1778

Founding of Paris-based Royal Society of Medicine (Société royale de médecine), prior to which French physicians had no institutional means “to blow their trumpet and demonstrate their bienfaisance to a wider public.” In the struggle with the surgical elite for recognition, the lack of such an institution had been disastrous, since in the 18th century, “respect flowed toward those who could control public opinion” (Brockliss & Jones, loc 4343-4344).