1940-11-11

This is a handwritten letter from Harold Elliott to Wilder Penfield. In the letter Elliott details the progress being made at the No. 1 Neurological Hospital. He also discusses Sir Hugh Cairn's bookkeeping practices and routine, as well as the work being done by a number of personnel at the hospital. Finally, he asks Penfield to substantiate rumours that he may be going to South America for a visit with Rio Hortega. The letter is dated November 11, 1940.

text.manuscript.black and white 20.3 x 12.3 cm

English

Elliott, Harold, 1908- -- Correspondence.
Penfield, Wilder, 1891-1976 -- Correspondence.
World War, 1939-1945.
Surgery, Military.
Military hospitals.
Cairns, Hugh, Sir, 1896-1952.

Wilder Penfield Digital Collection

Wilder Penfield Fonds P142 -- Series A (Administration) -- Sub-Series A/N (Administration, Neuro)

Osler Library of the History of Medicine, McGill University

Letter from Harold Elliott to Wilder Penfield, November 11, 1940. [Online image]. Wilder Penfield Digital Collection Wilder Penfield Fonds P142 -- Series A (Administration) -- Sub-Series A/N (Administration, Neuro) . Osler Library of the History of Medicine, McGill University . Retrieved April 25, 2024 from http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/penfieldfonds/fullrecord.php?ID=10239

This material has been made available with the consent of the copyright holders and can be used in accordance with fair dealing provisions of Canadian copyright law. For more information, please contact the Osler Library of the History of Medicine.

Elliott, Harold, 1908-.

The transcription reads: "11 Nov. 40, Dear Dr. Penfield, For something better to do I asked to be sent here until activity begins in our hospitals. They have some very interesting things which impressed me here and I thought you might like to hear of them. 1) Once weekly Mr. Cairns and his assistant meet the house staff (Saturday at 12). They go over all the discharge summaries for the week, index and also catalogue them as regards clinical problems etc. I thought this would be valuable as a method of keeping discharged histories completed as well as a final method of grouping cases together that presented problem work. I know your weekly calendar is too filled but wondered whether Petersen couldn't hold a session like that with the whole house staff. It only takes an hour! 2) They have a very good method of keeping tracings of venticulograms etc. in their case histories. When these films are dry the houseman makes a tracing of the lateral ventricles and another of the superimposed AP and PA views. I thought it would help the houseman to learn a little more about ventriculographic interpretation and would also serve to visualize the pictures more clearly on ward rounds when the x roup are not always around. There is a young South American chap working here which tells me you are going to Buenos Aires next summer. He also sees that Rio Hortega has gone there. Kindest regards to all, many thanks, best wishes and sincerely, Harold."

This letter is written on The Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford stationary.

A/N 11-1