Dr. John Sheals Partt

Dr. John Pratt died of acute leukaemia on 21 March, 1956, at the age of forty-one. By this early death psycho-analysis has lost a man of unusual intellectual gifts. Educated at Wellington College and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (where he obtained a swimming Blue), he had for a time considered making a career in the study of animal behaviour, and though he chose medicine and psycho-analysis, interest in the subject continued throughout his life. He took the Cambridge medical degree from St. Bartholomew's Hospital in 1938 and soon afterwards applied to the Institute of Psycho-Analysis for training. He maintained himself during his studies in wartime London (working with Miss Ella Sharpe) by combining them with general practice and forensic medicine. By the time he was elected to Associate Membership in 1945 he had already had two papers—of which he was later not altogether proud—published in the International Journal. He became a full Member in 1951 and participated in the training scheme from 1952. On his death, tribute was paid in the British Society to the high quality of his work on the Training Committee.

He was not, however, a very prominent member of the Society, preferring in general private discussion, in which his opinions were informed with an outstanding metapsychological grasp. When he became ill he decided to put on paper some reflections on Freudian Instinct Theory which combined his biological and metapsychological viewpoints. He wrote them with steady concentration, partly while undergoing blood transfusions, but was unfortunately not able to complete the paper. The courage, consideration for others, and control which he exercised during this illness will be unforgettable.

In spite of his wide culture and knowledge of the world John Pratt was not an easy person to know. In those who did know him he inspired love rather than affection. This was due to the childlike sweetness of his nature, which was incapable of malice or meanness. His