#physiologist

March 16th 1935 saw the death of John J R Macleod, Scottish physiologist and winner of Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Frederick Banting.

He is known for being a pioneer in the discovery of insulin, and it was in his laboratory at the University of Toronto that Banting and Charles Best succeeded in isolating and preparing insulin for mass use. MacLeod was director of the laboratory Banting and Best worked in. After being awarded the Nobel Prize, Banting and MacLeod decided to share the prize with the entire team

Click the link at the top of the page for a great article from The University of Aberdeen about the struggle to restore MacLeod’s name as for years he was overlooked as one of the team behind the discovery of insulin.am who weren’t recognised by the Nobel committee.

On September 6th 1876, the Scottish physician and physiologist John James Macleod was born near Dunkeld.

J J Macleod is arguably the most famous Scot you will hear about today that you never knew before, he was instrumental in discovering a drug that has saved countless lives while working at the University of Toronto in 1921, for which he shared a Nobel Prize for Medicine.

He was the son of the Rev. Robert Macleod. When later the family moved to Aberdeen, Macleod went to the Grammar School there and later entered the Marischal College of the University of Aberdeen to study medicine.

In 1898 he took his medical degree with honours and was awarded the Anderson Travelling Fellowship, which enabled him to work for a year at the Institute for Physiology at the University of Leipzig.

He was noted as one of the co-discoverers of insulin and given the Nobel Medal for this discovery. Macleod’s main work was on carbohydrate metabolism and his efforts with Frederick Banting and Charles Best in the discovery of insulin used to treat diabetes. For this Banting and Macleod were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1923. Macleod was awarded half of the Nobel Prize for the discovery of insulin in 1921 which he shared with James B Collip.

May 2nd 1860 saw the birth of physiologist John Scott Haldane in Edinburgh.

He attended Edinburgh University and the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, before graduating in medicine at Edinburgh in 1884. He was then appointed Demonstrator in Physiology at University College, Dundee, where he investigated the composition of the air in dwellings and schools.

In 1887 he joined is uncle at Oxford University but later left when the title Professor of Physiology was denied him. His early studies included the respiration hazards that coal miners were exposed to, and his report emphasized the lethal effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. In 1898 he created the Haldane Gas Apparatus.

He began to study caisson disease in underground workers which connected to decompression sickness, also commonly known as "the bends." His work in this field lead him to produce the tables for staged decompression, which prevented the development of nitrogen bubbles in the diver's tissue as they ascended from their working depth.

Haldane's approach was in contrast to French physiologist Paul Bert's continuous - ascent decompression procedures of that period. Although developed for the trade of diving in 1907, the staged tables are equally applicable in the recreational and technical diving fields. Engineers sought his opinion on ventilation and respiratory issues when designing submarines, tunnels, mines and ships.

In 1915 Yale University honoured Haldane by selecting him to deliver the Silliman Lectures. The lectures became the basis for his 1922 book Respiration, which is recognised as a landmark work in the field. Haldane received numerous awards and honours for his work.

His work on high altitude physiology, diving physiology, oxygen therapy, and carbon monoxide poisoning led to a sea change in clinical medicine and improved safety and reduced mortality and morbidity in many high risk situations. During the First World War Haldane was able to identify the use of disabling chlorine and phosgene gas by the Germans, and designed the first gas masks for use in chemical warfare and also an oxygen therapy equipment to treat its victims.

On September 6th 1876, the Scottish physician and physiologist John James Macleod was born near Dunkeld.

J J Macleod is arguably the most famous unknown Scot you will hear about today.

He was the son of the Rev. Robert Macleod. When later the family moved to Aberdeen, Macleod went to the Grammar School there and later entered the Marischal College of the University of Aberdeen to study medicine.

J J R Macleod directed and informed the research which led to the discovery of insulin. His expertise ensured that the laboratory findings of his team were rapidly translated into the clinical application of insulin to treat type 1 diabetes in 1922 – one of the therapeutic landmarks of 20th century medicine.

Prior to the discovery of insulin, type 1 diabetes was fatal and without it many millions of people, many of them children, would subsequently have died. The discovery of insulin is frequently and inaccurately attributed to “Banting and Best”, and for decades Macleod was effectively airbrushed out of medical history.  The importance of the research of this quiet and unassuming Scottish scientist cannot be over-estimated and he deserves to be as well-known to the public as is Sir Alexander Fleming for his discovery of penicillin.

It was not until 1982 when a Canadian historian, Michael Bliss, published his book, “The Discovery of Insulin” that Macleod’s reputation was restored and he took his rightful place as co-discoverer

It is also interesting to note that the first insulin in the UK was given in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in August 1922. Following publication of the early findings regarding insulin in March 1922, doctors in Edinburgh contacted John Macleod who provided them with detailed directions on how to make and administer insulin.

In October 1923 it was announced in Stockholm that Frederick Banting and John Macleod would share the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of insulin.

John James Macleod was  buried at Aberdeen cemetery, and the grave seems to be the only memorial to him in Scotland, Canada at least honours him with a plaque at the house he stayed in Toronto and another at the University.

March 16th 1935 saw the death of John J R Macleod, Scottish physiologist and winner of Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Frederick Banting.

He is known for being a pioneer in the discovery of insulin, and it was in his laboratory at the University of Toronto that Banting and Charles Best succeeded in isolating and preparing insulin for mass use. MacLeod was director of the laboratory Banting and Best worked in. After being awarded the Nobel Prize, Banting and MacLeod decided to share the prize with the entire team who weren’t recognised by the Nobel committee.

There's a great article from The University of Aberdeen about the struggle to restore MacLeod's name as for years he was overlooked as one of the team behind the discovery of insulin.