The early days of the MRC social medicine research unit

Social History of Medicine

Volumn 12, Issue 3, 1999, Pages 389-406

  Murphy, Shaun ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

1940s Britain; Coronary disease; Epidemiology; Health services research; Infant mortality; Medical Research Council; Occupational health; Peptic ulcer; Psychosomatic medicine; Social medicine; Social Medicine Research Unit

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; GOVERNMENT; HISTORY; RESEARCH; SOCIAL MEDICINE; UNITED KINGDOM;

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES; GREAT BRITAIN; HISTORY, 20TH CENTURY; RESEARCH; SOCIAL MEDICINE;

EID: 0033288348     PISSN: 0951631X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/shm/12.3.389     Document Type: Article

References (93)

1. A. Oakley, Man and Wife: Richard and Kay Titmuss: My Parents' Early Years (London, 1997), p. 62.
2. G. Rosen, 'What is Social Medicine? A Genetic Analysis of the Concept', Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 21 (1947), 674-733.
3. J. Harris, William Bevetidge: A Biography (Oxford,1977), p. 381.
4. H. Pelling, Britain and the Second World War (London, 1970), p. 306.
5. W. Wilson Jameson, 'War and the Advancement of Social Medicine', Lancet, II (1942), 475-80.
6. P. Addison, The Road to 1945 (London, 1994), p. 217.
7. R. Schilling, A Challenging Life (London, 1998), p. 40.
8. D. Porter, 'Changing Disciplines: John Ryle and the Making of Social Medicine in Britain in the 1940s', History of Science, 30 (1992), 137-64; D. Porter, 'Introduction' in J. A. Ryle, Changing Disciplines: Lectures on the History, Method, and Motives of Social Pathology (New Brunswick and London, 1994), pp. xi-xxviii.
9. D. Porter, 'Changing Disciplines: John Ryle and the Making of Social Medicine in Britain in the 1940s', History of Science, 30 (1992), 137-64; D. Porter, 'Introduction' in J. A. Ryle, Changing Disciplines: Lectures on the History, Method, and Motives of Social Pathology (New Brunswick and London, 1994), pp. xi-xxviii.
10. Ryle, 'Changing Disciplines', p. 15.
11. S. Murphy and G. Davey Smith, 'The British Journal of Social Medicine: What Was in a Name?', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 51 (1997), 2-8.
12. Oakley, Man and Wife, p. 196.
13. J. N. Morris, Health. Handbooks for Discussion Groups, No 6, published for the Association for Education in Citizenship by the English Universities Press, no date.
14. Ibid.
15. Oakley, Man and Wife.
16. J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Epidemiology of Juvenile Rheumatism', Lancet, II (1942), 59-63; J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Health and Social Change: 1 The Recent History of Rheumatic Heart Disease', Medical Officer, LXXII (1944), 69-71, 77-9, 85-7; J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Epidemiology of Peptic Ulcer: Vital Statistics', Lancet, II (1944), 841-5.
17. J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Epidemiology of Juvenile Rheumatism', Lancet, II (1942), 59-63; J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Health and Social Change: 1 The Recent History of Rheumatic Heart Disease', Medical Officer, LXXII (1944), 69-71, 77-9, 85-7; J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Epidemiology of Peptic Ulcer: Vital Statistics', Lancet, II (1944), 841-5.
18. J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Epidemiology of Juvenile Rheumatism', Lancet, II (1942), 59-63; J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Health and Social Change: 1 The Recent History of Rheumatic Heart Disease', Medical Officer, LXXII (1944), 69-71, 77-9, 85-7; J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Epidemiology of Peptic Ulcer: Vital Statistics', Lancet, II (1944), 841-5.
19. J. N. Morris, Letter to R. M. Titmuss, April 1942.
20. R. S. F. Schilling, 'Proposed Formation of an MRC Social Medicine Research Unit', June 1946, PRO, FD1/284.
21. Schilling, A Challenging Life, p. 40.
22. R. S. F. Schilling, 'Industrial Health Research-The Work of the Industrial Health Research Board 1918-44', British Journal of Industrial Medicine, I (1944), 145-52.
23. H. Jones, 'Industrial Health Research under the MRC', in J. Austoker and L. Bryder (eds.), Historical Perspectives on the Role of the MRC (Oxford, 1989), pp. 137-61.
24. Schilling, A Challenging Life, p. 47.
25. E. Mellanby, MRC file note, 24 October 1946, PRO, FD1/284.
26. J. N. Morris and R. M. Titmuss, 'Formation of a MRC Social Medicine Unit', 3 January 1947, PRO, FD1/284.
27. J. N. Morris, Letter to E. Mellanby, 11 January 1947, PRO, FD1/284.
