Rules of the Victorian Branch of the British Medical Association and of the Medical Society of Victoria

Maker
1. British Medical Association (Victorian branch) (estab. 1906, closed 1962)
2. Medical Society of Victoria (MSV) (estab. 1855, closed 1906)
3. Stillwell and Co., Printers (estab. Circa 1877)
Date
Circa 1906-1918
Description
Document with the rules of the Victorian Branch of the British Medical Association and the Medical Society of Victoria cut and pasted on paper with pen and pencil annotations, (red paper for the Victorian Branch of the British Medical Association and white paper for the Medical Society of Victoria). Possibly an early draft representing the amalgamation of the two associations rules. In 1906 MSV and BMA members decided on formal amalgamation. In the amalgamation agreement, all members of both organisations would become members of the BMA.

In the 1830s colony doctors began their work in what was then known as the Port Phillip District. Circa 1846 the Port Phillip Medical Association (PPMA) was established in Victoria, however by 1851 the PPMA was disbanded. Six months later, in 1852, some of its members went on to organise a Victoria Medical Association (VMA).
In 1855 the VMA was amalgamated with the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Victoria, the new group now called the Medical Society of Victoria (MSV).
Circa 1879, Dr Louis Henry, returned from England, via South Australia and New South Wales, on a mission authorised by the British Medical Association (BMA) to establish branches in Victoria and elsewhere in Australia.
Initially the aim was that the new body of BMA would co-exist with the older one in Victoria: the MSV would continue to concentrate on medical science matters and the BMA would handle ethical and medico-political matters. But rival views on ethics and other issues were soon reported.
It took more than five years for the two sides to come back together.
It was not until late in 1906 that MSV and BMA members decided on formal amalgamation. In the amalgamation agreement, all members of both organisations would become members of the British Medical Association (Victorian Branch). All offices would become vacant. A new branch council would be elected by MSV and BMA members in a joint meeting. There would be one set of rules. Members of one organisation would automatically become members of the other. All funds, real estate and other property such as libraries would be shared.
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