to drink “Long Life, Health, and Happiness to Dr Lyon.”
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
Dr Lyon, in replying, said – Few men are privileged to celebrate a jubilee, and still fewer to be favoured with such a celebration as you have this day conferred upon me. To enjoy the respect and esteem of those whose good opinion we value is a source of the highest gratification, and compensates in great measure, even after 50 years’ service, for the disagreeable and thankless work to which they are often subjected who serve the public. (Applause). Surrounded, as I now am, by so many of my best friends, and considering that you have met for the purpose of doing honour to me, I am justly proud of my position, not because I have been spared so long, but because you have considered me worthy of this mark of your respect. (Applause). To you I have to acknowledge my obligations for your agreeable and honourable conduct, not only in our professional intercourse, but also in our social relation. In my dealings with my professional brethren I have, with a few exceptions, found them worthy members of the dignified profession to which we belong, although I have always remarked that the profession has been in an unsettled state, not only amongst its own members but in relation to the public. While we have been disputing about medical titles, about raising the standard of medical education, and generally about medical reform, we cannot wonder that the public should have been guilty of strange irregularities in their endeavours to supply their medical requirements But notwithstanding such interruptions, we must regard with mingled wonder and pleasure the increasing advances of knowledge from the discoveries of physiology, histology, and pathology; that the human frame has undergone a great constitutional change which has modified the nature and treatment of the diseases to which they are subject, and generally that the difficulties, the responsibilities, and the anxieties of medicine have not detracted from her dignity, the greatness f her achievements, and her increasing service to mankind, whilst her cultivators have been influenced by a spirit which was not affected by the necessary self-sacrifices to which they were exposed. (Applause.) The teaching which we acquire as the years pass away, and our inner vision is corrected by the sad experiences of life, and our judgement matured by its stern discipline, impresses us forcibly with a feeling of grave responsibility of our position, and makes us accountable for much of the happiness and welfare of society. Having the confidence and sympathy of our patients, we become their friends and advisers, and can exercise great personal influence over them. It is no wonder, therefore, that we should feel continually the enormous responsibility of our position in the discharge of our duties, and be prompted by the same influence to keep pace with the profession by reading and other means of education and cultivation. (Applause.) I am strongly impressed with the conviction that I have been a favoured man in being spared to do the duties of an extensive country practice with scarcely any interruption for the long period of half a century, and in being almost as well able as ever to do my work. (Cheers.) During that time, among the many changes which have taken place, I have observed an evident growing intercourse among the members of the profession which has brought about more frequent meetings of a pleasant and beneficial nature. (Hear, Hear. ) An extension of the same kindly feeling has also suggested out present meeting in recognition of my long services, and now devolves on me the difficult task of finding words to express my sense of your great kindness. It is only those who are similarly circumstanced who can feel as I do in my present position. Under a deep sense of my obligations, I have great pleasure in offering you my most sincere thanks for the great honour which you have conferred on me, and in wishing that you may be spared individually to celebrate a jubilee under equally favourable circumstances. (Applause.)
Dr Davidson, Murtle, in proposing the health of “Mrs Lyon and the family, “ remarked that the appearance of their guest, after fifty years’ work, was to those who had not the pleasure of her acquaintance sufficient testimony of her worth as a helpmate. (Cheers.)
The other toasts which followed were – “The University and Medical School”, proposed by Dr Greig, And replied to by Dr Ogston, senior, who paid a high compliment to the younger men who are gradually coming to the front to maintain the high character of the University and Medical School of Aberdeen, of which they had all reason to be proud. Dr Jackson gave the “Royal Infirmary of Aberdeen,” which was responded to by Dr Rattray; Dr Lyon gave the health of “The Chairman,” which was very cordially drunk; DR Stephenson “The Country Practitioners,” coupled with Dr Mackie, Insch; Dr McHardy, Banchory, “Science,” coupled with Dr A Ogston; Dr Jamieson, Elmhill, “Practce,” coupled with Dr Michie, Cove; Dr Proctor, “The Town Practitioners,” coupled with Dr F. Maitland Moir; Dr Mackie, “The Aberdeen Sick Children’s Hospital, coupled with Dr Stephenson” ; and Dr Proctor “The Dental Profession,” which was replied to bt Dr Crombie.
Several songs were sung, and contributed greatly to the pleasure of the proceedings.
