Urquhart, Dr Alexander to Francis Galton

Letter from Dr Urquhart, of James Murray's Royal Asylum, Perth, regarding Galton's inquiries into statistical information for families with a history of mental health problems.

Urquhart discusses the revision of Medico-Psychological Association statistical tables and problems of untrustworthy information, and recommends that Galton pursue special lines of investigation rather than using existing information.

He also discusses the problems of collecting trustworthy family histories from patients and family members, describes his own methods for taking family histories, and recommends Galton contact Dr Macpherson, Commissioner of Lunacy for Scotland.

A typescript draft reply from Galton is attached, thanking Urquhart for the information, and advising him of Dr Mott's research into hereditary insanity.

07 Mar 1906

1 letter plus attached reply

The papers are available at UCL Special Collections and Archives subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

A digitised copy is held by the Wellcome Library as part of Codebreakers: Makers of Modern Genetics.

The original material is held at UCL Special Collections. This catalogue is held by the Wellcome Library as part of Codebreakers: Makers of Modern Genetics.