28. R. M. Titmuss, Problems of Social Policy (London, 1950).
29. J. Spence, W. S. Walton, F. J. W. Miller, and S. D. M. Court, A Thousand Families in Newastle upon Tyne (London, 1954).
30. Morris and Titmuss, 'Formation of a MRC Social Medicine Unit'.
31. N. T. A. Oswald, 'A Social Health Service Without Social Doctors', Social History of Medicine, 2 (1991), 295-315.
32. F. Buzzard, 'The Place of Social Medicine in the Reorganisation of Health Services', British Medical Journal, I (1942), 703-4.
33. MRC letter to Middlesex County Council, 30 April 1947, PRO, FD1/284.
34. MRC, Report of the Medical Research Council for the Year 1953-1954 (London).
35. Jones, 'Industrial Health Research under the MRC'. Pneumoconiosis was spelt with a 'k' at this time in MRC documents.
36. MRC file note, 31 December 1947, PRO, FD1/284.
37. Letter to E. Mellanby, 29 January 1948, PRO, FD1/284.
38. E. Mellanby, Letter to J. N. Morris, 2 February 1948, PRO, FD1/284.
39. J. N. Morris, Letter to E. Mellanby, 9 February 1948, PRO, FD1/284.
40. Jones, 'Industrial Health Research under the MRC'.
41. A. L. Cochrane and M. Blythe, One Man's Medicine (London, 1989), p. 120.
42. C. M. Fletcher, 'Pneumokoniosis of Coal Miners', British Medical Journal, I (1948), 1065-74.
43. E. R. van Teijlingen and R. S. Barbour, 'The MRC Medical Sociology Unit in Aberdeen: Its Development and Legacy', in To the Greit Support and Advancement of Helth (Aberdeen, 1996), pp. 54-63.
44. J. N. Morris, 'Human Reproduction in Relation to Social Conditions and to Physical and Mental Health', Memorandum to MRC, 11 June 1948, PRO, FD1/290.
45. J. N. Morris, Letter to J. Rogan, 27 May 1949, PRO, FD1/284.
46. J. N. Morris, Proposed Study of the Biological, Medical and Social Aspects of Infant Mortality in England and Wales, Proposal to MRC, 5 February 1949, PRO, FD1/284.
47. J. N. Morris, Social Medicine Research Unit Progress Report 1948-50, October 1950, PRO, FD1/285.
48. Ibid.
49. H. P. Himsworth, Letter to J. N. Morris, 18 December 1950, PRO, FD1/285.
50. Ibid.
51. T. M. Brown, 'Mental Diseases', in W. F. Bynum and R. Porter (eds.), Companion Encyclopedia of the History of Medicine (London, 1993), pp. 438-63.
52. F. Avery Jones and R. Doll, Memorandum on the Problems of Peptic Ulceration, September 1947, PRO, FD1/4093.
53. Morris, Social Medicine Research Unit Progress Report 1948-50.
54. J. N. Morris, Social Medicine Research Unit Progress Report 1948-51, March 1952, PRO, FD1/286.
55. Minutes of MRC Council, 18 April 1952, PRO, FD1/286.
56. Ibid.
57. IWd.
58. J. N. Morris, 'Recent History of Coronary Disease', Lancet, I (1951), 1-7 and 69-73.
59. J. N. Morris, J. A. Heady, and R. G. Barley, 'Coronary Heart Disease in Medical Practitioners', British Medical Journal, 1 (1952), 503-20.
60. J. N. Morris, J. A. Heady, P. A. B. Raffle, C. G. Roberts, and J. W. Parks, 'Coronary Heart Disease and Physical Activity of Work', Lancet, II (1953), 1053-57 and 1111-20.
61. J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: I Objects and Methods', Lancet, I (1955), 343-19; J. A. Heady, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: II Variation of Mortality with Mother's Age and Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 395-97; C. Daly, J. A. Heady, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: III The Effect of Mother's Age and Parity on Social Class Differences in Infant Mortality', Lancet, I (1955), 445-8; J. A. Heady, C. F. Stevens, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris. 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: IV The Independent Effects of Social Class, Region, the Mother's Age and her Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 499-503; J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: V Mortality in Relation to the Father's Occupation 1911-1950', Lancet, I (1955), 554-60.
62. J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: I Objects and Methods', Lancet, I (1955), 343-19; J. A. Heady, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: II Variation of Mortality with Mother's Age and Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 395-97; C. Daly, J. A. Heady, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: III The Effect of Mother's Age and Parity on Social Class Differences in Infant Mortality', Lancet, I (1955), 445-8; J. A. Heady, C. F. Stevens, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris. 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: IV The Independent Effects of Social Class, Region, the Mother's Age and her Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 499-503; J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: V Mortality in Relation to the Father's Occupation 1911-1950', Lancet, I (1955), 554-60.