On Saturday afternoon about 40 gentlemen of the medical profession in Aberdeen and the neighbourhood entertained Dr Lyon, Peterculter, to dinner in celebration of his jubilee as a medical man. Dr Lyon completed his 50th year as a practitioner at Peterculter on the 12th ult., and the proposal to do him honour and congratulate him on the event was taken up in a manner which shows the high respect in which he is held by his brethren of the profession. A circular was sent out by Dr Angus Fraser in the names of Dr Fiddes, Rattray, Jackson, Urquhart, Smith-Shand, Wilson (Old Meldrum), Keith (Aboyne), A . Ogston, J Ogilvie Will, and Dyce Davidson; and the dinner of Saturday, which was held in the the Imperial Hotel, was the result. The company consisted of Drs Fiddes, Rattray, Jackson, Urquhart, Alexander Ogston, F. Ogston, sen., Ogilvie Will, Angus Fraser, Simpson, Stephenson, Jamieson, Crombie, Proctor, Maitland, Moir and W.H. Williamson – all of Aberdeen; Drs A. Fowler, Old Meldrum; Keith, Aboyne; Irvine, Tarves; Mackie, Insch; Greig,Fyvie; George, Keith; McHardy, Banchory; Cran, Banchory; Fowler, Woodside; Michie, Cove; Jamieson, Peterhead; Laing, Skene; Davidson, Wartle; Shearer, Ballater; Leslie, Stonehaven; and Dr Polson, Old Aberdeen. Letters of regret at absence were received from Drs Robertson, Indego; Walker, Alford; Geddes, Aberdeen; Anderson, Newburgh; Coper, Elgin; Gaving, Strichen; Coutts, Waterfoot, near Manchester; Thom, Crieff; Pirrie, Aberdeen; Cran, Kildrummy; Paterson, Inverurie; Williams, Tarland; Trail, Strichen; Corbet, Aberdeen; J. Moir, Aberdeen’ Noble, Braemar; Macdonald, Aberdeen; Mr De Lessert, Aberdeen; Dr Garden, Aberdeen; Dr Dyce Davidson, Aberdeen; Mr Williamson, Aberdeen; Dr Mackie jun., Brechin; Dr Divorty, Inverurie; Dr Smith-Shand, Aberdeen; and Cdr Blaikie-Smith, Aberdeen. Dr Fiddes occupied the chair, and Drs Davidson, Wartle and Greig, Fyvie, acted as croupiers. A splendid dinner was served, and the attendance was excellent.
The following is the menu:-
POTAGES
Clear Turtle Hotch Potch
POISSONS
Salmon
ENTREES
Curried Lobster
Veal cutlets with spinach
Sweetbreads with mushrooms
RELEVES
Roast Beef Roast Lamb
Ducklings Boiled Chickens
ROTS
Grouse
ENTREMENTS
Cabinet Pudding
Ginger Pudding
Currant Tarts
Lemon Cream
Wine Jelly
Compots of Pine Apple
Compots of Plums
Strawberry Ice Cream
Pine Apple Water Ice
FRUIT
The Chairman after proposing the toasts of “The Queen”, “The Prince and Princess of Wales” &c., and “The Army, Navy, and Volunteers” (the latter responded to by Dr Patrick Jamieson, Peterhead), gave “The Health of the Guests- Dr Lyon,” which was received with cheers. In doing so he said – I have been a very long time acquainted with Dr Lyon, and perhaps, with the exception of our friends Dr Irvine, Dr Rattray, and one or two others, I think I am his oldest friend here, and I assure you I have had much pleasure in being acquainted with him. He has now been 50 years in practice. In that long time he has had arduous duties to perform, but I am sure he has done so with great pleasure. He is very much liked by his neighbours, and particularly by those who have had the benefit of his professional skill and attention (Applause). He is not only esteemed in that capacity, but also for the kind and friendly way in which he has given his advice to any of his parishioners or friends who consulted him in other matters. In fact Peterculter would not be what it is if Dr Lyon was not there (Applause). In his day he did a great deal to advance the science of anatomy. In his younger days anatomy was beset with great difficulties, and Dr Lyon and a few others assisted very much in surmounting those difficulties and advancing the science to a stage that gained for us the reputation in London of being the best anatomists in the Kingdom. (Applause). I have much pleasure in asking you to drink “Long Life, Health, and Happiness to Dr Lyon.”
