Sent from Sir William Wilson Jameson
24 Oct 1935
Description:

‘Dear Dr. Carnwath,

You will recollect that on the 17^th September I had a conversation with you in your room at the Ministry on the future of the Ministry of Health’s malaria laboratory at Horton Mental Hospital. You pointed out that Colonel James would retire from the staff of the Ministry on the 31^st August, 1936, and that it was advisable that any arrangement made for the carrying on of the work should come into operation before that date.

I understand that the London County Council is responsible for the maintenance of the premises of the malaria unit at Horton Mental Hospital and that the care of the patients in the two wards attached to the unit is entirely the concern of Dr. Nicol, the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital. The Ministry of Health on the other hand is responsible for the provision of adequate laboratory staff and for the general upkeep of the laboratory itself.

These arrangements I assume will be continued and I have discussed with my Board of Management the proposal that a senior member of our staff should undertake the supervision of the laboratory on behalf of the Ministry of Health. I have been instructed by my Board to submit for your approval the following scheme:-

(1) A senior member of staff of the School would be placed in charge of the laboratory and would be answerable to the Ministry for its proper conduct. The choice in the first instance would fall on Professor [J.G.] Thomson, who holds the University Chair of Medical Protozoology and is in charge of the Department of Protozoology. Professor Thomson has had a wide experience of malaria and would, I feel certain, prove a most competent officer. He would be prepared to spend a very considerable part of his time at Horton Mental Hospital.

(2) With the approval of the London County Council Dr. Nicol would be invited to associate himself with the teaching work of the School.

(3) Other departments of the School would undertake to facilitate the work of the Ministry’s laboratory in every way possible and would be given opportunities by Professor Thomson of so doing.

(4) The cost of the services provided by the School would be met by an annual grant from the Ministry of Health. This cost would amount to not less than £500 a year and would include the charges incurred by Professor Thomson for transport between the School and Horton Mental Hospital but would not include the expenses of any travelling between Horton Mental Hospital and other institutions undertaken at the request of the Ministry.

(5) Some provisions should be made for terminating the agreement on due notice being given by either party.

(6) If the scheme is approved, Professor Thomson would be prepared to enter upon his new duties at any time convenient to the Ministry.

It only remains for me to add that the School welcomes such an opportunity of co-operating with the Ministry and realises fully the value to its work of such an association as is contemplated.

Yours sincerely,

W.W. Jameson.’