Pictorial Art in Medicine *Presidential Address to the Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society, 13th October 1965

By custom in the last few decades, the President's address has usually been clinical, but loosely connected with medicine or science. He has had free choice of subject, by tradition the tide is not disclosed beforehand, and no Questions are asked afterwards. All this gives him considerable advantage, I have therefore chosen a subject which I think is of interest to many People, that of the pictorial aspects of the medical records of history. ?t is interesting to reflect on the reasons which prompt human beings to Paint a picture, or carve a statue. The commonest and most obvious reason is p course because they want to, and have the urge, which is almost universal, 0 create something; and I think it is true to say that everyone obtains a Ratifying sense of achievement, when he has made or painted something? yen although it may only be the garden gate or the front door. Also, painting r drawing may be a very good way of spreading knowledge among members a society who cannot read or write, and no doubt in the past some artistic 0rks were created solely for this reason. Paintings are not only a record of events and colourful happenings, but in any instances they give a useful insight into the social and economic back-i^ound of the times, and are valuable corroboration of other evidence on these Pccts of history. In some instances, pictures were painted by great artists, nose fancy was taken by the picturesque quality of many medical and rgical procedures, and sometimes a painter picked out some special feature current medical gossip as the theme for his picture.