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
Dr Lyon, in replying, said – Few men are privileged to celebrate a jubilee, and still fewer to be favoured with such a celebration as you have this day conferred upon me. To enjoy the respect and esteem of those whose good opinion we value is a source of the highest gratification, and compensates in great measure, even after 50 years’ service, for the disagreeable and thankless work to which they are often subjected who serve the public. (Applause). Surrounded, as I now am, by so many of my best friends, and considering that you have met for the purpose of doing honour to me, I am justly proud of my position, not because I have been spared so long, but because you have considered me worthy of this mark of your respect. (Applause). To you I have to acknowledge my obligations for your agreeable and honourable conduct, not only in our professional intercourse, but also in our social relation. In my dealings with my professional brethren I have, with a few exceptions, found them worthy members of the dignified profession to which we belong, although I have always remarked that the profession has been in an unsettled state, not only amongst its own members but in relation to the public. While we have been disputing about medical titles, about raising the standard of medical education, and generally about medical reform, we cannot wonder that the public should have been guilty of strange irregularities in their endeavours to supply their medical requirements But notwithstanding such interruptions, we must regard with mingled wonder and pleasure the increasing advances of knowledge from the discoveries of physiology, histology, and pathology; that the human frame has undergone a great constitutional change which has modified the nature and treatment of the diseases to which they are subject, and generally that the difficulties, the responsibilities, and the anxieties of medicine have not detracted from her dignity, the greatness f her achievements, and her increasing service to mankind, whilst her cultivators have been influenced by a spirit which was not affected by the necessary self-sacrifices to which they were exposed. (Applause.) The teaching which we acquire as the years pass away, and our inner vision is corrected by the sad experiences of life, and our judgement matured by its stern discipline, impresses us forcibly with a feeling of grave responsibility of our position, and makes us accountable for much of the happiness and welfare of society. Having the confidence and sympathy of our patients, we become their friends and advisers, and can exercise great personal influence over them. It is no wonder, therefore, that we should feel continually the enormous responsibility of our position in the discharge of our duties, and be prompted by the same influence to keep pace with the profession by reading and other means of education and cultivation. (Applause.) I am strongly impressed with the conviction that I have been a favoured man in being spared to do the duties of an extensive country practice with scarcely any interruption for the long period of half a century, and in being almost as well able as ever to do my work. (Cheers.) During that time, among the many changes which have taken place, I have observed an evident growing intercourse among the members of the profession which has brought about more frequent meetings of a pleasant and beneficial nature. (Hear, Hear. ) An extension of the same kindly feeling has also suggested out present meeting in recognition of my long services, and now devolves on me the difficult task of finding words to express my sense of your great kindness. It is only those who are similarly circumstanced who can feel as I do in my present position. Under a deep sense of my obligations, I have great pleasure in offering you my most sincere thanks for the great honour which you have conferred on me, and in wishing that you may be spared individually to celebrate a jubilee under equally favourable circumstances. (Applause.)
Dr Davidson, Murtle, in proposing the health of “Mrs Lyon and the family, “ remarked that the appearance of their guest, after fifty years’ work, was to those who had not the pleasure of her acquaintance sufficient testimony of her worth as a helpmate. (Cheers.)
The other toasts which followed were – “The University and Medical School”, proposed by Dr Greig, And replied to by Dr Ogston, senior, who paid a high compliment to the younger men who are gradually coming to the front to maintain the high character of the University and Medical School of Aberdeen, of which they had all reason to be proud. Dr Jackson gave the “Royal Infirmary of Aberdeen,” which was responded to by Dr Rattray; Dr Lyon gave the health of “The Chairman,” which was very cordially drunk; DR Stephenson “The Country Practitioners,” coupled with Dr Mackie, Insch; Dr McHardy, Banchory, “Science,” coupled with Dr A Ogston; Dr Jamieson, Elmhill, “Practce,” coupled with Dr Michie, Cove; Dr Proctor, “The Town Practitioners,” coupled with Dr F. Maitland Moir; Dr Mackie, “The Aberdeen Sick Children’s Hospital, coupled with Dr Stephenson” ; and Dr Proctor “The Dental Profession,” which was replied to bt Dr Crombie.
Several songs were sung, and contributed greatly to the pleasure of the proceedings.