JAV Bates. Box 2 Reels 347-362.

A compilation of short pre-operative and post-operative neurological films featuring adults and children displaying a range of different physiological movements from gross activities such as walking, standing and sitting to finer activities such as creating facial expressions and maniuplating objects. The films may have been made during Bates' time at the Neurological Research Unit at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases. Contains extremely sensitive material throughout including scenes containing patient nudity.

In April 2009 these individual patient films were compiled onto a film reel. The names of the patients have been removed from the description.

Sections comprise:

347 Patient S at 2nd op Print 3 2 E.E arrow H.F arrow H.C

348 Patient S fit?

349 Patient T pre 2nd op NEG

350 Patient T at op

351 Patient W at op (camera drag) Point A (twice)

352 Patient W pre-op Playing 1. NEG

353 Patient W pre-op Play 2

354 Patient W pre-op Play 2 NEG

355 Patient W pre-op Playing 1

356 Patient W pre-op odd lengths

357 Patient E at op NEGATIVE and post op

358 Patient E pre op Rt arm and ep fit NEGATIVE

359 Patient E pre op knitting, building (?), walking, face

360 Patient D post op NEG

361 Patient M fit negative

362 Patient C pre op NEG

Publication details: UK, No date.

1950s-1960s

1 film reel

John A.V. Bates was born in 1918 and died in 1993. He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge and underwent his clinical training at University College Hospital, London. In 1946 he was part of the External Scientific Staff of the Medical Research Council based at the Neurological Research Unit at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London, where he worked until he retired in 1978. Much of Bates' research work was in the field of neurophysiology where he coined the term 'voluntary movement.' He was the founder of the Ratio Club, a group of young physiologists, mathematicians and engineers who met to discuss cybernetics. Bates was a member of the Physiological Society from 1949, a member of the Electroencephalography Society (now the British Society for Clinical Neurophysiology), serving as President between 1976-8 and the Association of British Neurologists.

All J. A. V. Bates material was handed to Moving Image and Sound Collection; the individual patient reels which were boxed alphabetically have been compiled onto larger reels for conservation. Some of the loose reels are separate as Bates may have used these for teaching purposes.

This item needs to be accessed onsite using specialist equipment. Email collections@wellcomecollection.org to request an appointment.