Some of the major discoveries and developments in the management of childhood asthma over the past 30 years, starting with early descriptions and treatment of the condition were discussed. Topics include the development of the pressurized metered-dose inhaler, the discovery of sodium cromoglycate in 1965 and the work of Dr Roger Altounyan, who tested hundreds of compounds on himself, the development of inhaler steroids, and the first beta-2 agonist effectively used in asthma treatment. Professor Bill Inman’s communication, read to the meeting, described the investigation of drugs taken preceding deaths from asthma. Discussion covered the impact of treatments on the delivery of primary care, the role of support organizations, and finally, the rising prevalence of asthma. The meeting was chaired by Professor Simon Godfrey of Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem and amongst those who attended and contributed were Mrs Greta Barnes, Mr John Bell, Dr Robert Brewis, Dr Harry Morrow Brown, Professor Tim Clark, Dr Bill Frankland, Professor Abe Guz, Sir David Jack, Dr Donald Lane, Professor Chris O’Callaghan, Dr Paul McCarthy, Professor Anthony Milner, Professor Ross Mitchell, Professor Tom Oppé, Dr Martyn Partridge, Professor Michael Silverman and Professor John Warner. Introduction by Dr Mark Jackson, x, 74pp, subject and name index.

Reynolds L A, Tansey E M. (eds) (2001)
Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine, vol. 11, London: The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL.

ISBN 978 085484 0787