Sent from L. G. Brock
16 Dec 1930
Description:

Dear Leggett,

I had an awful week of conferences last week and I have not been able to reply before to your letter of the 20th ultimo about the laboratory at Horton. I enclose a minute which I have received from Bond in which he discusses the position very frankly. The difficulty I feel is that we have hitherto defended the expenditure of public funds on the ground of the experimental nature of the work. I think we might fairly treat it as still in the experimental stage. The value of the treatment has, to my mind, been demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt; but the technique is still in the developmental stage. We have not yet reached the point at which we can draw up a precise code of instructions. At the same time, we cannot go on indefinitely pleading that the work is still experimental. I should greatly regret any weakening of the Horton centre. It might easily check the development of a most valuable line of treatment. I think your malaria experts will probably tell you that it is also extremely valuable from their point of view. But I think the time is coming when you might well suggest to the County Council that the Government aid should gradually diminish and that, for their own purpose, they will in fact find it necessary to do practically all that they are doing now at Horton. At any rate I think you might sound them on these lines. If there is a serious intention to cut down the staff, then we must clearly reconsider the whole position. On medical grounds I think we could make out a case for a permanent contribution, but before we study the matter from this point of view, we ought to see what we can get out of the County Council.

Yours sincerely,

L.G. Brock.’