63. J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: I Objects and Methods', Lancet, I (1955), 343-19; J. A. Heady, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: II Variation of Mortality with Mother's Age and Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 395-97; C. Daly, J. A. Heady, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: III The Effect of Mother's Age and Parity on Social Class Differences in Infant Mortality', Lancet, I (1955), 445-8; J. A. Heady, C. F. Stevens, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris. 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: IV The Independent Effects of Social Class, Region, the Mother's Age and her Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 499-503; J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: V Mortality in Relation to the Father's Occupation 1911-1950', Lancet, I (1955), 554-60.
64. J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: I Objects and Methods', Lancet, I (1955), 343-19; J. A. Heady, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: II Variation of Mortality with Mother's Age and Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 395-97; C. Daly, J. A. Heady, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: III The Effect of Mother's Age and Parity on Social Class Differences in Infant Mortality', Lancet, I (1955), 445-8; J. A. Heady, C. F. Stevens, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris. 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: IV The Independent Effects of Social Class, Region, the Mother's Age and her Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 499-503; J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: V Mortality in Relation to the Father's Occupation 1911-1950', Lancet, I (1955), 554-60.
65. J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: I Objects and Methods', Lancet, I (1955), 343-19; J. A. Heady, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: II Variation of Mortality with Mother's Age and Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 395-97; C. Daly, J. A. Heady, and J. N. Morris, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: III The Effect of Mother's Age and Parity on Social Class Differences in Infant Mortality', Lancet, I (1955), 445-8; J. A. Heady, C. F. Stevens, C. Daly, and J. N. Morris. 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: IV The Independent Effects of Social Class, Region, the Mother's Age and her Parity', Lancet, I (1955), 499-503; J. N. Morris and J. A. Heady, 'Social and Biological Factors in Infant Mortality: V Mortality in Relation to the Father's Occupation 1911-1950', Lancet, I (1955), 554-60.
66. Morris and Heady, 'Mortality in Relation to the Father's Occupation 1911-1950'.
67. J. N. Morris, Letter and memorandum to H. P. Himsworth, 24 May 1952, PRO, FD1/286.
68. H. P. Himsworth, Letter to J. N. Morris, 28 May 1952, PRO, FD1/286.
69. W. Wilson Jameson, Letter to H. P. Himsworth, 29 May 1952, PRO, FD1/286.
70. J. N. Morris, Letter to H. P. Himsworth, 31 May 1952, PRO, FD1/286.
71. H. P. Himsworth, Letter to J. N. Morris, 4 June 1952, PRO, FD1/286.
72. H. P. Himsworth, Letter to D. Baird, 6 June 1952, PRO, FD1/286.
73. H. P. Himsworth, Letter to A. M. Thomson, 9 June 1952, PRO, FD1/287.
74. J. N. Morris, Reportfrom the Social Medicine Research Unit, 11 June 1952, PRO, FD1/287.
75. H. P. Himsworth, MRC file note, 16 June 1952, PRO, FD1/287.
76. A. M. Thomson, Letter to H. P. Himsworth, 16 June 1952, PRO, FD1/287.
77. Ibid.
78. Ibid.
79. H. P. Himsworth, Letter to A. M. Thomson, 19 June 1952, PRO, FD1/287.
80. G. Werskey, The Visible College (London, 1988), pp. 277-304.
81. G. Jones, 'British Scientists, Lysenko and the Cold War', Economy and Society, 8 (1979), 26-58.
82. Ibid.
83. Werskey, The Visible College.
84. Lord Horder, Fifty Years of Medicine (London, 1953).
85. Murphy and Davey Smith, 'The British Journal of Social Medicine: What Was in a Name?'
86. Editorial, 'Social Medicine', British Medical Journal, I (1951), 1197.
87. MRC Council minutes, 20 June 1952, PRO FD1/287.
88. Van Teijlingen and Barbour, To the Greif Support and Advancement of Helth.
89. J. N. Morris, 'Uses of Epidemiology'. British Medical Journal, II (1955), 395-401.
90. J. N. Morris, Uses of Epidemiology (Edinburgh, 1957).
91. J-N. Morris, Social Medicine Research Unit Progress Report 1964-68, PRO, FD12/527.
92. J. N. Morris, Social Medicine Unit Progress Report 1972-75, PRO, FD12/527.
93. R. Doll, Letter to N. S. Jones, 28 January 1976, PRO, FD12/527.