| Description Of Item | This cane was presented to the College for the use of the Morison Lecturer. The cane is inscribed with the text: 'ANNO CENTESIMO A LECTURA MORISIONIENSI FUNDATA BACULUM HOC OFFICIALE D.D, ALEXANDER BLACKHAIL- MORISION MEDICINAE DOCTOR COLLEGH REGALIS MEDICORUM SOCIUS DIE XVII MENSIS OCTOBRIS MCM XXIII'.
The stem of the cane is entwined with the carving of a snake with black dotted detailing. The cane contains a hole for a tassel, indicating it has been removed over the years. It is 120 cm long.
This cane was inscribed in 1923 to commemorate one hundred years of Morison Lectures at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
After first giving the Morison Lectures, Blackhall-Morison enquired if there was an official rod of office for the lectureship and learnt that the club owned a gold-headed tortoise-shell stick. He investigated its history and became convinced this was the one belonging originally to his grandfather and intended as the baculum. He was unable to convince the Aesculapians, however, so in 1919 he bought 'a snake-entwined rod' in Brighton, and had it mounted with a gold cap and inscription to present to the College for the lectureship. Later he spoke to the club and wrote up his extensive researches on the question. |