OBITUARY 621

lbnrrv montgomerie Carreton 13th February 1896-5th December 1956

(PLATE CXLIII)

DR H. M. CARLETON died on 5th December 1956, and with his death ends an era of the subject of which he was a master, not only of technique but of knowledge. He was born in 1896, and after an education abroad he entered New College, Oxford, in 1916 where he read zoology ; in 1933 he was elected research fellow of his college.

From his war-time experiences at the military hospital in Oxford he learnt much that was to be of use to him later. Another lasting and valuable influence on him was his period of study with Champy from 1919 to 1920, where he learnt the elegance of technique that has characterised the French school of histology for a century. Return- ing t o Oxford, he succeeded 8. G. Scott and undertook the teaching of histology to medical students in the department of physiology. Single-handed and with limited facilities? he produced a first-rate course in the subject. As a teacher he was, despite his nervous temperament, a success. His interested and enthusiastic approach to his subject spurred on the students ; his genial manner and wide general interests gave them an insight into the real value of a university education.

His research during the earlier period was largely of a cytological nature, ingeniously and characteristically combined with tissue- culture work. The papers he contributed have particular bearing on present-day problems of cellular organisation, and like other similar work of the period are worthy of restudy with modern methods.

One of his most striking characteristics was his ability to co- operate successfully with others in their research. His studies with Florey on capillary circulation and on goblet cells were particularly fruitful. He remained convinced that the techniques for demon- stration of mucoproteins were most unreliable, a view which remains sound despite recent advances in histochemistry.

From his work with J. S. Haldane came his interest in the histology and pathology of the lung. This led to the series of studies of epithelial phagocytosis. These exemplified experimental histology a t its best. He combined ingenious but simple animal experiments with careful histology and a sound knowledge of pathology ; it is not surprising that the results obtained were of more than passing interest. Perhaps soon, perhaps not for some time, modern histological techniques which are a t the moment mainly descriptive may be applied t o experi- mental histology with equal ingenuity ; but for this purpose they will have to conform to Carleton’s criteria of simplicity and reliability.

Better known to the outside world were his contributions to

622 HARRY MONTGOMEEIE CARLETON

textbooks. First as co-author with Sharpey-Schaefer and later by himself, he was responsible over a period of 25 years for the production of five editions of Essentials of histology. Thcse were produced not only with scientific and scholarly care, but also with a real desire t o prove that scientific knowledge can be expressed in good English. It was no easy task to reconcile the need for change with the desirability of pleasing co-authors, publishers and collectors of taxes. After all, not only does the structure of the body remain unchanged, but the level of detailed knowledge that should be required of medical students must not be set unduly high. Such a level was nearly reached by 1900, and subsequent additions have perhaps been made rather to attract the student than to teach him. Those who follow the cyclical nature of our interests will have reason to be grateful to Carleton for his refusal to delete material just because it had ceased to be topical or bccause the techniques involved were not modern.

HistoEogical technique was first published iii 1926 and immediately filled a widespread requirement. There was no shortage of books which described techniques which had been made to work by different people in different laboratories. Carleton set out to provide a book that would help a research student or technician to master the tech- niques of histology and microtoniy. All the methods and advice were based on his own personal knowledge. So one could accept failure to get one of the methods to work as due to one’s own ineptness and not to imperfections or hastiness in Carleton’s description. The third edition, produced just before his death, was of the same high standard. Bven if a few teclmiques have becn omitted, that is far better than would have been the inclusion of unreliable teclmiques which he had not tested.

As a man he will be remembered vividly by his friends. Of these he had many in various countries and of various interests- scientific, artistic and in motor racing. One cannot describe “ Harry ” t o those who did not know him. But to those who did, his attraction lay in his quick mind, his universal interest in people and things and in his complete lack of arrogarice. It would seem to most people that the world had been kind to him ; but who could fail to be kind to such a gentle person. Known to few was the darker but finer side of his life in which he fought so bravely against his afflictions, never complaining and never being hurt when nobody understood or helped. To have lectured regularly for 25 years when each lecture required such an intense emotional effort must have required great courage, a virtue which he, like Private Angelo, professed not to possess.

So as a scientist he will long be remembered.

E. H. LEACH.

CARLETON AT PORTON Harry Carleton was one of a small group of scientists invited by

the Ministry of Supply to work at the Xxperimental Station, Porton,

PLATE CXLIII

OBITUARY 623

when World War I1 broke out. Headed by Joseph Barcroft, 0. G. Douglas and C. Lovatt Xvans, all brilliant investigators in the field of chemical defence, the group included J. H. Gaddum, G. R. Cameron, F. C. Courtice, K. Harrison, G. Foss and 11. Cullumbine as well as a full complement of service officers with medical or laboratory training. The Physiology Section which housed the team was ably administered by Archie Fairley, whose superb knowledge of applied toxicology and rugged commonsense did much to weld the many-sided activities into a neat and practical attack. Carleton and I took charge of pathological investigations, and, egged on by Barcroft, quickly cleared up arrears of dubious pat’hology, organised the routine screening of new chemical agents and thoroughly enjoyed planning unorthodox experiments on Lewisite and mustard gas. I well remember the glee with which we showed Barcroft, whose opinion we admired and trusted, some early results which were to rerolutionise the outlook on Lewisite poisoning and convinced him of the protective action of concentrated hydrogen peroxide. On one such vivid morning, the autopsy room was littered with victims of this unpleasant arsenical and echoed with the bleats of treated survivors, who calmly browsed on the scant,y grass outside the animal house.

He entered with zest into any undertaking, even when he really didn’t think a great deal of it, and his shrewdness often rescued us from laughable failures. He won my regard, throughout the early war years, for his unselfishness and inspiration, all the more because he was undergoing, at this time, many personal sorrows and fighting a gallant battle against slowly deteriorating health. His decision to return to Oxford, correct though it turned out to be, was a heavy blow, softened by his amusing letters and occasional visits in the company of R. A. Peters.

Carleton’s contribution to the Porton programme was twofold. He brought technical routine to a level that could scarcely be bettered, gaining the confidence of the shrewd and capable technicians assembled from far and wide. At the same time, his unrivalled knowledge of comparative histology lightened the task of spotting the action of many new toxic substances. When I mention that a t one time we were dealing with nearly seventy compounds each week, the magnitude of Carleton’s services will be realised.

This kind, witty man came to mean much to some of us in the post-war years for, saddened and frustrated though he was, he was always generous in his friendship and never failed to put aside his cares in an effort to encourage and cheer his friends.

Carleton was an ideal colleague.

c. R. CA4MERON.