Sent C.R. Harington to E. Mellanby, 21st November, 1946 (FD 1/1076).
21 Nov 1946
Description:

'Dear Mellanby,

Parkes has recently discussed with me the question of the setting up of a breeding colony for monkeys, and with my knowledge and consent he is going to ask if he may come to see you about this matter.

The question has arisen at the present time chiefly because of the anxiety of a committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, of which Parkes is a member, to have such a colony for experimental pre-natal investigation. There are of course aspects of our own work for which such a colony would be very useful.

The importation of monkeys from India is not becoming any easier and in any case we cannot by this means get pregnant and baby animals, for which there is a need.

There seem to be two possibilities: either that the Council should give additional support to the existing breeding colony which Zuckerman has at Birmingham, or that we should start a colony of our own. I am writing to you now simply to indicate that I would have no objection in principle to the establishment of such a breeding colony at the new Institute, particularly since Parkes assures me that there would be room in the place already allocated for monkey accommodation and that therefore no additional building would be necessary for the purpose.'