GB 0120 PP/COL - Colebrook, Leonard (1883-1967)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 PP/COL

Title

Colebrook, Leonard (1883-1967)

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.

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

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Wellcome Library

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area