Created by Sir George Newman
13 Dec 1934
Description:

‘Mr. Leggett.

Secretary.

1. The issue here is a dual one. First, it is desirable for the Ministry to do everything that it can to keep alive and active the important work in regard to malaria; secondly, Colonel James becomes sixty-five in September of next year and will therefore be leaving us.

2. Mr. Leggett and I have discussed at some length the practicabilities of continuing Horton and retaining in some measure the special services of Colonel James. We had hoped to arrange that he should continue his lectureship on malaria at the London School of Hygiene, and as lecturer also carry on his work at Horton. I discussed the matter with Professor Jameson and Sir Frederick Menzies, and they thought the solution a practicable one. Now, however, Professor Jameson tells me that they are unable to retain on their staff any lecturers over sixty-five. We have therefore got to devise some other plan.

3. What I suggest is that we should make a grant from the investigation fund of £100 a year to Colonel James for continuing to conduct Horton, with the approval of the London County Council, as investigation work – (a) in the therapy of malaria, and (b) in the therapy of general paralysis of the insane. It is certainly investigation work of a high order and is one of the definite contributions by the Ministry of Health to malaria, as it has found new ways of treating malaria and general paralysis of the insane. It also has the further great advantage of providing a clinical laboratory for the study of malaria in England by advanced students and postgraduates of various kinds coming to this country for special education in regard to a sidease which is in many districts of the British Empire a very costly scourge both in money and in life. The work is rather particularly difficult and responsible, and to direct it wisely it should be under the Minister’s control and, as long as we can retain him, in the hands of the man who has designed the methods, namely Colonel James. Here we have done pioneering work, and we simply cannot afford to let this work now disappear or disintegrate.

4. Further, I suggest that we should pay Colonel James a further grant of £100 as extra-mural adviser to the Ministry on malaria and tropical diseases. His experience in administration, experimental work and field work in regard to malaria is unique, and he is without doubt the most competent authority on these matters now alive. We are continually being asked questions by the Foreign Office, the Dominions and the League of Nations in regard to malaria in which his experience is quite invaluable, and there is no one to take his place.

5. I think one of the conditions of the proposed grants, which should perhaps be considered from year to year, should be that Colonel James should definitely set about the task of training a competent man to take his place eventually. I should also strongly recommend that the Horton work should be continued as the centre of the therapy and prevention of malaria available to students recommended by the Minister of Health, and to students from the Postgraduate School and the London School of Hygiene.

G.N. 13th September, 1934.’