Walter Miles and His 1920 Grand Tour of European Physiology and Psychology Laboratories

Outline

321 Outline London University College, Physiological Laboratory (Bayliss & Drummond) z “Most complete institute of its kind in London” { Bayliss—heavy teaching load—“war held large numbers of men from their { medical courses, now these have returned” During visit, Sir George Thane stopped by { “General supervisor under the Home Office for the Anti-Vivisection„ Act in England” Previously a professor at University College„ Discussion about regulations for animal research„ Especially difficult to get permits for Pavlovian type of research„ Bayliss hoped for permits for Anrep, who had studied with Pavlov„ (i.e., already knows the technique) Strong antivivisection movement in England„ Mention of Bose, but more on him later { Drummond—in class during WRM’s visit; minimal contact { Anrep working in the physiology lab { Comments on Pavlov„  last saw him March 1918, broken leg, work at a standstill, dogs dying (no food), sham feeding (gathering gastric juice) Efforts underway to provide some international aid to Pavlov„ Anrep working on digestion, work hampered by anti-vivisection forces„ Ethical dilemma—knows of publishable work in Pavlov’s lab, but„ doesn’t want to publish it himself—it should go to Pavlov, but Pavlov cannot publish right now (no resources) Daly—working with string galvanometer { Pilot during the war; has ideas about aptitudes of good pilots„ Interested in WRM’s photos of pursuit pendulum and pursuit meter„ University College, Psychological Laboratory (Spearman) z Arrived in time for tea—Spearman congenial host { Department cramped for space { 322 walter miles and his 1920 grand tour Spearman—war-related research—“stereopsis in aviation” { Accommodation of the eye at different distances„ Also studying gun pointing ability and “quickness and keenness of obser- { vation” Research on psycho-galvanic reflex by one of Spearman’s students, “Miss { Newmark” Stimuli—auto horn, falling chair, noxious tastes„ WRM glad to hear of some degree of reconciliation between Spearman { and Pearson (“at last made up their differences”) WRM tried to call on Pearson at the Galton Lab but was refused admis- { sion (didn’t follow a rigidly proscribed set of procedures); WRM puts a good face on it, but clearly perplexed and a bit annoyed (letter from Pearson inserted, explaining procedures) University College Hospital, Heart Clinic (Lewis & Cotton) z Examining men with “soldier’s irritable heart” { Room cold, and being touched by cold hands of examiners increased the { nervousness of the men; highly detailed description of examination sequence Electrocardiograms taken with men in sitting positions„ Exam includes seeing how heart reacts to exercise (e.g., “ten hops on„ each foot”’ “lift two 10 pound dumbbells” 30 times) Kings College Medical School, Physiological Laboratory (Halliburton) z WRM complimented Halliburton on { Physiological Abstracts Like Bayliss, complained about student overcrowding as a result of men { returning from the war Mentioned efforts to get funds to Pavlov (funds raised, not yet delivered) { Learns news of psychologist C. S. Myers (left Cambridge, now in London { practicing psychiatry) Guy’s Hospital Medical School, Physiological Laboratory (Pembrey & Ryffel) z Pembrey—rugged constitution; research on exercise and effects on heart { Against birth control—“each family should have more children and let { the best survive” No sympathy for those with “nervous breakdowns” { Traditional view of male-female roles in society (concerned about current { disproportion of females) (war effect) Alcohol research—studying “relation of drink habit to infant mortality” { Anatomy museum—best wax models (including some of skin diseases) { ever seen by WRM Photo with Thane—he visited in his capacity as inspector for government { Anti-Vivisection agency Insisted photo taken by WRM not be shown to press (shouldn’t be„ seen taking tea with a physiologist) London University, Imperial Institute, Physiological Laboratory (Waller) z Plant physiology work—in conflict with Bose (who claims plants have { 323 outline physiological systems that are essentially nervous systems); dispute is “loud and hot” Research on psycho-galvanic reflex { WRM as demo subject—electrodes on palm and back of hand and on„ forearm Stimulus—leg shock—strong response on hand, none on forearm (normal); some Ss respond on forearm and Waller thinks “they are those individuals who are mediumistic and double personalities” (thus, psycho-galvanic response as a classification tool) Waller not very familiar with (extensive) U.S. research on the topic Research on muscular exercise and carbon dioxide (stair climbing and { walking around the Waller estate)—method “rough and ready” and not very precise Lecture at University of London Club (Bose) z SRO { Bose proposed to show that “plants respond to stimulat[ion], that...