S.P. James to G.S. Buchanan, 1st Sept. 1927.- External URL
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Sent From (Definite): Sydney Price JamesSent To (Definite): George Seaton BuchananDate: 1 Sep 1927
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Holder (Definite): The National Archives (UK)
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Sent fromSydney Price James
1 Sep 1927
Description:‘Sir George Buchanan,
The research work which we are doing arises from the practice, which has been adopted as a routine in a number of Mental Hospitals in England, of inducing therapeutic malarial attacks by the bites of infected mosquitoes in cases of general paralysis, tabes, encephalitis lethargica, etc. The mosquitoes necessary for this purpose are infected under my supervision in the Ministry’s laboratory at the Horton Mental Hospital, and are taken to the hospitals concerned either by myself or one of the other Medical Officers of the Ministry or by Mr. Shute, the Ministry’s laboratory Assistant, who is in sub-charge of the Horton laboratory. In this way malaria contracted in the natural way has been successfully induced in about 400 patients in mental hospitals in different parts of the country. This is the material on which we are working.
Three of the kinds of research which we are pursuing relate to:-
(1). The immediate risks of the treatment and the administrative and clinical measures necessary to prevent them.
(2). The question of malarial relapses.
(3). Quinine treatment and Prophylaxis.
Some of our results on subjects (1) and (2) have been embodied in official memoranda and have led to useful administrative action. Our results on subject (2) have had a widespread influence on medical opinion in connection with the use of quinine in malaria and the cost of treating that disease.
I think it is important to continue these and other practical enquiries. To do so necessitates the appointment during my absence in India of a medical officer who has a good knowledge of malaria and G.P.I. , and particularly of a medical officer who has been associated in the work at our laboratory and treatment centre at Horton since its commencement. Doctor W.D. Nicol, one of the Assistant Medical Officers at Horton, is the officer whom I have in mind as being best qualified for the work. I attack a reprint of a recent paper by him which indicates the interest he has taken in the matter and the assistance which he has rendered us during the work. He has done this voluntarily in addition to his own duties in charge of a Division of the Mental Hospital.
My present proposal is as follows:-
(1) That during the period of my absence in India Doctor Nicol should be appointed to give his whole time to the malaria and G.P.I. work for which I am at present responsible, namely; at the Ministry’s malaria laboratory and the Mental Hospital Treatment Centre at Horton, and at the various hospitals in different parts of the country to which we carry the mosquitoes for infecting purposes and at which we give advice on points of care and management. Giving his whole time to the matter he would be able to carry on the research enquiries to which I have referred. (2) That for this purpose he should continue in his present appointment at Horton and should continue to be paid his salary by Colonel Lord, the Medical Superintendent, that his whole time will be available for the malaria work. He will be in charge of the malaria treatment centre and laboratory. It will also be his duty when necessary to take infected mosquitoes to hospitals in different parts of the country, it being understood that out Ministry will refund to him the same travelling expenses on those journeys as the do to one of their own medical officers.
(3) He will not be given an honorarium for the work but it will be necessary to appoint a locum at Horton to do the work from which he will be freed when he gives his whole time to the malaria and G.P.I. duties. The cost would be:-
Locum at six guineas per week + £2.9.0. per week maintenance.
= £8.15.0. per week.
= For 4 months £148.15.0.
Extra duty pay for the officer who takes charge of the Division in Dr. Nicol’s place at £12.10.0. per quarter
= For 4 months £16.15.0.
Total cost for 4 months £165.10.0.
(4) I suggest that the cost as above might be provided from the Ministry’s Auxiliary Scientific Grant.
(5) It would be necessary to persuade the Chairman of the L.C.C. to permit the arrangement suggested.
(6) I have ascertained that the Medical Superintendent at Horton (Colonel Lord) would raise no objection.
I attack the file containing my previous proposals for getting assistance with research. If the present proposal is sanctioned they can be dropped – at any rate until my return from India?
S.P. James 1/9/07.’
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Sent toGeorge Seaton Buchanan
1 Sep 1927
Description:‘Sir George Buchanan,
The research work which we are doing arises from the practice, which has been adopted as a routine in a number of Mental Hospitals in England, of inducing therapeutic malarial attacks by the bites of infected mosquitoes in cases of general paralysis, tabes, encephalitis lethargica, etc. The mosquitoes necessary for this purpose are infected under my supervision in the Ministry’s laboratory at the Horton Mental Hospital, and are taken to the hospitals concerned either by myself or one of the other Medical Officers of the Ministry or by Mr. Shute, the Ministry’s laboratory Assistant, who is in sub-charge of the Horton laboratory. In this way malaria contracted in the natural way has been successfully induced in about 400 patients in mental hospitals in different parts of the country. This is the material on which we are working.
Three of the kinds of research which we are pursuing relate to:-
(1). The immediate risks of the treatment and the administrative and clinical measures necessary to prevent them.
(2). The question of malarial relapses.
(3). Quinine treatment and Prophylaxis.
Some of our results on subjects (1) and (2) have been embodied in official memoranda and have led to useful administrative action. Our results on subject (2) have had a widespread influence on medical opinion in connection with the use of quinine in malaria and the cost of treating that disease.
I think it is important to continue these and other practical enquiries. To do so necessitates the appointment during my absence in India of a medical officer who has a good knowledge of malaria and G.P.I. , and particularly of a medical officer who has been associated in the work at our laboratory and treatment centre at Horton since its commencement. Doctor W.D. Nicol, one of the Assistant Medical Officers at Horton, is the officer whom I have in mind as being best qualified for the work. I attack a reprint of a recent paper by him which indicates the interest he has taken in the matter and the assistance which he has rendered us during the work. He has done this voluntarily in addition to his own duties in charge of a Division of the Mental Hospital.
My present proposal is as follows:-
(1) That during the period of my absence in India Doctor Nicol should be appointed to give his whole time to the malaria and G.P.I. work for which I am at present responsible, namely; at the Ministry’s malaria laboratory and the Mental Hospital Treatment Centre at Horton, and at the various hospitals in different parts of the country to which we carry the mosquitoes for infecting purposes and at which we give advice on points of care and management. Giving his whole time to the matter he would be able to carry on the research enquiries to which I have referred. (2) That for this purpose he should continue in his present appointment at Horton and should continue to be paid his salary by Colonel Lord, the Medical Superintendent, that his whole time will be available for the malaria work. He will be in charge of the malaria treatment centre and laboratory. It will also be his duty when necessary to take infected mosquitoes to hospitals in different parts of the country, it being understood that out Ministry will refund to him the same travelling expenses on those journeys as the do to one of their own medical officers.
(3) He will not be given an honorarium for the work but it will be necessary to appoint a locum at Horton to do the work from which he will be freed when he gives his whole time to the malaria and G.P.I. duties. The cost would be:-
Locum at six guineas per week + £2.9.0. per week maintenance.
= £8.15.0. per week.
= For 4 months £148.15.0.
Extra duty pay for the officer who takes charge of the Division in Dr. Nicol’s place at £12.10.0. per quarter
= For 4 months £16.15.0.
Total cost for 4 months £165.10.0.
(4) I suggest that the cost as above might be provided from the Ministry’s Auxiliary Scientific Grant.
(5) It would be necessary to persuade the Chairman of the L.C.C. to permit the arrangement suggested.
(6) I have ascertained that the Medical Superintendent at Horton (Colonel Lord) would raise no objection.
I attack the file containing my previous proposals for getting assistance with research. If the present proposal is sanctioned they can be dropped – at any rate until my return from India?
S.P. James 1/9/07.’
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