The Reading Pathological Society was founded on July 13th 1841 and ranks as one of the oldest medical societies in England.


An exerpt from the tells the story of its creation: In the early forties of the nineteenth century by a group of medical of exceptional professional abreast with the advance of medical science, and appreciative of the value of co-operation in fighting disease and death.
For some years the feasibility of establishing a medical society had been discussed. The opening of the Royal Berkshire Hospital in 1839 converted the project into a fait accompli, the enlightened Governors giving every encouragement in their power, as well as material assistance by permitting the Society to meet within the Hospital. At the Inaugural Meeting, Dr. Charles Cowan, one of the newly appointed physicians, in the chair, it was resolved “to constitute a Society for the discussion of medical and surgical subjects, of cases, and of other matters connected with the profession.”
…It is not too much to say that the Society has accomplished a great work such as few provincial societies can rival. It has consistently promoted a lofty standard of practice, and has helped to banish “envy, hatred and malice, and all uncharitableness.”
Our founders were good men and true, “on fame’s eternall bead-roll worthie to be fyled.” Several of them have left their mark by contributions to the progress and to the literature of