The speaker will be David Graham
who will be deputising for David Hamilton, a retired surgeon, with whom he
shared laboratory-based training in the mid-1960s at the Western Infirmary
Glasgow. Since retirement, David Hamilton has become a renowned authority on
aspects of the History of Medicine in Scotland, one of which is the story of
Scotland's Poisoned Island.
Chosen for its remote location, this Scottish Island was the site of the first field experiment in the development of Biological Warfare in the UK. In 1940, at a critical stage in WW11, the UK Government decided to investigate the potential of Anthrax (developed at Porton Down) as a weapon of mass destruction. The experiment consisted of delivering a cloud of airborne bacterium by 'bomblet' to sheep, some of which subsequently died from the infection. Deemed a success, additional experiments were not carried out. However, it became apparent that the ground on which the experiments had been performed had become contaminated with the spores of Anthrax. Therefore, the decision was taken to decontaminate the area with formaldehyde. The island has been returned now to its original owner but some concerns remain as to whether or not the ground is completely free of spores.
Chosen for its remote location, this Scottish Island was the site of the first field experiment in the development of Biological Warfare in the UK. In 1940, at a critical stage in WW11, the UK Government decided to investigate the potential of Anthrax (developed at Porton Down) as a weapon of mass destruction. The experiment consisted of delivering a cloud of airborne bacterium by 'bomblet' to sheep, some of which subsequently died from the infection. Deemed a success, additional experiments were not carried out. However, it became apparent that the ground on which the experiments had been performed had become contaminated with the spores of Anthrax. Therefore, the decision was taken to decontaminate the area with formaldehyde. The island has been returned now to its original owner but some concerns remain as to whether or not the ground is completely free of spores.
The UK Government is not alone in the
research and development of Anthrax for Biological Warfare, 'incidents' having
now been reported in the former Soviet Union and more recently in the USA. It
is alleged that a former President of the USA was prescribed an antibiotic for
the treatment of Anthrax and that
President Obama receives regular prophylactic medication.
David Graham, KDSA Committee
Member.
