Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1910 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 file
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Pellagra Investigation Committee was established in 1910, owing to the spread of the disease Pellagra (an ailment of the skin), in several parts of the British Empire and the uncertainty surrounding causation. It was decided that a scientific enquiry should be made into the etiology of pellagra. The Committee consisted of representatives from London School of Tropical Medicine, notably including James Cantlie, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Committee and C W Daniels, Director of the School and other academic and prominent individuals including San Giuliano, Italian Ambassador; Professor William Osler, Regius Professor of Medicine, Oxford University and Dr Dawson Williams, editor of the British Medical Journal. An additional Advisory Sub-Committee was formed of members including Professor Ronald Ross, Professor of Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool; Sir Patrick Manson, Medical Advisor to the Colonial Office and E E Austen, Department of Zoology, British Museum.
The Committee intended to raise a fund of £1000 to pay expenses for Dr Louis Sambon, Lecturer at London School of Tropical Medicine, to travel to a pellagrous area to study the topographical distribution and epidemiology of the disease. Sambon intended to discover whether a connection existed between the disease and the sand fly (Simulium) by studying the disease in the lower animals and man, establishing whether pellagra could be defined as belonging to the group of protozoal diseases.
On 20th March 1910 Sambon travelled to Italy. Much work was carried out in an attempt to gain the funds needed to complete research, as at the time of Sambon's departure only a fifth of the necessary funds had been raised and more was needed in order to facilitate the completion of his investigations. Whilst in Italy, Sambon established that, contrary to previous theories surrounding pellagra, its spread was not caused by mouldy maize but rather transmitted via a bite to the human from a gnat (simulium vorans).
Archival history
GB 0809 Pellagra 1910 Collection (fonds) 1 file Pellagra Investigation Committee
The Pellagra Investigation Committee was established in 1910, owing to the spread of the disease Pellagra (an ailment of the skin), in several parts of the British Empire and the uncertainty surrounding causation. It was decided that a scientific enquiry should be made into the etiology of pellagra. The Committee consisted of representatives from London School of Tropical Medicine, notably including James Cantlie, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Committee and C W Daniels, Director of the School and other academic and prominent individuals including San Giuliano, Italian Ambassador; Professor William Osler, Regius Professor of Medicine, Oxford University and Dr Dawson Williams, editor of the British Medical Journal. An additional Advisory Sub-Committee was formed of members including Professor Ronald Ross, Professor of Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool; Sir Patrick Manson, Medical Advisor to the Colonial Office and E E Austen, Department of Zoology, British Museum.
The Committee intended to raise a fund of £1000 to pay expenses for Dr Louis Sambon, Lecturer at London School of Tropical Medicine, to travel to a pellagrous area to study the topographical distribution and epidemiology of the disease. Sambon intended to discover whether a connection existed between the disease and the sand fly (Simulium) by studying the disease in the lower animals and man, establishing whether pellagra could be defined as belonging to the group of protozoal diseases.
On 20th March 1910 Sambon travelled to Italy. Much work was carried out in an attempt to gain the funds needed to complete research, as at the time of Sambon's departure only a fifth of the necessary funds had been raised and more was needed in order to facilitate the completion of his investigations. Whilst in Italy, Sambon established that, contrary to previous theories surrounding pellagra, its spread was not caused by mouldy maize but rather transmitted via a bite to the human from a gnat (simulium vorans).
Transferred to the Librarian at London School of Tropical Medicine in 1920.
Papers of the Pellagra Investigation Committee, 1910, relate to the establishment of the Committee and resourcing of funds for the facilitation of Dr Louis Sambon's research trip to Italy. The collection notably comprises correspondence between Pietro J Michelli, Secretary of the Seamen's Hospital Society and James Cantlie and other members of the Committee regarding donations and funds, 1910; 'Pellagra Investigation Committee', article including a list of committee members, outlining the intentions of the committee, 1910; printed list of donations received, 1910, and a handwritten list of funds received in cash, guarantees made and funds received from the Colonial Office, [1910].
Arranged in original order
This collection is open for consultation. Please contact the Archivist to arrange an appointment. All researchers must complete and sign a user registration form which signifies their agreement to abide by the archive rules. All researchers are required to provide proof of identity bearing your signature (for example, a passport or debit card)when registering. Please see website for further information at www.lshtm.ac.uk/library/archives.
Photocopies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.
English
No additional finding aids exist.
The Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine holds the papers of Sir James Cantile, which include material relating to the Pellagra Investigation Committee (MS1456).
Sources: Access to Archives (www.a2a.org.uk) and 'Pellagra Investigation Committee' article enclosed within this Pellagra Investigation Committee collection.
Compiled by Samantha Velumyl, AIM25 cataloguer.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
February 2008 Administration Administrative structure Cantlie , Sir , James , 1851-1926 , Knight , surgeon Colonial Office Development aid Diseases Economic aid Epidemiology Europe Financial aid Health Health policy Italy Medical research Michelli , Sir , James , 1853-1935 , Knight , tropical medicine physician Pathology Pellagra Pellagra Investigation Committee Sambon , Louis , 1865-1931 , lecturer at London School of Tropical Medicine Seamen's Hospital Society Western Europe Organisation and management
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Transferred to the Librarian at London School of Tropical Medicine in 1920.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the Pellagra Investigation Committee, 1910, relate to the establishment of the Committee and resourcing of funds for the facilitation of Dr Louis Sambon's research trip to Italy. The collection notably comprises correspondence between Pietro J Michelli, Secretary of the Seamen's Hospital Society and James Cantlie and other members of the Committee regarding donations and funds, 1910; 'Pellagra Investigation Committee', article including a list of committee members, outlining the intentions of the committee, 1910; printed list of donations received, 1910, and a handwritten list of funds received in cash, guarantees made and funds received from the Colonial Office, [1910].
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged in original order
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
This collection is open for consultation. Please contact the Archivist to arrange an appointment. All researchers must complete and sign a user registration form which signifies their agreement to abide by the archive rules. All researchers are required to provide proof of identity bearing your signature (for example, a passport or debit card)when registering. Please see website for further information at www.lshtm.ac.uk/library/archives.
Conditions governing reproduction
Photocopies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
No additional finding aids exist.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
The Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine holds the papers of Sir James Cantile, which include material relating to the Pellagra Investigation Committee (MS1456).
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
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Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; 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