Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1907-1967 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
6 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Leonard Colebrook's work was chiefly concerned with the control of the spread of infection in hospitals and the treatment of infected wounds. During the First World War he worked in Boulogne with Sir Almroth Wright, and advocated using the patient's inborn resistance to fight infection in wounds, using hypertonics rather than antiseptics which he argued were too harmful to the patient's tissues. In 1930 he was appointed to Queen Charlotte's Hospital where he developed the use of sulphonamides in the treatment of puerperal sepsis. In 1939, as bacteriologist to the Army in France, Colebrook introduced the dusting of wounds with sulphonamide powder, which greatly reduced the incidence of sepsis. In 1940 he joined an MRC team working on septicity of burns and scalds, and in 1943 went on to organise the burns unit at the Birmingham Accident Hospital, creating special dressing rooms with filtered air and near sterile conditions. After his marriage in 1946 he and his wife, Vera, embarked on a campaign leading to the passage of the Fireguards Act in 1952, and continued to campaign for non-flammable night clothing. In 1954 Colebrook's biography of Almroth Wright was published.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0120 PP/COL 1907-1967 Collection (fonds) 6 boxes Colebrook , Leonard , 1883-1967 , bacteriologist
Leonard Colebrook's work was chiefly concerned with the control of the spread of infection in hospitals and the treatment of infected wounds. During the First World War he worked in Boulogne with Sir Almroth Wright, and advocated using the patient's inborn resistance to fight infection in wounds, using hypertonics rather than antiseptics which he argued were too harmful to the patient's tissues. In 1930 he was appointed to Queen Charlotte's Hospital where he developed the use of sulphonamides in the treatment of puerperal sepsis. In 1939, as bacteriologist to the Army in France, Colebrook introduced the dusting of wounds with sulphonamide powder, which greatly reduced the incidence of sepsis. In 1940 he joined an MRC team working on septicity of burns and scalds, and in 1943 went on to organise the burns unit at the Birmingham Accident Hospital, creating special dressing rooms with filtered air and near sterile conditions. After his marriage in 1946 he and his wife, Vera, embarked on a campaign leading to the passage of the Fireguards Act in 1952, and continued to campaign for non-flammable night clothing. In 1954 Colebrook's biography of Almroth Wright was published.
These papers were given to the Contemporary Medical Archives Centre in February 1993 by the Royal College of Pathologists.
Papers of Leonard Colebrook including diaries, research notebooks, writings and photographs, 1900-1967.
A Diaries; B Research notebooks; C Correspondence and writings; D Publications on the control and treatment of infection; E Photographs
The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. In addition, readers should note that Section B research notebooks contain some information about named patients (soldiers) and are subject to Restricted Access conditions for 84 years from the last date in the volume. Readers are required to complete a Restricted Access application form to apply to consult these volumes.
Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.
English
The catalogue is available on microfiche via the National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).
Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.
In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Jan 2009 Disasters Accidents World War Two (1939-1945) Wars (events) World wars (events) World War One (1914-1918) Chemical actions and uses Pharmacologic actions Therapeutic uses Anti-infective agents Anti-bacterial agents Bacteriology Microbiology Colebrook , Leonard , 1883-1967 , bacteriologist
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
These papers were given to the Contemporary Medical Archives Centre in February 1993 by the Royal College of Pathologists.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Leonard Colebrook including diaries, research notebooks, writings and photographs, 1900-1967.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
A Diaries; B Research notebooks; C Correspondence and writings; D Publications on the control and treatment of infection; E Photographs
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. In addition, readers should note that Section B research notebooks contain some information about named patients (soldiers) and are subject to Restricted Access conditions for 84 years from the last date in the volume. Readers are required to complete a Restricted Access application form to apply to consult these volumes.
Conditions governing reproduction
Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
The catalogue is available on microfiche via the National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English